It is often touted that “small businesses are the backbone of the economy”. One would hope that we’d do all we can to keep this spine intact because in today’s rapidly evolving economic landscape, micro, small, and medium enterprises and startups (MSMES) play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and hold immense potential for employment creation and improving the standard of living for all Namibians.
However, to fully unlock this potential, it is imperative for business support organisations (BSOs) to collaborate. Aligning priorities, sharing resources, and pooling data can empower Namibian MSMES, expand the reach and sustainability of entrepreneurship support initiatives.
Every cause has its challenges and entrepreneurship support is no different. It is bad enough that MSMES face difficulties in starting and managing their own businesses, and the prevalence of an uncoordinated ecosystem only serves to further handicap them. Business or ecosystem support organisations have to act according to their shared purpose: uplifting and empowering Namibian MSMES. Real, measurable and sustainable impact will only be achieved by adopting an inclusive approach that is entrepreneur-centred.
In our pursuit of bolstering Namibian MSMEs, sharing resources is important. Instead of duplicating efforts and operating in isolation, it is essential for organisations to collaborate and create a comprehensive support ecosystem. By pooling our expertise, infrastructure, and funding, we can maximise our collective impact while minimising redundancies. Collaboration allows for a more efficient allocation of resources, ensuring that limited resources are utilised effectively to reach a broader spectrum of entrepreneurs across our country.
Furthermore, informed decision-making lies at the core of effective MSME support. At present there is a fragmented approach to conducting research on MSMES resulting in each individual organisation holding a piece of a puzzle. Rather than each organisation collecting and analysing data individually, collaboration allows for the collective sourcing and sharing of data. By pooling our data, ecosystem support organisations gain a broader understanding of the needs, challenges, and opportunities for Namibian MSMES.
This collaborative approach enables us to identify support gaps and develop targeted interventions to address them, driving the growth and success of MSMES in Namibia. To put it differently, in the absence of collaboration, we fail to deliver optimal value to our beneficiary stakeholders; we waste the limited time, manpower and finances that we have.
In a Namibian business landscape where MSMES serve as catalysts for economic growth, collaboration among BSOs is imperative. It is vital for us to dismantle the silo mentality and embrace a collective mindset to better serve the needs of Namibian MSMES. By sharing resources, expanding our reach, and collectively sourcing data, we can optimise our efforts, foster sustainable entrepreneurship support, and empower Namibian MSMES to thrive.
Let us remember that our purpose is not about us, but about them – the success of Namibian MSMES should be the ultimate goal that unites us in our collaborative journey. If we want our MSMES to go far, let’s go together.
Happy International MSME Day!
*Claudia B. Capelao is Manager: MSME Ecosystem Optimisation at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB)
