Staff Writer
Supporting the growth of small businesses to compete, grow and create jobs remains key to Namibia’s economic development agenda.
In pursuit of this goal, the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (ProSME) development project in Namibia has introduced the SME Fund to strengthen the sustainability, competitiveness and growth potential of Namibian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The ProSME project is implemented through a partnership between the National Planning Commission (NPC), the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), with funding from the
German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Through this collaboration, the NPC ensures alignment with national development priorities, NIPDB leads the implementation of the SME Fund as part of its MSME development and export promotion mandate, while GIZ provides technical expertise and international best practice.
As part of this project, a dedicated SME Fund has been made available to provide targeted financial support to women and youth-led businesses with the potential to expand.
The Fund is open to registered Namibian micro, small and medium enterprises with an annual turnover ranging from zero up to N$10 million and at least 51% Namibian ownership and control, as defined under the National Informal Economy, Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (NIESED) Policy.
The successful applicants will receive grant funding ranging from N$50,000 to N$100,000.
The project will particularly focus on supporting businesses operating in high-potential sectors including agriculture, tourism, information and communication technology (ICT) and manufacturing, where small businesses can drive employment creation, local value addition and strengthening Namibia’s export base.
Speaking at the launch of the SME Fund, the acting chief executive officer of the NIPDB, Jessica Hauuanga emphasised that, “the SME Fund represents a deliberate effort to move beyond transactional support and invest in
the long-term competitiveness of Namibian enterprises. By combining targeted grant funding with business development services and market access opportunities, we are equippingMSMEs with the capacity they need not just to survive, but to grow, create employment, and compete both at home and globally”.
GIZ Namibia Country Director, Tobias Gerster emphasised that: “The partnership between Namibia and Germany is, at its core, a partnership between people; people with ideas,
ambition, and the determination to create a better future for themselves and their communities.”
Applications for the first funding cycle opened on 10 June 2026 and will close on 24 July 2026.
