Namibia Announces $23M Fund to Support Women-Owned SMEs
Namibia has taken a bold step to empower women entrepreneurs with the launch of DBN For Her, a financing facility exclusively for enterprises that are 100% women-owned. The initiative is supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under its Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) programme.
The programme, officially launched in Windhoek, provides a total line of credit of ZAR 1.5 billion (approximately $88 million), with ZAR 400 million ($23.3 million) ring-fenced for women-led small, medium, and large enterprises.
The African Development Bank has contributed N$400 million (about $23.5 million) to the facility, while a further ZAR 40 million in blended finance will lower borrowing costs and provide technical assistance to improve the bankability of women entrepreneurs.
Eligible enterprises, employing between 5 and 300 people, can access loans ranging from N$150,000 to N$10 million ($8,100 to $539,000) at the prime interest rate, with a 12-month interest-free grace period.
Minister of Finance, Ericah Shafudah, emphasised that the initiative is more than access to finance. “It is about ensuring that women become active drivers of economic growth, job creation, and national development,” she said.
Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Emma Kantema-Gaomas, added: “Empowering women is not an act of charity; it is an act of justice. When women are supported, entire communities benefit, and economies are strengthened.”
The initiative addresses a significant gap: despite Namibia’s strong performance on the Gender Development Index, women-led SMEs still face an unmet financing need of $195 million, with around 22,000 women-owned businesses underserved. Between 2006 and February 2026, only 14.12% of the Development Bank of Namibia’s total funding went to fully women-owned enterprises.
Evangelina Nailenge, Board Chairperson of the Development Bank of Namibia, noted: “DBN For Her is not just a financial product, but a deliberate step to ensure inclusive economic participation and unlock the full potential of women entrepreneurs.”
Through DBN For Her, Namibia aims to accelerate women-led business growth, create jobs, and strengthen economic inclusivity, setting a regional example for targeted gender-responsive financing.
