Fourteen Namibian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), one from each of the country’s 14 regions, have been awarded grant funding totalling N$1.1 million at the inaugural SME Fund Chelete Cage Pitch Event in Windhoek this week.
The event marked the final stage of the SME Fund’s first funding cycle. The first call for applications, open from 10 June to 24 July 2026, attracted close to 900 applications nationwide. About 22% of the applications came from MSMEs in the agriculture & agro-processing industry, the ICT & Manufacturing industries both accounted for 11% of all applications, while 10% of applications were from the Tourism industry. 5% of the applications were from the Culture & Creative Industries.
The shortlisted businesses pitched to a panel of judges from the Environmental Investment Fund, Bank of Namibia, Agribank Namibia, Development Bank of Namibia and the National Youth Development Fund for grants of between N$65,000 and N$100,000.
The SME Fund is an initiative under the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises Development in Namibia (ProSME) Project, a partnership between the National Planning Commission (NPC), NIPDB and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The Fund combines grant financing with enterprise development and technical support for promising MSMEs that are not yet ready to access traditional finance, with priority given to youth and women-owned businesses, social enterprises, cooperatives and export-ready ventures.
NIPDB Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms Julia Muetudhana noted that the impact of this programme goes beyond this event. “Impact is measured by what happens after today. It is the turnover that grows in the next twelve months. It is the first employee hired, and then the fifth. It is the product that moves from a market stall onto a retailer’s shelf, and from a retailer’s shelf into a regional or international market. It is the young entrepreneur in a rural region who no longer has to choose between staying home and building a business,” she said.
His Excellency Thomas Wimmer, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Namibia, noted that successful MSMEs create jobs, support families, introduce new ideas and help communities grow. “We also know that starting and growing a business is not always easy. Our entrepreneurs need access to finance, business skills, markets and the right networks to succeed. That is why partnerships matter. Germany is committed to working with Namibia to support sustainable economic development, to strengthen entrepreneurship, and create opportunities for young people,” he said.
With remarks delivered on his behalf, NPC Executive Director, Mr I-Ben Nashandi said the Fund was designed on the understanding that MSMEs need money that comes with support, which is why recipients will receive grants combined with enterprise development services and mentorship. “Achieving our NDP6 ambitions will require many successful entrepreneurs, not just a few. We need businesses that create jobs, develop new products, explore new markets, and help build a more diversified and resilient economy,” he said.
One of the recipients, Ms Kahete Keeja, owner of Okarui City Fresh Produce which operates in the Omaheke region, extended her gratitude to be a participant in the SME Fund Chelete Cage Pitch Event.
“This opportunity has given me a chance to put myself out there and step into uncomfortable spaces as I continue to put myself and my business out there,” she said. She added that since starting her business four years ago, she has been unable to scale her business to reach its full potential. With this grant funding, Kahete says will invest in storage capacity to increase her ability to supply fresh produce.
Ms Elina Nakanyala, founder of Kauna Mighty Empowerment Investments CC that produces strawberries in the Hardap region, said that she is grateful to be part of only 14 shortlisted candidates. “Our focus is to put up greenhouses that will allow us to do strawberry production throughout the year," she said. The environmentally controlled greenhouses she intends to install will maintain optimal temperature for strawberry production throughout the year.
The 14 recipients will now receive enterprise development support such as digital skills training, market linkages, regulatory, compliance and investment readiness support, export promotion and trade facilitation, to grow their turnover, build sustainable business practices and strengthen their competitiveness, as well as linkages to further finance. Preparations for the next funding calls are under way, and MSMEs and members of the public are encouraged to visit the newly launched SME Fund website (smefund.na) and follow NIPDB’s social media channels for updates.