Namibia – Inclusive MSME Reform for Women and Youth

The Namibia intervention focused on developing an inclusive MSME ecosystem to empower skilled female and young entrepreneurs, positioning the country as an attractive hub for sustainable investment. This was critical in addressing systemic socio-economic inequalities and high unemployment rates, particularly among youth and women, in a resource-rich economy impacted by COVID-19.

• Provided targeted technical assistance to NIPDB to address systemic barriers to inclusive MSME growth, particularly for women and youth.
• Conducted a comprehensive landscape study assessing skills-market alignment and the enabling environment for entrepreneurs.
• Developed actionable strategies to tackle key bottlenecks and expand opportunities for women- and youth-led enterprises.
• Established an inclusive dialogue platform to convene government, private sector, and development partners for collaborative reform testing and refinement.

• NIPDB is now equipped with a clear roadmap to foster a more inclusive and investment-friendly MSME ecosystem.
• The intervention shifted fragmented conversations into actionable solutions addressing systemic challenges.
• Broad stakeholder engagement and rigorous analysis laid the foundation for sustainable economic empowerment, especially for women and youth.