Interview: Prime Minister Ngurare’s National Youth Fund Launch Draws Mixed Reactions from Entrepreneurs

In response to the recent launch of the National Youth Development Fund by Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare in Windhoek, Frans Koita, business consultant at DKL Africa Consultants CC, shared insights on the allocation of funds to pilot-phase entrepreneurs.

Koita highlighted that most of the 42 selected beneficiaries are involved in agricultural projects. “This is largely because the fund draws from three institutions: the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), Agribank, and the Environmental Investment Fund,” he explained. “Environmental Investment Fund focuses on renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, Agribank supports general agriculture, while DBN caters to a more holistic range of projects.”

According to Koita, approximately two-thirds of the funding is directed toward agricultural ventures. This, he noted, leaves other sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, and software technology—where most SMEs operate—underrepresented. “SMEs in those industries are not being catered for enough,” he said, stressing that the focus on agriculture, while important, may leave gaps for innovation and growth in other sectors.

Koita also addressed concerns from the thousands of applicants who were not selected in the initial pilot phase. “The other 11,000-plus applicants should not worry—their documents have not been discarded. They will continue to be vetted, and if successful, they could be contacted within the next two weeks,” he said.

The National Youth Fund aims to provide concessional loans to young citizens to support entrepreneurship and economic participation, with an emphasis on sustainable and agricultural development. Koita’s remarks suggest a need for broader sectoral inclusion as the initiative expands.

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