Also known as: AfDB · African Development Bank Group
African Development Bank — multilateral development institution providing financing and economic analysis for Namibia's diversification, mining, energy, and agricultural sectors.
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The Namibian
African Development Bank cautioned that fiscal and external pressures will remain despite expected recovery
“Despite the expected recovery, the bank cautioned that fiscal and external pressures will remain.”
Mining recovery to lift Namibia’s growth in 2026The Namibian
African Development Bank introduced the Electricity Regulatory Index in 2018 as a benchmark
“Recognising this, the African Development Bank (AfDB) introduced the Electricity Regulatory Index (ERI) in 2018 as a benchmark to measure how effectively African countries regulate their electricity sectors.”
Namibia Powers Ahead in African Energy RankingsThe Namibian
African Development Bank partnered with World Bank on Mission 300 to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030
“However, recent initiatives, like Mission 300 (M300), a partnership between the World Bank and the African Development Bank, are changing the game.”
Africa is Missing the Heat on Clean CookingNew Era
African Development Bank (AfDB) has highlighted need for investment in aviation infrastructure and policy reforms
“Reports by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have consistently highlighted the need for investment in aviation infrastructure and policy reforms to unlock the sector's full potential.”
African airlines lead global cargo surgeThe Namibian
African Development Bank supports the Windhoek-Rehoboth-Katutura rail project
“The proposed rail project, first presented to investors at the Invest in Namibia Conference in 2016, is estimated to cost N$2.8 billion and is supported by the African Development Bank under its Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project.”
Govt pushes ahead with N$2.8 billion Windhoek-Rehoboth-Katutura commuter rail projectThe Namibian
African Development Bank is owed a large portion of SOE debt
“A large portion of SOE debt is owed to regional and global development banks, like the African Development Bank, the World Bank and KfW Development Bank.”
Public enterprises owe N$9.3 billion in external debtNew Era
African Development Bank (AfDB) is supporting the initiative through funding and technical assistance
“Chief Investment Officer at the African Development Bank (AfDB), Alex Area, said the AFDB is supporting the initiative through funding and technical assistance.”
DBN launches women-focused finance schemeThe Namibian
African Development Bank (AfDB) provided N$400 million in funding for DBN For Her
“The facility is backed by N$400 million in funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to improve access to finance for women entrepreneurs.”
DBN launches N$400 million women-only financing platformNew Era
African Development Bank financed the project through a loan
“The project was financed through a loan from the African Development Bank and represents a strategic investment for the //Kharas and Hardap regions.”
//Kharas embraces N$127m VTCNew Era
African Development Bank provided funding for Namibia Water Sector Support Programme
“government has also accelerated several strategic bulk water development projects under the Namibia Water Sector Support Programme (NWSSP), implemented with funding from the African Development Bank.”
Govt expands rural water supply …94 new boreholes, 137 water unitsAmbassador Julia Imene-Chaduru led Namibia's delegation to the 2026 Korea–Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Seoul, where African and Korean officials agreed to deepen cooperation on trade, investment, technology, infrastructure, agriculture, and sustainable development, while addressing geopolitical challenges and Africa's role in global supply chains.
3 hours ago · Informanté →
Ambassador Julia Imene-Chaduru led Namibia's delegation to the 2026 Korea–Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Seoul, where African and Korean officials agreed to deepen cooperation on trade, investment, technology, infrastructure, agriculture, and sustainable development, while addressing geopolitical challenges and Africa's role in global supply chains.
3 hours ago · Informanté →
The SADC renewed the board of directors of the Regional Fisheries Monitoring Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre in Maputo, retaining Namibia's Stanley Ndara as chairperson for a second term. The board's priorities include strengthening the centre's sustainability, reducing donor reliance, and rolling out a Regional Register of Fishing Vessels.
2 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Stanley Ndara, chief executive of Namibia's Fisheries Observer Agency, has been reappointed as chairperson of the SADC Regional Fisheries Monitoring Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre for a second term. SADC ministers responsible for fisheries made the decision at a meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe on 29 May.
1 June 2026 · The Namibian →
According to the African Development Bank, Namibia's economy slowed to 2.6% in 2025 due to weaker mining exports, subdued consumer spending and softer investment, but is projected to rebound to 3.7% in 2026 supported by recovery in mining, manufacturing and electricity production. The bank cautioned that fiscal and external pressures will remain, with the fiscal deficit widening to 3.4% in 2025 from 2.6% in 2024.
9 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The African Development Bank's Electricity Regulatory Index measures how effectively African countries regulate their electricity sectors across governance, regulatory substance, and outcomes. In the 2022 ERI report, Namibia achieved a score of 0.618, placing 13th out of 43 African countries, emerging as one of Africa's most promising regulatory success stories.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to miss the UN's 2030 target for universal access to clean cooking energy, with 900 million people lacking access on the continent. The article argues that closing a US$5.5 billion annual funding gap requires diverse solutions including LPG, solar stoves, and biogas, alongside innovative financing and inclusive policies.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →
African airlines are the fastest-growing region in global air cargo, recording 21% year-on-year demand increase in February 2026, with the Africa-Asia route showing particularly strong growth of 61.9%. Despite the momentum, Africa remains a small player at 2.1% of the global market, facing challenges including limited airport infrastructure and high operational costs.
13 April 2026 · New Era →
The government is progressing with a feasibility study on a commuter rail system linking Windhoek to Rehoboth and Katutura, with N$13 million spent and the study 30% complete. The N$2.8 billion project is part of broader government plans to modernise Namibia's rail infrastructure and ease transport pressures in urban and peri-urban areas.
12 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian state-owned enterprises owe N$9.3 billion in external debt, most of it guaranteed by the government and owed to regional and global development banks. The Bank of Namibia's 2025 annual report notes a significant portion relates to intercompany lending in mining and quarrying, with the government aiming to keep debt guarantees below 10% of GDP.
11 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's water ministry has drilled 94 new boreholes, installed 137 water supply units across all regions, and constructed 55 short pipelines with 2,886 private connections, improving water access in underserved rural communities. The ministry also rehabilitated sanitation facilities and increased access to basic sanitation services to 36.2% nationwide, with rural safe drinking water access rising from 83.5% to 84.9%.
2 April 2026 · New Era →
Namibia is investing in improved, drought-tolerant and high-yielding seeds through research stations in Mannheim and Kashana, supported by a partnership between the government and the African Development Bank. The initiative includes crop diversification with new varieties like soybean and cassava, and distribution of improved seeds to farmers at subsidised prices through the Ministry's Extension Services.
29 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Development Bank of Namibia has launched "DBN for Her," a financing initiative designed to increase access to credit for women-owned businesses. The product offers loans at prime interest rate with a 12-month grace period and credit guarantee scheme to address the documented funding gap, with women having received only about 14% of DBN's total funding to date.
26 March 2026 · New Era →
The Development Bank of Namibia has launched DBN For Her, a women-focused financing initiative backed by N$400 million from the African Development Bank, offering loans ranging from N$150,000 to N$10 million to women-owned businesses employing between five and 300 people.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Vice President Lucia Witbooi officially opened the N$127 million Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre, one of several regional centres run by the Namibia Training Authority. The centre, financed by an African Development Bank loan, has enrolled 253 trainees (101 women) in courses including solar installation, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and logistics.
20 March 2026 · New Era →
Government has expanded rural water supply across all 14 regions through drilling 94 new boreholes, installing 137 water units, rehabilitating 51 existing boreholes, and constructing 55 short pipelines. The efforts have increased rural access to safe drinking water from 83.5% to 84.9% and reduced distances families travel to access water.
18 March 2026 · New Era →
Officials from Zambezi River Basin countries are strengthening regional water management and planning in response to growing climate variability affecting shared water resources. A Zambezi Watercourse Commission delegation visited Uganda to exchange knowledge on transboundary river management and climate resilience with the Nile Basin Initiative.
17 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Land Reform has expanded water supply and sanitation across Namibia, installing 94 new boreholes and 137 water supply units, constructing 55 short pipelines, and enabling 2,886 private water connections. The ministry also reported that rural access to safe drinking water increased to 84.9 percent and open defecation declined from 40 percent to 39.4 percent.
16 March 2026 · Informanté →
Opposition MPs and analysts have criticized the government's agreement to give China General Nuclear Power Group a 70% controlling stake in a N$3-billion coastal desalination plant while the state retains only 30%, raising concerns about water sovereignty and affordability for poor Namibians. NamWater and Swakop Uranium defended the joint venture structure as necessary to finance critical infrastructure while maintaining public sector participation.
15 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The government and African Development Bank unveiled a five-year partnership worth N$28.5 billion to reduce Namibia's dependence on mining by investing in climate-resilient energy, water management, transport corridors, and technical education. Finance minister Ericah Shafudah said the strategy aims to create labour-intensive growth and address high youth unemployment.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian government and African Development Bank launched a five-year Country Strategy Paper providing N$28.5 billion (US$1.78 billion) to diversify the economy beyond mining, support infrastructure and climate resilience, and address youth unemployment through technical and vocational education.
12 March 2026 · New Era →
The US$259 million Kazungula Bridge, completed in 2021 with Japanese support, has dramatically reduced crossing times between Botswana and Zambia by replacing a slow ferry with a fast road-and-rail link, easing cargo movement along the North-South Corridor trade route and boosting efficiency across the SADC region.
11 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Works and Transport and Namibian Ports Authority signed a partnership under the Namibia–Korea Green Port Strategy Programme, receiving technical support and funding from the African Development Bank and the Government of Korea to develop a 10-year Green Port Policy, Strategy, Investment Plan and Implementation Roadmap. Namport, which manages Walvis Bay and Lüderitz ports, aims to reduce emissions, improve air and water quality, and protect marine ecosystems while maintaining economic competitiveness.
24 February 2026 · New Era →
Namibia has formally signed a headquarters agreement to host the secretariat of the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) in Windhoek, making it the world's first Global South-anchored intergovernmental organisation dedicated to water. Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani said the decision reflects Namibia's long experience in water cooperation, transboundary basin management, and its proven track record hosting other regional institutions.
17 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Youth Development Fund has approved N$14.9 million in financing for 30 businesses and expects to create 147 jobs. The fund, launched in September 2025 with N$500 million allocated, offers collateral-free loans at 2% to 4% interest to young Namibians aged 18 to 45 to boost entrepreneurship and reduce youth unemployment.
3 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Youth Development Fund has approved N$14.9 million in financing for 46 youth-owned businesses through the Development Bank of Namibia, with about 40 additional applications under assessment. The fund, a N$500 million initiative supporting Namibians aged 18–35, offers loans from N$60,000 to N$1 million at interest rates from 2%, with no collateral required.
1 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The African Development Bank has approved a US$10 million loan to Hyphen Hydrogen Energy for detailed engineering studies on Namibia's green hydrogen and ammonia project near Lüderitz, a development that could create 15,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent positions while producing up to two million tonnes of green ammonia annually for export.
22 January 2026 · New Era →
The Development Bank of Namibia recorded a 42% increase in operating profit from N$62 million in 2023/24 to N$88.3 million in 2024/25, reflecting strong cost discipline and enhanced recoveries. The bank also secured significant new funding, including N$607 million from KfW Green Credit Line II and became the first Namibian institution accredited by the Green Climate Fund.
22 January 2026 · Informanté →
The Development Bank of Namibia reported a 42% increase in operating profit to N$88.3 million for 2024/25 and secured significant international funding, but opposition lawmakers questioned whether strong financial results are translating into inclusive development, particularly in historically marginalised regions.
21 January 2026 · New Era →
The Development Bank of Namibia has cleaned up its balance sheet by writing off about N$579 million in non-performing loans during the 2024/25 financial year as it navigates a complex economic environment with a shrinking loan book. The bank's net interest income contracted by 25% year-on-year, though it is shifting towards climate financing and prioritising support for SMEs.
21 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Development Bank of Namibia approved N$912.7 million in funding and supported the creation of 1,429 jobs during the 2024/25 financial year, with support for 49 SME projects including allocations to women-owned and youth-owned enterprises across multiple regions. The bank achieved accreditation with the Green Climate Fund and secured additional funding through KfW and the African Development Bank, reporting a 42% increase in operating profit to N$88.3 million.
20 January 2026 · The Namibian →