Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Organization

Development Bank of Namibia

Also known as: DBN

Development Bank of Namibia — state development finance institution approving loans and managing infrastructure projects, currently managing balance sheet cleanup and shifting toward climate financing.

Business

Youth fund approves N$14.9m for 30 businesses

The News

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

Tuesday 3 February

  1. Youth fund approves N$14.9m for 30 businesses

    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

Sunday 1 February

  1. Youth fund approves N$14.9m for 46 young entrepreneurs

    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

  2. Bank BIC Namibia names Erastus Hoveka chief executive

    Bank BIC Namibia has appointed Erastus Hoveka as chief executive effective February 2, bringing three decades of financial services experience in retail, corporate, investment banking and development finance. The bank also appointed two new non-executive directors and says Hoveka will lead efforts in digital banking, customer service and economic empowerment.

    1 February 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 26 January

  1. Deputy minister urges youth toward modern, value-driven agriculture

    Deputy agriculture minister Ruthy Masake told young Namibians at an Oniipa engagement that the future of agriculture rests in their hands, urging them to embrace modern farming practices and access low-interest loans through the National Youth Development Fund launched in September 2025. Legislator Willem Amutenya stressed the need to commercialise production on communal land and secure reliable markets for northern region produce.

    26 January 2026 · New Era

Saturday 24 January

  1. Deputy Minister urges Oshikoto youth to pursue agricultural opportunities

    Namibia's Deputy Minister of Agriculture has encouraged young people in Oshikoto Region to engage in farming and livestock enterprises, highlighting the region's fertile soils, rainfall, and labour advantages. She detailed government support mechanisms including the National Youth Development Fund, which offers collateral-free loans at 2–4% interest for agricultural ventures targeting youth aged 18–45, along with backing from the Development Bank of Namibia and Agribank.

    24 January 2026 · Informanté

Friday 23 January

  1. Asoli demands transparency on DBN's N$579 million loan write-off

    The Association for Localised Interest has called for the Development Bank of Namibia to explain and publicly name those responsible for the N$579 million in loans written off this week, questioning why well-connected defaulters are freed from repayment obligations while poor Namibians are denied access to credit.

    23 January 2026 · The Namibian

  2. DBN executives hold N$14.1 million in staff home loans

    The Development Bank of Namibia's latest annual report shows that key management personnel hold over N$14.1 million in subsidized staff home loans, down from N$15.2 million the previous year. The bank operates a home ownership scheme offering below-market-rate mortgage bonds to employees, with the total interest discount valued at N$21 million as of March 2025.

    23 January 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 22 January

  1. DBN operating profit rises 42% to N$88.3 million

    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

Wednesday 21 January

  1. DBN reports 42% profit rise but faces questions on development reach

    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

  2. DBN writes off N$579 million in non-performing loans

    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

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