Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah delivered a ministerial statement in the National Assembly on the implementation of the National Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, which is capitalised at N$500 million.
The Fund is part of the government's broader strategy to support youth-led businesses and reduce unemployment.
The National Youth Entrepreneurship Fund has been allocated N$257 million for the 2025/26 financial year.
It will be managed through multiple financial institutions, including the Development Bank of Namibia, Agribank and the Environmental Investment Fund, to improve access for eligible youth enterprises.
According to the minister, the fund is aligned with the sixth National Development Plan and includes both financial and non-financial support mechanisms.
"In line with the National Development Plan No. 6, the government remains firmly committed to implementing targeted initiatives that address youth unemployment by fostering the development and sustainability of youth-owned enterprises. The Fund represents a key instrument in this strategy and is designed to provide enhanced funding mechanisms as well as technical support for young entrepreneurs across the country."
The Fund also includes a revolving endowment structure and will implement a digital monitoring platform to track progress.
Business development services, including mentorship and market access, will form part of the broader ecosystem.
"The Fund, like I have said, is designed to provide an ecosystem that is not only financing but also supporting the entrepreneurs with mentorship and coaching, as well as access to markets. In terms of monitoring and evaluation, the Fund will implement rigorous mechanisms to continuously assess the impact of its activities."
A pilot phase ran from 1 to 4 September across all regions. Full implementation is expected to follow once financial institutions complete the adjudication of applications.
Several Members of Parliament raised questions about the Fund's structure, ownership and operational clarity.