African Development Bank-funded credit facility to unlock economic power for 100% women-owned enterprises in Namibia

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) launched DBN For Her on April 8, 2026, in Windhoek — a landmark financing facility exclusively for 100% women-owned enterprises, according to a press release by the AfDB. The initiative is anchored in the Bank’s continent-wide Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) programme, designed to close persistent financing gaps faced by women-led enterprises across Africa. The launch marks the culmination of a two-year strategic partnership between the two institutions.

Despite Namibia’s strong performance on the Gender Development Index, women-led SMEs face an unmet financing need estimated at $195 million, with around 22,000 women-owned businesses underserved by the formal financial system. Between 2006 and February 2026, 447 fully women-owned enterprises and 916 partially women-owned businesses received DBN support but together accounted for just 14.12% of the Bank’s total funding allocation. DBN For Her is designed to address that gap directly.

The facility is structured around a ZAR 1.5 billion (approximately $88 million) line of credit to DBN, with ZAR 400 million ($23.3 million) ring-fenced exclusively for women-owned small, medium, and large enterprises. The African Development Bank is contributing N$400 million (about $23.5 million) to the facility. Eligible businesses — those employing between 5 and 300 people across all economic sectors — can access loans ranging from N$150,000 to N$10 million (roughly $8,100 to $539,000) at the prime interest rate, with a 12-month grace period during which no interest accrues. Through AFAWA, the Bank is also providing ZAR 40 million in blended finance to lower borrowing costs, complemented by technical assistance to strengthen DBN’s capacity to deliver gender-responsive financial products.

“DBN For Her represents a deliberate and strategic response to structural imbalances in our economy. It is not only about access to finance, but about ensuring that women become active drivers of economic growth, job creation, and national development,” said Ericah Shafudah, Namibia’s Minister of Finance. Evangelina Nailenge, Board Chairperson of the Development Bank of Namibia, added: “If we do not intentionally design business solutions for women, we will unintentionally exclude them.” Alex Area, Bank Group Chief AFAWA Officer, described the launch as “a signal to every woman entrepreneur in Namibia that: you are seen, you are valued, and you will be financed.”

In just five years, AFAWA has unlocked over $3.1 billion in financing, working with more than 200 financial institutions across 46 countries. The Development Bank of Namibia now stands as a leading AFAWA implementation partner on the continent. With DBN For Her now operational, the facility positions Namibia as a concrete example of gender-responsive finance translated into accessible, structured lending for women entrepreneurs at scale.