Youth fund should offer grants and ease loan requirements - Mbakera
Namibian parliamentary committee chairperson Marlyn Mbakera has urged the National Youth Development Fund to offer grants alongside loans and simplify application requirements. She noted that current barriers prevent many young entrepreneurs from accessing necessary financial support.
Why it matters
The call for policy reform highlights the challenges young entrepreneurs face in developing nations and the need for more accessible government-backed economic empowerment programs.
Parliamentary standing committee on education, youth, civic relations and community development chairperson Marlyn Mbakera has called for the National Youth Development Fund to introduce grant funding alongside loans and review its application requirements to enable more young people to benefit.
Speaking during the committee’s oversight visit to Omuthiya on Friday, Mbakera said many aspiring entrepreneurs fail to qualify despite their willingness to participate in the programme.
“Most applicants are interested but struggle to meet all the requirements, such as a good credit score, clear ITC record and no history of banking defaults. The fund should consider introducing grants in addition to loans and review the selection criteria,” she said.
Mbakera said the low approval rate indicates that more support should be provided to young people throughout the application process.
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