Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) and the French development agency Agence Française de Développement (AFD) signed a N$5 million agreement on AFD funding of two of the DBN’s economic research programmes.
The DBN said the first research programme intends to investigate opportunities in the field of affordable housing and the second will focus on the development of Namibian women entrepreneurs.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the DBN, Martin Inkumbi, the objective of the affordable housing programme is to understand the market impediments that hinder the development of low-cost housing schemes.
He said the programme will also seek to understand the means to incentivise the construction of low-cost housing schemes and the appropriate financing products for individuals to purchase such properties.
The second programme aims to investigate dedicated finance and required support programs for women entrepreneurs.
The research will also strengthen the DBN’s impact by creating market profiles for women and developing tailored products.
Inkumbi said the programme will also provide the bank with an understanding of the barriers that hinder economic inclusivity.
The French Ambassador to Namibia, Sébastien Minot, referred to the agreement as a new step towards Franco-Namibian cooperation as it is the first collaboration between the AFD and the DBN.
He said France is committed to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), such as SDG 11, which focuses on sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 5, which focuses on gender equality.
According to the Regional Director of AFD for Southern Africa, Bruno Deprince, the results of the financed studies and analysis could assist with the development of new financial products that could address the identified needs within the project. He said AFD looks forward to implementing these results and to collaborating with the DBN.
Inkumbi said the DBN is not just a source of finance, but also a knowledge bank that focuses on the development of economic activity.
He explained that the development impact depends on the bank’s ability to use financial resources knowledgeably and effectively.
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