Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Goverment of the Republic of Namibia soon after independence, recognised its cardinal national responsibility to change the orientation of the nation's economy from one of exporting raw materials and importing final-use products to in-country production of goods based on the country's resource endowment. One productive sector for which explicit and far-reaching guiding policies, strategies and programmes have been developed and instituted from the beginning is the promotion of highly competitive industries with special emphasis on SMEs as a major pathway to progressive and sustainable industrialisation and employment and the simultaneous development of entrepreneurial culture. In recognition of the critical role the SMEs can play in the socia-economic development and economic diversification of the country, the Government of Namibia through its Ministry of Trade and Industry has put in place policies and programmes, specifically for the development of SMEs. To this end, the Ministry of Trade and Industry realised that the lack of bankable business plans limited entrepreneurs' access to finance and this posed the biggest challenges to the growth of the SME sector in the country. This has been conceived as a daunting factor and stems from the reality that entrepreneurs cannot provide bankable business plans to back up their applications. Given the prevailing condition, the Government of Namibia initiated the MSME Feasibility Studies and Business Plan Support programme ~ specifically geared to assist the SME sector with bankable business plans in order to induce financial institutions to provide loans to entrepreneurs with viable project ideas and prospects for success. The objective of the study is to explore the extent to which this support programme has facilitated the access to finance by SMEs and the creation of sustainable businesses. The findings of the study have established that worldwide some of the developed and developing countries initiated and implemented similar govemmental programmes in the form of subsidies to the services rendered by third parties to SMEs in business-plan formulations and related advisory services. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kort na onafhanklikheid het die regering van Namibia besef dat die landsekonomie minder afhanklik moet word van grondstof-uitvoere en die invoer van vervaardigde goedere, met groter klem op die verwerking van plaaslik vervaardigde grondstowwe. In die verband is kleinsake as 'n belangrike ontwikkelingsinstrument beskou en 'n vername skepper van nuwe werksgeleenthede, wat juis in die uitvoer-georienteerde landbou- en mynbou-sektors aan die kwyn is. Om hierdie herorientasie van die ekonomie te bevorder het die Ministerie van Handel en Nywerheid verskeie programme ontwikkel, veral vir die bevordering van kleinsake. In die verband is die probleem van bankfinansiering as 'n besondere knelpunt beskou , met die gebrek aan omvattende sakeplanne vir finansierbare projekte gesien as kemprobleem. Met die oogmerk het die Ministerie die "SME Feasibility Studies and Business Plan Support programme" ontwikkel, ten einde finansiele instellings te motiveer om meer geredelik finansiering te verskaf. Hierdie studie ontleed die bestaande program, sy agtergrond, ontwikkeling en probleme asook die baie beperkte sukses wat tot sover bereik is. Vergelykings met programme in ander lande suggereer dat verreikende aanpassings nodig is om die program meer betekenisvol en suksesvol te maak

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the construction industry are presenting challenges to both industry and financial institutions in Namibia. The Development Bank of Namibia’s (DBN) investments in the construction industry yield mixed results, which have become worrisome. The percentage of non-performing loans within the construction portfolio continues to rise, hence a suitable contractor-financing model is required in order to advance financial resources and capacitate the contractor for their own development. The challenges of SMEs in construction business point to the need for the integration of knowledge from fields as diverse as business, finance, management and technical skills. This integration necessitates the need to create an enabling environment in which they can persevere. Understanding and experiencing these challenges, this researcher from the Development Bank of Namibia has taken the initiative to establish advanced financial solutions mainly for SMEs in the construction industry through the Bridging Finance Facility (BFF). This research report compiled findings gathered through the investigation of challenges impeding the success of SMEs, with a specific focus on SMEs engaged in the construction industry. A review of their satisfaction levels pertaining to the DBN’s application requirements, the adequacy of the BFF, mentoring, training, and client relationship support were some of the aspects investigated. The report also brought to the fore the bank’s internal lending processes that are currently in place. The main findings revealed that technical capacity, mentoring and training remain key shortcomings faced by SME’s. This matches the bank’s internal credit assessment processes that do not address the assessment of technical capacity sufficiently. The research found that the standard BFF induction program being implemented by the bank, and credit assessment turnaround times remain challenges for the DBN. Interestingly, road contractors were found to be a less risky portfolio group to finance in comparison to building contractors. The objectives of the document are in accord with the DBN’s overall strategic priorities, namely financial sustainability, stakeholder satisfaction and business development. Fundamental to the success of these investigations with the SMEs challenges was the use of the sets of structured questionnaires tailored to a selected sample of road and building contractors, consultants, quantity surveyors and architects as well as interviews with senior management at the DBN.