ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study seeks to analyse the financial sector’s (commercial banks and the Bank of Namibia) policy interventions towards creating an inclusive financial system. To achieve this the objective of this study is in three folds, firstly to examine the level and extent of financial inclusiveness in Namibia, secondly to evaluate financial sector (commercial banks and the Bank of Namibia) policies to ascertain their effectiveness in promoting access to finance in Namibia, and thirdly to review international experiences to provide key learning lessons for Namibia’s financial system improvement. It is important that the problems associated with the high level of financial exclusion are understood. Through an analysis of the theoretical information and empirical results it is possible to establish how to improve financial inclusion which is critical for development and economic growth. Financial Inclusion (FI) has become a key pillar of development policy in a number of countries around the world on account of the fact that exclusive development is not sustainable. The paper explored the role of Mobile Money Services (MMS) in enhancing financial inclusion. The study was motivated by the proliferation of mobile phones amongst low income earners, the prepaid billing system sensitive to users’ incomes, adoption of ICT by government and the private sector that has enhanced e-commerce readiness of Uganda, as well as the launch of three Mobile Money Services in the country. A qualitative analysis of the web content of the three MMS providers was undertaken and focused on issues related to services provided; transaction charges; number of registered customers; number and volume of transactions; stakeholders; user interfaces and security; institutional relationships; policy and regulation; as well as appropriateness of the current business model(s). The findings indicate that while the MMS have enormous potential to enhance FI, it would require an open business model that involves all stakeholders to establish a truly national solution. Furthermore, the initial contribution of MMS to FI is in improving money transfer by lowering the transaction costs for small volumes. As a way forward, the regulatory authorities need to establish a legal framework that does not stifle innovation but ensures safety for customers’ savings. From the literature it becomes clear that there are various advantages associated with inclusive financial system. Various studies have demonstrated the positive correlation between financial inclusion and economic growth and poverty alleviation. Most of the data used in the study were collected by means of desk review for secondary data. Various articles and annual reports of commercial banks and regulators were analysed to provide an overview of the current state of financial inclusion in Namibia. However, primary data were also used to analyse the current initiatives of the commercial banks. The study finds that there are policy interventions that are in place and are being pursued by various players aimed at improving the public access to financial services. Results of the recently published FinMark2011 Survey report also indicate that 51 percent of adults are now included in the financial system compared to 31 percent recorded during the 2007 survey. Finally the study’s recommendations highlight various initiatives and activities which different stakeholders should undertake to improve the level of financial inclusion in the economy.

The study aims to examine problems that hinder the creation of a sustainable Microfinance industry in Namibia. It looks into the assertion that certain Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have problems that hinder them from being able to service clients and still be able to remain profitable. A Microfinance Institution (MFI) is defined as an institution that provides financial services to people and small and micro enterprises that do not have access to commercial bank loans. Categories are a credit union, savings and credit co-operatives (SACCOs), non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs), self-help organizations or specialized banks (Mushendami, Kaakunga, Amuthenu-Iyambo, Ndalikokule & Steytler, 2004). The study looks at three critical aspects of operational, regulatory and legislative framework. The current regulations that are in place are administered by the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA) and the Bank of Namibia, for the protection of clients against unscrupulous practices by MFIs. Out of 347 MFIs, a purposeful sample population was drawn and 34 Questionnaires administered due to time and financial constraints. The Questionnaires were distributed to MFIs and individuals in the industry. From these 25 responses were received during the survey. A descriptive statistical analysis was used in deciphering the data. The results are that the Namibian MFIs are new, but out of 11 factors, four were outliers, being the challenges of fraud, consumer education, lack of resources and high costs. The main recommendation is that the MFI industry must establish a fund through charging levies for client education and to look at the transparency of operations and costs to encourage both MFIs and clients to better understand the terms of engagement. Further recommendations include ensuring that MFIs develop products which meet the needs of clients in urban and rural context. Also to address the issue of lack of funding in the form of a strategy to arrange for exit strategies after donor withdrawal, in order for MFIs to survive based on their internal revenue base. Lastly, the regulatory environment in Namibia needs to be improved with the government introducing clearer principles for market participants. The government needs to become an enabler for the provision of financial services. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / Research on strategy has been focusing at organisational level, mostly on practices such as strategic planning, strategy workshops and consultancy practices. With the emergence of strategy-as-practice, the focus has been redirected to explore beneath organisational-level processes and bring to the fore the role that people play in the practice of strategy. This research project looked at the practice of strategy within the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA), the financial regulator in Namibia. Strategy is seen within this research project as something that is ‘done’ by actors who are referred to as ‘practitioners’ of strategy. Strategy-as-practice research is a relatively new field of strategy research. This assignment has aimed to add to the fast growing body of knowledge in the strategy-as-practice research field and it forms part of a collaborative between the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) and The Narrative Lab. The researcher explored how strategy is practised within NAMFISA, as the case study company. The assignment points out the strategy actors, the practices and processes they follow as well as the tools they use to plan and execute the NAMFISA strategy. The researcher took an activity-based view and paid special attention to practitioners, practices and praxis (Jarzabkowski, 2005) involved in strategising as well as the manner in which NAMFISA ‘does’ strategy. The system aspects of Biomatrix theory, namely environment, ethos, aims, processes, structure, governance and matter, energy and information (Mei), as described by Dostal, Cloete and Járos (2005), were also integrated into the research wherever they were deemed to affect the practice of strategy at NAMFISA. The above-mentioned aspects, in conjunction with the elements of the activity-based view and the strategising matrix (Jarzabkowski, 2005), shaped the basis for the analysis which was done using the ATLAS.ti tool. After the first analysis, a second analysis was performed using SenseMakerTM Explorer, another qualitative analysis tool which helped in gaining an in-depth understanding of the findings obtained using the ATLAS.ti tool. During the second analysis exercise, the respondents were requested to self-index their own narratives about the strategy activities at NAMFISA. Practices were found to be dominated by planning and discussions and praxis occurred predominantly at the meso level within NAMFISA. As the practice of strategy is entrenched, procedural strategising was found to be the most dominant of the strategising matrix, followed by interactive. No element of preactive strategising was observed. Planning was done by the executive and middle managers, mostly at annual strategic retreats. The use of external consultants was minimal. The research concluded with recommendations for further studies on strategy-as-practice research in Southern Africa.