SMEs Compete’s Pitching For Recovery (P4R) programme concluded by throwing a lifeline to 17 small enterprises affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 17 Oshana entrepreneurs received the grants after a long day of adjudication by a panel of experts in Ongwediva yesterday.
After much reflection, discussion and debate the five adjudicators, comprising of two seasoned entrepreneurs, two public officials, and a banker, allocated grants to 17 entrepreneurs in need of business rescue and recovery support.
“It helped the adjudicators in their decision making process that the entrepreneurs in need of support shunned greed and refrained from asking for new equipment or stock to grow business, realizing that the P4R programme aims to help entrepreneurs place their enterprises back on solid ground.
“It is not a stimulus or business growth support intervention,” said the programme’s coordinator and business coach Mr Danny Meyer.
Meyer said that the Oshana entrepreneurs made their presentations for a grant realistic and they pitched in a convincing manner, as well as providing the adjudication panel with back-up support documentation.
The 17 grants allocated in Oshana Region yesterday evening was the highest, in comparison to grant allocations in the other 10 regions where P4R has run so far.
P4R Omusati programme starts tomorrow Saturday 05 December.
After being coached participants, those entrepreneurs in need of business recovery support, will pitch their need or ask for a grant to the panel of adjudicators. The adjudicator would then grant any of the amount requested ranging between N$3,000 and N$40,000.
The programme is financially supported by the German Development Agency GIZ.
In the photo: Are the five adjudicators for Oshana’s P4R smiling for the camera during their deliberations.
