The Agricultural Bank of Namibia and the German Sparkassenstiftung for International Cooperation (DSIK), locally known as the international development branch of the German Savings Banks Finance Group, signed a cooperation agreement on Thursday, 11 June 2026, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening financial inclusion, enterprise development, and economic resilience in Namibia.
The agreement forms part of DSIK’s regional project, “Financial Inclusion and Medium/Small Enterprise Promotion for Employment and Resilience in Southern Africa”, which is implemented in Zambia, Malawi and Namibia, with financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The project seeks to strengthen small and medium enterprises (SMEs), improve access to financial services, promote financial literacy, and support the creation of sustainable and genderequitable employment opportunities.
Through this partnership, Agribank will strengthen its ongoing efforts to build sustainable and inclusive financial and non-financial solutions for the agricultural sector.
The partnership will add value to Agribank through technical assistance, knowledge transfer, and enhanced implementation support.
Key deliverables include targeted training for agri-SMEs, internal staff capacity building, and the development of sustainable financing solutions to support the effective execution of the Bank’s strategy and mandate.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Agribank acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abel Akayombokwa, said the collaboration aligns with the Bank’s mandate of advancing inclusive agricultural development and expanding access to financial services.
“This partnership represents an important milestone in Agribank’s efforts to enhance financial inclusion and strengthen the capacity of farmers and agri-entrepreneurs,” said Mr Akayombokwa.
“Through the sharing of international expertise, innovative training methodologies and sustainable finance tools, Agribank will be better positioned to support the growth and resilience of our clients and contribute meaningfully to the transformation of the agricultural sector.”
DSIK Head of Africa Division, Stefan Henklemann, highlighted that the partnership underscores the significance of collaboration between the two institutions by strengthening national and regional cooperation through knowledge transfer and the implementation of a structured framework, which will contribute to the Bank’s long-term efforts to build a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agriculture value chain.
The project will run for 24 months, from August 2026 to July 2028, and is expected to contribute to stronger livelihoods, greater economic participation by underserved communities, and increased resilience among households and agri-businesses.
In the photo: Mr Stefan Henklemann, DSIK Head of Africa Division, and Mr Abel Akayombokwa, Agribank acting Chief Executive Officer.
