Browsing by Author "Amadhila, Foibe Kandalindishiwo"

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    Evaluating the effect of the Micro Finance Scheme Programme for rural entrepreneurs in Oshikoto Region, Namibia
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Amadhila, Foibe Kandalindishiwo; Lange, Junay; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : The notion and practice of rural development gained prominence in today’s economies as a result of underdevelopment and huge disparities between urban centres and rural areas. Immediately after the independence of Namibia, attention was concentrated on the development and improvements of urban areas while rural areas, where most of the poor and marginalised resided, were neglected. Regarded as agricultural centres, it was reasoned that there was no need to take services to these areas and that rural inhabitants could anyway not afford to pay for or maintain services. With fewer opportunities available in rural areas, people went to seek a better life in the peri-urban and urban centres. Subsequently, the Government of the Republic of Namibia, in consultation with development partners and stakeholders, introduced a number of programmes and interventions aimed at developing rural areas, explore opportunities and potentials. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are engines of many economies and greatly contribute to employment and wealth creation. In addition, MSMEs trigger entrepreneurship and contribute to self-reliance and also to the economic growth of communities. Although MSMEs can make major contributions to the economy, they are faced with a number of challenges of which some are access to finance, financial services and land, lack of entrepreneurial and business skills, and lack of adequate supporting infrastructure. Lack of funding and financial services is regarded as the most serious constraint to entrepreneurship and MSMEs growth and development. Hence, the Government of the Republic of Namibia through the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development introduced a Micro Finance Scheme Programme to be implemented at regional level by regional authorities. The programme is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, supporting and empowering viable existing and new MSMEs businesses and projects in rural Namibia and in the end improve the livelihood of rural inhabitants and gear the country towards attainment of the national development goals and Vision 2030, through providing funding and funding advice to MSMEs in rural areas. The main objectives of the programme are: promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation in rural areas; providing financial support, building capacity of rural entrepreneurs, creating decent employment, and increase income and wealth. Thus, it targets rural inhabitants aged 18 and above, more specifically the youth and women since they are the most marginalised in our communities. The study evaluates the effects of the Micro Finance Scheme Programme in the Oshikoto Region, to establish if the programme is being executed as planned; whether it is reaching the intended beneficiaries and whether it had an effect in the region. Furthermore, the study will make recommendations for adjustments and improvements on the programme. A survey of the Rural Services personnel at Oshikoto Regional Council as administrators of the programme as well as enterprises and project members in the Oshikoto region that have benefited from the programme, was conducted to find out their views and perceptions of the programme, the effects as well as the challenges they are experiencing or have experienced by both programme administrators and beneficiaries. It is established that the programme is necessary although a lot still need to be done for it to realise its intended goals and benefits. The study concludes that it requires more commitment and guidance as well as training and mentorship for both administrators and beneficiaries or target population to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the programme and realisation of the goal of sustainable and inclusive rural development.