The FNB Namibia Foundation Holding Trust has sponsored an amount of N$594,300 towards Business Growth Support Training and the Females Fired Up Business Programme, coordinated by SME Compete.
At the official handover, Revonia Kahivere, Manager: Corporate Social Investment at FNB Namibia said that one of the things the African marketplace in sub-Sahara have in common was the active presence of women, selling food, vegetables, clothes and many other consumer products. “Women are very visible in most capitals, playing a vital role in the socio-economic fabric of the country. Unfortunately, their economic activities are often limited to the informal or domestic areas. Their potential is yet to be set free.”
Claudine Mouton of SME Compete thanked FNB Namibia for their ongoing support: “When the need for skills honing programme specifically aimed at female entrepreneurs was identified, the FNB Foundation’s funding helped SMEs Compete conceptualise, develop and prepare material for a Females Fired-up For Business programme. Although it is being run in Windhoek for the first time this week, the programme has previously been presented in Walvis Bay, Keetmanshoop and Ongwediva.” She added that cultural issues in the Namibian society, multiple roles women must fulfill, and power dynamics in the family, society and at workplace, required female entrepreneurs to work hard, and smart too. “Women are required to have a multiskilling ability to cope with routine business challenges and simultaneously cope with domestic circumstance demands.”
Aimed at women entrepreneurs with a desire to grow businesses beyond a mere monotonous life-style enterprise, so far just short of 50 females in business have participated. The aim is to reach 90 women in business by mid-2018.