NAMIBIA UNVEILS FINANCIAL BLUEPRINT TO BRIDGE INEQUALITY AND DRIVE DIGITAL GROWTH

Namibia launches a 10-year strategy to boost financial inclusion, digital innovation, and sector resilience by 2035.

Namibia Strategy Digital innovation Blueprint Financial inclusion Digital economy.
The Namibia Financial Sector Transformation Strategy 2025–2035
The Namibia Financial Sector Transformation Strategy 2025–2035



Namibia has unveiled a bold national strategy that positions digital inclusion and local empowerment at the heart of its financial future. The Namibia Financial Sector Transformation Strategy 2025–2035, launched on July 28, 2025, outlines a ten-year blueprint aimed at reengineering the financial system to better serve all Namibians, especially those historically excluded from formal finance.

The Bank of Namibia (BoN), together with the Ministry of Finance and the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA), led the charge on the strategy’s development. It prioritises five key pillars: expanding access to financial services, driving digital innovation, enhancing consumer literacy, localising financial services, and developing a skilled financial workforce.

Bank of Namibia Governor Johannes Gawaxab signalled a fundamental rethinking of finance’s role in society during the launch event in Windhoek. “We gather not to celebrate the status quo, but to redefine the role of finance in Namibia,” he said, pointing to the persistence of financial exclusion in rural and informal sectors as a major concern.

As part of its innovation thrust, the central bank plans to roll out a national instant payment system by 2026, aimed at making transactions faster, cheaper, and more inclusive. This digital payment infrastructure is expected to be a game-changer for underbanked populations, bringing them into the formal economy while aligning Namibia with continental fintech trends.

NAMFISA’s CEO Kenneth Matomola underscored the importance of adapting regulations to the digital age. He pledged that the financial watchdog would reinforce consumer protection through updated cybersecurity protocols and ethical governance for service providers.

Michael Humavindu, Executive Director at the Ministry of Finance, called the strategy a targeted intervention to break systemic barriers and reshape the financial landscape. “This is not merely a policy, it is a national commitment to reform,” he noted. The plan will also support Vision 2030 goals and serve as a foundation for Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).

The strategy was shaped through wide-ranging consultations with public and private sector stakeholders, civil society, and regional actors. It also incorporates insights from other economies across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), suggesting Namibia’s move could ripple beyond its borders and promote regional financial integration.

By charting a future that blends technology, equity, and strategic governance, Namibia is not only modernising its financial sector but also making a statement: no Namibian should be left behind in the digital economy.

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