Despite efforts to overcome unemployment, Namibia is still challenged by high youth unemployment.
Different interventions have been introduced by the Namibian government to enable the unemployed
youth to enter the labour market such as the Namibia Youth Credit Scheme programme. A study was
conducted in order to investigate how the Namibia Youth Credit Scheme (NYCS) has improved the
livelihood of the youth in the Zambezi Region formerly known as the Caprivi Region. The study
employed a qualitative research approach in which interviews were conducted for 23 respondents
including focus group discussions and hand analysis was used. The study found that the NYCS
programme has improved the livelihood of some beneficiaries through income generation, employment
creation in business and projects established from loans acquired. Challenges were also identified in
NYCS, such as lack of support for the implementation of NYCS policy, lack of transport to conduct
monitoring and field visits to youth businesses and projects of NYCS beneficiaries, no contractual
obligations between the MYNSSC and NYCS beneficiaries, discrepancies of the appointment of
implementing agencies, high loan repayment rates and inflexible repayment methods. The study also
provided recommendations for the success of NYCS; the MYNSSC should take the leading role of the
implementation of NYCS policy, review and appointment of responsible implementing agencies.
Implementing agencies’ performance should be reviewed and progress report to be submitted to the
MYNSSC.