DBN CEO Appointed to the SADC DFRC Board of Trustees

The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) proudly announces the appointment of its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. John Steytler, to the Board of Trustees of the Southern African Development Community’s Development Finance Resource Centre (SADC-DFRC). The appointment was confirmed at the SADC DFI Network meeting held on 29 November 2024 in Mbombela, South Africa. 

The SADC-DFRC is a subsidiary institution of SADC established under the SADC Protocol on Finance and Investment (FIP) and is collectively ‘owned’ by the SADC Development Finance Institutions (DFI) Network, with a current membership of forty-one (41) national DFIs. The DFRC is mandated to promote effective mobilisation of resources by the financial sector, in particular the DFIs, for investment in key areas with the potential to stimulate sustainable and inclusive growth, generate employment and alleviate poverty, in line with the objectives of SADC under the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020 - 2030. 

Dr. Steytler’s appointment to the SADC-DFRC Board is a testament to his leadership, expertise, and the DBN’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and economic development. His tenure, which runs from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026, underscores Namibia’s integral role in advancing the development finance agenda within the SADC region. 

Commenting on the appointments, Dr John Steytler, DBN CEO, said, "Namibia has an important role to play in advancing development finance within the region. This appointment is an opportunity to contribute to our shared sustainable goals while further strengthening our presence in shaping the future of development finance across Southern Africa." 

The newly appointed SADC-DFRC Board is comprised of other prominent leaders from various Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) across the region, including Mduduzi Dlamini, CEO of Eswatini Housing Board and Chairman of the SADC-DFRC Board; Cross Kgosidiile, Managing Director of the Botswana Development Corporation; Frank Nyabundenge, Managing Director of the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank; Obert Ngwenya, CEO of the Small & Medium Enterprises Development Corporation, Zimbabwe; Boitumelo Masako, CEO of the Development Bank of Southern Africa; Joao Salvador Quintas, CEO of Banco Desenvolvimento de Angola and 

Chairman of the SADC DFI Network; and Sadwick Mtonakutha, Director of the SADC Finance, Investment and Customs Directorate, who serves as an Ex Officio member. 

The DBN Board, management, and staff congratulate Dr. Steytler on this prestigious appointment. We are confident that his strategic vision and deep understanding of development finance will contribute significantly to the goals of the SADC-DFRC and the broader regional development agenda. 

Dr. John Steytler: DBN CEO