The Katuka Mentorship Programme is dedicated to empowering and inspiring entrepreneurs, business professionals, and women across various industries to achieve success in their careers through mentorship. By pairing mentees with seasoned business and professional women, the programme fosters personal and professional growth through relationship building, training, and support. This mentorship approach provides a structured framework for sharing experiences, knowledge, and guidance, enabling mentees to start, sustain, or excel in their chosen fields while reaching their full potential.

Now in its twenty-fourth year, the Katuka Mentorship Programme has delivered measurable results, significantly impacting the careers of its participants. Since its inception, 525 entrepreneurs and businesswomen have completed the programme, benefiting from its unique model of career development. The programme connects younger women with experienced mentors who provide invaluable insights and support, helping mentees navigate their career paths and achieve their goals.

The selection panel for the Katuka Mentorship Programme comprises:

• Ms. Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, Patron and Advisor on Constitutional Affairs & Private Sector Interface, Office of the President.

• Sabine Ruegg, Owner of Thalestris Coaching Academy and a certified coach.

• Desèré Lundon-Muller, Programme Director & Owner of the Katuka Mentorship Programme; Partner at the Namibia Economist.

In 2024, 40 mentors and mentees successfully completed the programme and were honoured with certificates at the certificate ceremony held on November 21, 2024. For the 2025 intake, 54 mentors and mentees have registered to participate.

The programme begins with a comprehensive three-day orientation scheduled for February 5-7, 2025, designed to introduce mentees and mentors to the programme’s framework and objectives. Additional training sessions are planned for April and August 2025, ensuring continuous growth and development for all participants.

The Katuka Mentorship Programme remains committed to fostering meaningful connections and facilitating the success of women in business and professional fields, driving impactful change within their communities and industries. 

Goals and Objectives of the programme:

• To provide guidance to young professional and businesswomen to achieve success in their careers.
• To develop, coach and mentor young professional and businesswomen to grow and develop in their careers.
• To provide a platform for women to share experiences and make professional/business contacts that would propel their careers and business growth.
• To provide a safe structure and environment within which young professional and businesswomen can learn.
• To provide opportunities for more experienced professional and businesswomen to participate in the development of other women and enrich their own experience through it.
• To provide a platform for networking.

The benefits to the Namibian economy as a whole:

• Inter-organisational cross pollination of information and ideas
• Inter-sectoral exchange of ideas
• Empowerment of the female workforce
• Create an enabling environment for women
• Create a case study for Namibia on women mentoring women.

The benefits to the organisation as a result of a mentorship programme:

• More skilled and capable employee
• More satisfied employees who are less likely to leave the organisation prematurely
• New challenges for skilled and experienced employees
• Easier identification
• More accurate selection of new talent
• Improved organisation loyalty
• Access to the views and aspirations of employees / potential employees who can make significant contributions to the organisation in the future.