From 1-4 July in Lilongwe, AFI and the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) are co-hosting a training event for AFI’s Africa-region members on the topic of Empowering Women-led MSMEs through Financial Education. 

“Women entrepreneurs are significant drivers of economic development in Africa, they continue to face barriers in accessing finance,” said Audrey Hove, AFI Head of Policy Management. “By equipping them with the knowledge and tools to navigate the financial system, we can contribute to building resilient, thriving businesses and communities.” 

“Today we reaffirm our commitment to placing women-led MSMEs at the centre of our inclusive financial growth agenda,” said Reserve Bank of Malawi Deputy Governor, Dr Kisu Simwaka. “Financial literacy lies at the heart of overcoming most of the barriers which WMSMEs face. By empowering women entrepreneurs with financial education, we are sowing the seeds of prosperity for generations to come.” 

The training is designed to enable participants to evaluate financial literacy challenges, identify key initiatives and tools for effective interventions, and recommend measures for financial service providers to develop tailored programs for WMSMEs. The program features speakers from RBM and key local stakeholders including the Malawi Microfinance Network, Small and Medium Development Institute (SMEDI), Vision Fund Malawi, FINCA Malawi, and NBS Bank. Other AFI members presenting include the Bank of Tanzania, Central Bank of Lesotho, Bank of Ghana, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Central Bank of Egypt, and Central Bank of Liberia.  

The program also includes a field visit to SMEDI, to observe their training programs and interact with women entrepreneurs.