The Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) announced the winners of the 2025 Global Financial Inclusion Awards during its annual Global Policy Forum held in Swakopmund, Namibia. The awards recognized central banks, financial institutions, and individual leaders who are advancing policies and practices to expand inclusive finance around the world.
The prestigious Nestor Espenilla Jr. Financial Inclusion Innovation Award was presented to the Bank of Tanzania for its groundbreaking efforts in driving inclusive digital finance solutions. The finalists in this category included Nepal Rastra Bank, Bank of Ghana, Banco Central del Paraguay, and Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador, each recognized for initiatives that address accessibility gaps in underserved markets.
In a notable achievement for Pakistan, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) secured the Global Youth Financial Inclusion Award. This award highlights SBP’s initiatives to promote financial literacy, youth-friendly banking solutions, and broader access to digital finance among younger populations. Other contenders in this category were Banque de la République d’Haïti, Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia.
Bangladesh Bank was awarded the Maya Declaration Commitment Award, recognizing its sustained dedication to global financial inclusion pledges. The finalists included the Palestine Monetary Authority, Bank of Uganda, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and the Central Bank of Egypt, all of whom have shown commitment to driving measurable financial inclusion targets.
The Institutional Leadership Award was conferred upon Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador, with strong competition from the Central Bank of Egypt, the State Bank of Pakistan, Comisión Nacional de Bancos y Seguros de Honduras, and Banco de Moçambique.
In the Technical Leadership categories, several individuals were honored for their specialized contributions to financial inclusion. Natalia Sanchez from the Superintendencia de Bancos de la República Dominicana won in Consumer Empowerment and Market Conduct, while Linda Dlamini-Khumalo of the Central Bank of Eswatini was recognized for her work in Digital Financial Services. Maria Katepa from the Bank of Zambia received the Financial Inclusion Data and Impact award for her leadership in evidence-based policy design.
Other individual awards included Aishath Asna Hamdi of the Maldives Monetary Authority for Financial Inclusion Strategy, Roberto Benjamin Iglesias Gonzalez of Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador for Global Standards Proportionality, and Chowdhuri Liakat Ali from Bangladesh Bank for Inclusive Green Finance. In the SME Finance category, Shereen Farouk Dahab of the Central Bank of Egypt was honored for advancing small and medium enterprise access to finance.
The finalists across these categories showcased a wide array of innovative approaches, from strengthening consumer protection frameworks to promoting green finance and enhancing digital financial ecosystems. Collectively, their efforts underscore the global momentum toward creating more equitable financial systems that empower vulnerable and underserved communities.
The AFI Global Financial Inclusion Awards have become a benchmark for recognizing excellence in inclusive finance. This year’s winners and finalists not only highlight the progress made across continents but also the critical role of central banks, policymakers, and individual leaders in shaping a more financially inclusive future.
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