Each year, the AFI Global Financial Inclusion Awards celebrate the achievements of member institutions and policymakers in advancing inclusive finance. The 2026 finalists and winners were revealed during AFI’s annual Global Policy Forum, in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Nestor Espenilla Jr. Financial Inclusion Innovation Award

Winner: Bank of Zambia

Finalists:

• State Bank of Pakistan
• Banque de la République d’Haïti
• Banco Central del Paraguay
• Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador

Financial Inclusion Policy Achievement Award

Winner: State Bank of Pakistan

Finalists:

• Bank of Tanzania
• National Bank of Rwanda
• Palestine Monetary Authority
• Superintendencia de Bancos de la República Dominicana

Maya Declaration Commitment Award

Winner: Bangladesh Bank

Finalists:

• Bank of Tanzania
• Bank Negara Malaysia
• Central Bank of Sri Lanka
• Palestine Monetary Authority

Institutional Leadership Award

Winner: Bank of Namibia

Finalists:

• Central Bank of Egypt
• State Bank of Pakistan
• Reserve Bank of Fiji
• Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador

Technical Leadership Awards

Consumer Empowerment & Market Conduct Working Group

Winner: Ayman Elsaeed, Central Bank of Egypt

Finalists:

• Dr Khadijah Kishimba, Bank of Tanzania
• Gérard Nsabimana, National Bank of Rwanda

Digital Financial Services Working Group

Winner: Eserani Munivai, Reserve Bank of Fiji

Finalists:

• Abdulrahman Ababneh, Central Bank of Jordan
• Linda Dlamini, Central Bank of Eswatini

Financial Inclusion Data and Impact Working Group

Winner: Sesilia Nekwaya, Bank of Namibia

Finalists:

• Mohammed Haridy, Central Bank of Egypt
• Rita Kayibanda, National Bank of Rwanda

Financial Inclusion Strategy Peer Learning Group

Winner: Khaled Bassiouny, Central Bank of Egypt

Finalists:

• Nangi Massawe, Bank of Tanzania
• Caroline Waqabaca, Reserve Bank of Fiji

Global Standards Proportionality Working Group

Winner: Clarence Blay, Bank of Ghana

Finalists:

• Mariama Sillah, Central Bank of The Gambia
• Sally Abdel Kader, Central Bank of Egypt

Inclusive Green Finance Working Group

Winner: Rhodora Brazil-De Vera, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

Finalists:

• Walid Ali, Central Bank of Egypt
• Cyril Benoiton, Central Bank of Seychelles

SME Finance Working Group

Winner: Gcina Patrick Nxumalo, Central Bank of Eswatini

Finalists:

• Dr Amale Idrissi, Bank Al-Maghrib
• Shereen Farouk Dahab, Central Bank of Egypt

Congratulations to all our winners and finalists! You can view photos of the Awards ceremony here.