The need for financial systems which build broadscale resilience was emphasized during the Closing Ceremony of the 2026 AFI Global Policy Forum in Port Moresby.

Elizabeth Genia, Governor of Bank of Papua New Guinea, said that “our discussions have made it clear that access alone is not enough: people need financial services that are useful and affordable, that they can use safely, and that make them more resilient when a shock arrives. That is a demanding agenda which asks more of regulators and more of financial institutions, but it gives us a clear purpose.”

“Financial systems are only as resilient as the people they serve,” said Leonie Dunn, Deputy Governor of Bank of Namibia. “Resilience cannot be added after a crisis or treated as an afterthought. It must be woven into the fabric of policy, designed into the core of policy and into the core of infrastructure, institutions and markets from the get-go. If we leave resilience outside the door, we have already commenced a journey of failure.”

Regarding the need to build resilience to climate shocks, both leaders highlighted the value of the Port Moresby Compact on Inclusive Green Finance, launched during the Global Policy Forum, which provides a framework for countries to embed Inclusive Green Finance into national policy, regulatory and supervisory frameworks.