African Banker Awards Reveal Nominees for 2026 AFAWA Bank of the Year Award

Now in its fourth year as part of the prestigious African Banker Awards, the award highlights banks and financial institutions making significant contributions toward closing Africa’s estimated $42 billion gender financing gap.

The African Banker Awards have announced the nominees for the 2026 Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Bank of the Year Award, recognising financial institutions that are expanding access to finance for women entrepreneurs across Africa.

Now in its fourth year as part of the prestigious African Banker Awards, the award highlights banks and financial institutions making significant contributions toward closing Africa's estimated $42 billion gender financing gap.

The award is sponsored by the African Guarantee Fund and the African Development Bank Group and forms part of the wider AFAWA initiative aimed at boosting financing opportunities for women-owned and women-led businesses across the continent.

Five Banks Shortlisted for 2026 Award

The shortlisted financial institutions for the 2026 AFAWA Bank of the Year Award are:

• CRDB Bank

• National Bank of Malawi

• NCBA Bank Kenya PLC

• NMB Bank PLC

• Rawbank

The winner will be announced on Wednesday 27 May during the 20th edition of the African Banker Awards, one of the flagship events taking place alongside the African Development Bank Group's 2026 Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs Across Africa

The AFAWA initiative — particularly through its flagship Guarantee for Growth facility — aims to unlock $5 billion in financing for 30,000 women-owned and women-led businesses through partnerships with financial institutions.

The programme also plans significant expansion over the coming years, targeting:

• At least double the volume of financing directed to women entrepreneurs

• At least twice the number of women beneficiaries by 2033

Dr Jemimah Njuki, Director for Gender, Women and Civil Society at the African Development Bank Group, said the award reflects the growing importance of gender-responsive financing in Africa's economic development agenda.

"Aligned with African Development Group's 2026 Annual Meetings theme, Mobilising Africa's Development Financing at Scale in a Fragmented World, the 2026 AFAWA Bank of the Year Award spotlights the African financial institutions that support women-led businesses through access to finance, gender responsive policies and regulations, as well as skills training and mentorship that enable them to grow and thrive," Dr Njuki said.

Recognition for Gender-Smart Banking

The nominated institutions have been recognised for developing tailored financial products and support systems specifically designed for women entrepreneurs.

According to organisers, these efforts include:

• Expanding access to credit for women-owned businesses

• Flexible lending solutions

• Financial literacy initiatives

• Mentorship programmes

• Business advisory services

• Gender-responsive banking policies

The awards reflect a broader shift within African banking toward recognising the economic value and growth potential of women-led enterprises.

AFAWA's Growing Impact

The African Development Bank Group says AFAWA has expanded rapidly across the continent through partnerships with around 200 financial institutions operating in 44 African countries.

To date, the programme has:

• Disbursed more than $1.5 billion in financing

• Supported more than 26,000 women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs)

Officials say the initiative is helping transform an historically underserved segment of the economy into a major driver of growth, innovation, and job creation.

"The African Development Bank Group, through AFAWA and its partnership with the African Guarantee Fund, is transforming a largely untapped demographic of women-led businesses into a stronger economic dividend," the statement noted.

Broad International Support

AFAWA is supported by a range of international development partners, including:

• France

• Canada

• Italy

• Germany

• The European Commission

• The Netherlands

• Sweden

• The Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) of the World Bank Group

The programme forms part of wider efforts to improve financial inclusion, promote gender equality, and support sustainable economic growth across Africa.

Tags: African Banker Awards, AFAWA, African Development Bank, Women Entrepreneurs, Gender Finance, Africa Banking, Financial Inclusion, African Guarantee Fund, Women-Led Businesses, SME Finance, Economic Development, Gender Equality, Africa Economy, Banking Awards, Women in Business