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In an increasingly uncertain global environment—marked by economic volatility, climate pressures, and shifting value chains—SMEs remain at the center of growth, resilience, and job creation, yet continue to face persistent financing gaps that limit their ability to scale, innovate, and transition toward more sustainable pathways. Across emerging markets, SMEs represent the backbone of economies but struggle to access the capital and tools needed to withstand shocks and invest in future-oriented opportunities.

Addressing this challenge requires systemic approaches that go beyond traditional lending, bringing together governments, financial institutions, fintechs, and development partners to unlock new models of financing. Public–private partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly emerging as a powerful mechanism to mobilize capital, share risks, and expand access to finance, while fostering innovation and strengthening SME ecosystems at scale. 

This webinar will explore how leading institutions are advancing systemic SME finance acceleration through coordinated public–private efforts, with a focus on building resilience, enabling sustainable growth, and leveraging innovation to reach underserved segments.
Drawing on practical experiences from key regions—South Africa, Malaysia, India, and Brazil—the session will highlight diverse models and lessons from markets that are at the forefront of SME finance transformation. These regions illustrate a spectrum of approaches, from digital trade finance innovations and policy-backed lending programs to ecosystem-based partnerships that combine finance with advisory, data, and market access solutions. 

Participants will gain insights into:

• How different countries are structuring public–private collaboration models to unlock SME financing at scale
• The role of innovation, digital platforms, and alternative financing tools in expanding access and improving efficiency
• Approaches to building resilience and sustainability into SME portfolios, particularly in times of heightened uncertainty
• Key enablers—policy, data, partnerships, and institutions—that are critical to driving systemic impact

The session will also connect these global experiences to the work of the SME Finance Forum’s Innovation Hub, highlighting how cross-country insights, improved analytics, and peer learning can inform future priorities, strengthen member capabilities, and accelerate impact across the network.

By bringing together diverse regional perspectives, the webinar aims to distill actionable best practices and foster collaboration to advance a shared agenda of scalable, resilient, and inclusive SME finance systems.