Industry Insights

SME Finance Forum today announced that SEEM, a Fintech and Sustainability Consulting company, has joined its global network of more than 250 SME finance institutions and industry stakeholders across 190 countries working to expand access to finance for small businesses worldwide. SEEM also serves large corporations and other FIs."We are delighted to welcome SEEM as our newest member. Together, we

DevSolutions Consulting, a U.S.-based advisory firm dedicated to expanding access to finance for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the United States and frontier markets, has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network's latest affiliate. The 250+ members and affiliates of the Forum are SME finance experts operating in more than 190 countries, sharing the common goal of expan

SME Finance Forum today announced that DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund has joined its global network of more than 250 SME finance institutions and industry stakeholders across 190 countries working to expand access to finance for small businesses worldwide. "We are delighted to welcome DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund JSC as our newest member. DAMU brings deep experience in building a

SME Finance Forum today announced that Hakeem Easy Finance, the licensed digital financing platform by Walee Financial Services, has joined its global network of more than 250 SME finance institutions and industry stakeholders across 190 countries working to expand access to finance for small businesses worldwide. "We are delighted to welcome Hakeem as our newest member. Hakeem’s innovative approa

This report prepared by our Member Asseco examines how European banks serving SMEs and corporate clients are transforming to meet growing demand for seamless, real-time, and data-driven banking experiences. The study, based on responses from 60 senior banking executives, finds that automation, AI, omnichannel integration, and advanced analytics are the primary investment priorities. While digital

SME Finance Forum today announced that Hakeem Easy Finance, the licensed digital financing platform by Walee Financial Services, has joined its global network of more than 250 SME finance institutions and industry stakeholders across 190 countries working to expand access to finance for small businesses worldwide. "We are delighted to welcome Hakeem as our newest member. Hakeem’s innovative approa

Survival or Growth? Nepal's Microenterprise Landscape and the Case for a Differentiated Policy ApproachInformal microenterprises are the backbone of urban Nepal's economy, absorbing a large share of the workforce and serving as a critical safety net where formal wage employment remains scarce. Yet the vast majority operate at subsistence levels, with limited prospects for productivity growth or st

Fundación WWB Colombia has joined the SME Finance Forum, the leading global network dedicated to financing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). This step is a natural one for the Foundation, an independent and autonomous organization that devoted its first three decades directly to the practice of microcredit. In 2011, the organization created Banco W to serve as its specialized

Small Firms, Big Impact: Digitization, Financial Services, and Climate Resilience in Five Emerging MarketsCenter for Financial Inclusion, AccionAUTHORS: Edoardo Totolo, Paul Gubbins, Lucciana Alvarez Ruiz, Anindita Chakraborty, Liz McGuinness, Colin Rice24 Apr 2025This report presents findings on a survey of over 20,000 MSEs with over 4,000 interviews conducted, revealing opportunities for growth

We’re thrilled to welcome the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) to the Forum as an affiliate member. CAB is a community of banks and other financial institutions in the Caribbean/CARICOM Region, whose mission is to advance the interests of member institutions through advocacy, networking, provision of training and other solutions to strengthen the Caribbean Financial Services sector. “SME Finan

MIRA has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 250+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. "The SME Finance Forum is pleased to welcome MIRA as its newest partner. We look forw

This note provides an overview of the MSME Economic Indicators (MSME-EI) database, previously known as the MSME Country Indicators database. It collates the official country level definitions of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from over 176 economies. The comprehensive database is a unique data source that highlights the variety of definitions, allowing the IFC to assess the use of th

June 15, 2026 –  SME Finance Forum today announced that has joined its global network of 250+ SME financing experts across 190 countries working to expand small business access to finance worldwide."We are delighted to welcome Asseco Poland as our newest member. Technology plays an increasingly important role in expanding access to finance for SMEs, and we look forward to collaborating with Asseco

May 14, 2026 – Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank (KICB) has joined the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of the global membership network. The Forum’s 250+ members and affiliates are SME finance experts operating across 190 countries, united by a shared goal of expanding access to finance for small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “We are pleased to welcome Kyrg

Illumina Global joins the SME Finance Forum   Washington D.C, April 23, 2026–Illumina Global has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 250+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. 

The 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report, published by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) in partnership with the Bank for International Settlements, IMF, and World Economic Forum, finds that the financial services industry is rapidly outpacing regulators in AI adoption. Fintechs are leading the charge over traditional incumbents, with Generative AI and agentic AI emerging

How Alternative Data and AI Are Transforming Lending for Underserved and thin-file BorrowersCracking the Credit Code: Alternative Data and AI for Financial Inclusion explores how new data sources and artificial intelligence are transforming credit scoring and expanding access to finance for underserved borrowers in emerging markets. Traditional credit systems often exclude individuals and small bu

HighlightsWomen represent a distinct and profitable customer segment that is often underserved by traditional financial products and services.Financial institutions must identify, acknowledge, and address gender biases rooted in cultural norms, stereotypes, and institutional processes.A structured approach, including understanding gender dynamics, building organizational capacity, and designing in

SMEs play a pivotal role in driving the green transition. Increasingly, the provision of sustainability-related data is required to access green finance and participate in global value chains. However, many SMEs face challenges in measuring and reporting on their sustainability performance, stemming from a lack of resources and expertise; difficulties in data collection; and complexity and insuffi

Emerging markets require approximately US$2.5 trillion to achieve their ambitious climate adaptation and resilience goals. The financial sector is integral to tackling the mounting economic and social impacts of climate change. This white paper examines how financial sector regulators and industry associations can guide the sector toward sustainable finance systems that are more resilient and incl