Insights & News

SME Finance Forum today announced that Spartan SME Finance 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 Spartan SME Finance as our newest member. Spartan’s long-standing commitment to supporting established SMEs through structured

The Association of South African Payment Providers (ASAPP) has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 250+ members and affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance for small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation.“SME Finance Forum proudly

CARE has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 250+ members and affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance for small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation.“The SME Finance Forum proudly welcomes CARE as a new affiliate. CARE’s decades o

SME Finance Forum today announced that Export Development Türkiye (İGE) 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 Export Development Türkiye (İGE) as our newest member. İGE’s contribution to the SME finance ecosystem aligns wit

BCR Publishing Ltd, a leading provider of news, market intelligence, events, and training for the global receivables and payables finance industry, 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 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance for small bus

ConsumerCentriX (CCX), an impact consulting firm specializing in inclusive finance and market strategy, has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network's latest affiliate. The Forum's more than 250 members and affiliates are SME finance institutions and industry stakeholders operating in 190 countries that share the common goal of expanding access to finance for small businesses

The Global Climate Finance Forum (GCFF), a multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to accelerating climate finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) delivering climate solutions across the Global South, has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network's latest affiliate. The Forum's network of more than 250 members and affiliates is made up of SME finance institutions and

APIX Platform, the world’s first collaborative Innovation Platform, 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 institutions and industry stakeholders operating in 190 countries that share the common goal of expanding access to finance for small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and

“Banking on Women Who Trade Across Borders” underscores the critical need for gender equality in international trade and trade finance. Despite the documented positive impacts of women-owned businesses on economic growth and poverty reduction, a significant gap remains in understanding how international trade intersects with female participation, particularly in accessing trade finance. Drawing fr

The world faces a jobs challenge of historic proportions that will shape global prosperity and stability for decades to come. Between 2025 and 2035, around 1.2 billion young people in emerging market and developing economies are set to reach working age, the largest youth cohort the world will likely ever see. Jobs are essential to reducing poverty, promoting shared prosperity, building self-suffi

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs have confronted a series of shocks in recent years, impacting their access to finance. While financing conditions have eased in many economies following a period of monetary tightening, borrowing costs for SMEs remain high relative to pre-pandemic levels, and banks continue to apply stringent lending terms amid economic uncertainty.Financ

The fintech market generated $650 billion in revenue in 2025, a 21% rise from the previous year, according to McKinsey’s “The next age of fintech” report. That far outpaces the 6% annual growth seen in the $15-trillion broader financial services market.Public listings also showed early signs of recovery in 2025, with 31 notable fintech IPOs, according to the report. The cumulative market capitaliz

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

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