Peer Groups are specialized member communities within the SME Finance Forum that focus on segment-specific priorities and solutions. Organized across four key segments—Banks, Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs), Fintechs, and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)—these groups enable deep-dive discussions, collaborative problem-solving, and targeted partnerships. They serve as platforms for sharing best practices, co-creating innovative models, and addressing common challenges, helping members accelerate impact and scale SME finance globally.
Digital Innovators Peer Group
Domestic and international development finance institutions Peer Group
DFIs are specialized banks that are created by government(s) to promote economic growth, poverty alleviation, SME development, job creations, gender equality, etc, both in developing and developed economies. DFIs adopt the same rules, policies and use the same instruments as commercial banks such as loans, credit lines, equity, and guarantees. Due to their different focus and development mandate, they tend to take more risks and adopt a longer-term perspective on their financial performance and profitability than commercial banks. Because of the above-mentioned differences, DFIs face specific challenges many which are not encountered by the commercial financial institutions. DFIs represent an important composition of the membership of the SME Finance Forum. While many of the activities of the SME Finance Forum are relevant and useful for the DFI members, a peer group of development finance institutions is deemed necessary so to enable them to share their learning and experiences with one another as well as to explore ways they could collaborate and explore partnership.
DFI Peer Group - Launch Feb 2026
NBFI Peer Group
The Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFI) Peer Group within the SME Finance Forum aims to bring together members and affiliates, creating a vibrant space where diverse, SME-focused NBFIs can learn, collaborate, and advocate for better access to financial services for SMEs.
By combining leadership and expertise from MFIs, finance, leasing, and factoring companies, as well as industry enablers, this group aims to improve the effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability of SME financing models. The peer group will be a structured forum for NBFIs to share knowledge, coordinate strategies, encourage collaboration, exchange market insights, and drive innovation in SME finance. The group will also address specific NBFI challenges—such as funding, client profiles, capacity building, credit risk, capital, and regulatory issues—and identify collective priorities.