The initiative targets individuals and small businesses that often face challenges accessing traditional banking credit.

The recognition, referred to as Women’s Financial Inclusion Champion, Banks at the Financial Inclusion Awards 2026, was presented by the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, who commended the bank’s role in expanding financial access and economic opportunities for women across the country.

The World Bank's Global Findex 2025 reveals that 77% of women globally now hold a financial account, yet in some low- and middle-income countries, women are still up to 30 percentage points less likely to own one than men. So, what's driving this persistent divide, and how do we close it?

As part of a new partnership with REWU, Bank of Kigali is joining the 2025 celebrations not only as a sponsor, but as a long-term financial partner dedicated to improving access to financial services, expanding digital inclusion, and empowering mining workers across the country.

BRAC shares three key takeaways from a survey of participants in their financial and digital literacy program.

Combining traditional survey data with supply-side data strengthens our understanding and helps validate key trends in the uptake and usage of mobile money. 

This case study highlights the collaboration with the Central Bank of Egypt and the National Bank of Rwanda, supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), to close the gender gap in financial services.

The commitment was underscored during a recent field visit in Cyuve sector, Musanze District, where representatives from the Swedish Embassy in Kigali, AFR, and MoneyPhone Africa engaged with local farmers currently benefiting from AFR-supported projects.