MBABANE – As the AFI regional workshop entered its third day on Tuesday, experts gathered in the capital stressed the urgent need for financial inclusion, targeted policy support, and capacity building to strengthen micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Africa.
Hosted in Eswatini, the workshop brought together financial regulators, climate finance specialists, and policy actors to explore how monetary institutions can play a stronger role in helping MSMEs navigate the shift to green economies.
Central Bank of Eswatini’s Deputy Director of Bank Supervision, Bhekizwe Dlamini, told delegates that central banks hold a critical position in steering green finance through monetary policy. He noted that a deliberate framework is needed to direct financial instruments toward sustainable projects that benefit MSMEs.
AFI’s Regional Head, Nomcebo Hadebe, urged a “just transition” approach that ensures MSMEs are not left behind in the shift to greener practices. She said affordable finance, tailored capacity development, and clear sustainability incentives must all be part of the solution.
Climate Finance Expert Reuben Wambul warned that although MSMEs account for up to 70 percent of employment on the continent, many are trapped in cycles of underfunding, poor infrastructure, and fragile value chains that threaten their growth and survival.
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