THE Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) gained international recognition, with two financial-inclusion specialists honoured at the 2026 Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Financial Inclusion Awards in Papua New Guinea.
Deputy Director – Financial Inclusion and Development Finance Gcina Nxumalo won the Technical Leadership Award for the SME Finance Working Group (SMEFWG) at the awards held in Port Moresby.
CBE announced the recognition over the weekend, describing the achievement as a significant milestone for its financial-inclusion work.
The technical leadership awards recognise members of AFI’s member institutions who have made outstanding technical contributions to the network. Seven recipients are selected each year, with one award presented to a member from each of AFI’s seven working groups.
Nxumalo serves as Co-Chair in one of the SMEFWG, working alongside the chair from the Central Bank of Egypt and co-chair two from the Reserve Bank of Fiji.
His recognition places Eswatini among AFI members whose technical expertise is contributing to discussions and initiatives focused on improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Also representing CBE at the awards was Deputy Director – FinTech and Innovation Linda Dlamini, who was named a finalist for the Digital Financial Services Working Group Technical Leadership Award.
Dlamini’s latest recognition follows her victory in the same category at the 2025 AFI Global Financial Inclusion Awards, making her continued presence among the network’s recognised technical leaders notable.
The two recognitions come as CBE continues to participate in AFI working groups covering key areas of financial inclusion, including SME finance and digital financial services.
The developments in Port Moresby also saw Eswatini assume an important leadership role within the African arm of the AFI network, with CBE Governor Dr Phil Mnisi taking over as Chairman of the African Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (AfPI).
Mnisi succeeded the Bank of Ghana and convened his first AfPI Leaders’ Roundtable as chairperson during the Global Policy Forum.
His appointment gives the country a leadership role in regional discussions on financial inclusion, while the recognition of Nxumalo and Dlamini places CBE officials in prominent technical positions within the wider AFI network.
The developments collectively mark a strong showing by the kingdom at this year’s global financial-inclusion gathering, where policymakers and financial-sector stakeholders from across the world are meeting to discuss building more inclusive and resilient financial systems.
