Lusaka, Zambia – 25 September 2026
Zambia Credit Guarantee Scheme Limited (ZCGS) has been selected as a finalist in the Global SME Finance Awards 2026, marking another significant milestone in the institution’s efforts to expand access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Zambia.
ZCGS was selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, with the recognition highlighting the Scheme’s innovation and impact in advancing access to finance for SMEs.
The Global SME Finance Awards celebrate financial institutions and organisations that demonstrate outstanding achievements in supporting small and medium enterprises through innovative financing solutions, partnerships and initiatives that contribute to inclusive economic growth.
The recognition comes as ZCGS continues to strengthen its role in Zambia’s financial ecosystem by working with Partner Financial Institutions to facilitate access to affordable finance for viable MSMEs that may otherwise struggle to obtain credit due to inadequate collateral or perceived lending risks.
Being named a finalist provides ZCGS with an opportunity to showcase Zambia’s progress in developing innovative credit guarantee solutions to the global SME finance community and to exchange experiences with institutions and experts from around the world.
The winners of the Global SME Finance Awards 2026 will be announced during the Awards Ceremony on 19 November 2026.
The Global SME Finance Forum will be held alongside the Singapore FinTech Festival, bringing together SME finance experts, innovators and policymakers from across the world. The event will provide opportunities for knowledge exchange, networking and engagement on emerging approaches to improving access to finance.
The finalist recognition reinforces ZCGS’s commitment to its mandate of enhancing access to affordable finance for MSMEs through credit guarantees, while supporting enterprise development, job creation and Zambia’s broader economic development agenda.
For ZCGS, the recognition represents not only an institutional achievement but also an opportunity to raise the profile of Zambia’s credit guarantee system on the international stage and demonstrate the role that innovative risk-sharing mechanisms can play in unlocking finance for MSMEs.
