Namibia Hosts 2025 AFI Global Policy Forum to Advance Inclusive Finance

Namibia Hosts 2025 AFI Global Policy Forum to Advance Inclusive Finance. The 2025 Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum has officially opened in Swakopmund, Namibia, bringing together over 800 delegates from around the world to deliberate on the future of inclusive finance.

For the past four days, international participants have been arriving at Walvis Bay International Airport, signaling the scale and importance of this year’s event. Delegates have converged to exchange expertise, build partnerships, and chart policies that address financial inclusion at both global and national levels.

Day one of the Forum set the tone with intensive working group and committee sessions. Key themes under discussion include global standards and policy, consumer empowerment, digital financial services, SME finance, financial inclusion strategy peer learning, inclusive green finance, and the proportionality of global standards.

For Namibia, these discussions are closely aligned with national priorities. Efforts to expand access to financial services in rural and informal communities, safeguard consumers, and drive small business growth resonate strongly with the themes of the Forum. The focus on resilience against climate change through inclusive green finance also connects with the country’s broader sustainability agenda.

Hosting the Forum not only places Namibia at the center of international dialogue but also reinforces its growing role as a regional hub for financial innovation and policy leadership. The gathering of global experts and policymakers is expected to highlight approaches that strengthen inclusive finance while providing a platform for African economies to share experiences and perspectives.