Africa’s ability to withstand the growing economic impact of climate change will depend largely on how effectively financial institutions place women, smallholder farmers and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) at the centre of climate financing. This assertion was highlighted at the Africa Inclusive Climate Finance Conference 2026, convened in Lagos by LAPO Microfinance Bank (LAPO MfB) in partnership with the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI).
The event, themed “Gender-Smart Finance for Climate-Smart Agriculture: Building Inclusive Rural Economies,” brought together financial institutions, regulators, development finance organisations, technology companies and private-sector stakeholders to examine the intersection of climate resilience, financial inclusion, women’s economic empowerment and sustainable enterprise. LAPO Microfinance Bank Managing Director Cynthia Ikponmwosa said the climate challenge was also a financing challenge, particularly for communities whose livelihoods depend on agriculture and informal economic activity.
“Climate resilience cannot be separated from financial inclusion,” Ikponmwosa said. “If women farmers, rural households and small businesses cannot access the capital they need to adapt, then climate finance will remain disconnected from the realities of the people it is meant to serve.” She stressed the need for financial institutions to move beyond conventional lending models and design solutions around the income patterns, vulnerabilities and opportunities of underserved communities.
WSBI representative Peter Simon highlighted the organisation’s 100-year history and its role in advancing inclusive financial services globally and in Nigeria. He stressed the importance of savings and retail banks in ensuring climate finance reaches grassroots communities. “The challenge before Africa is not simply to mobilise more capital, but to ensure that capital reaches the people and businesses that need it most,” Simon said.
“Inclusive finance must become part of the continent’s climate resilience infrastructure.”