Cross-Border Finance
Forum for SMEs
Building Africa's Trust, Finance and Market Access Infrastructure for SMEs
MINICOM
2026 Focus Areas
This Year's Key Themes
Digital Finance & Fintech
How fintech and mobile money are reshaping SME financing across Africa.
AfCFTA & Cross-Border Trade
Opening new trade finance corridors for SMEs under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
SME Certification & Trust
Digital identities reducing information asymmetry between SMEs and banks.
Guarantee Instruments
Risk-sharing funds enabling banks to extend credit to underserved enterprises.
Women & Youth-Led SME Financing
Financing pathways and policy frameworks for women and youth entrepreneurs.
Climate Finance for SMEs
Green finance and climate adaptation instruments for the SME ecosystem.
Executive Message
Africa Lacks Trusted Pipelines
Africa does not lack entrepreneurs.
Africa does not lack capital.
Africa lacks trusted pipelines connecting its enterprises to finance and global markets.
CBFF-SME builds this missing infrastructure in Kigali, Rwanda — combining four integrated capabilities that connect African SMEs with capital, markets, and global partners.
✓ Trusted Enterprise Certification
Digital identities reducing information asymmetry for banks and investors.
✓ Structured Access to Capital
Deal-driven marketplace connecting SMEs with banks and development finance institutions.
✓ AI-driven Global Market Access
Trade intelligence matching African SMEs with international buyers.
✓ Physical Gateways to International Buyers
Made In... By Africa Concept Store in Brussels — economic diplomacy platform.
Host City · 2026
KIGALI
RWANDA
Africa's Innovation Capital
Clean & Green
Model city of Africa
Finance Hub
Kigali International Financial Centre
Safe & Open
Top 3 safest cities in Africa
Tech Capital
Africa's leading digital ecosystem
Heart of Africa
Continental crossroads
KIGALI.
Rwanda · Host City 2026
Past Editions
Over a Decade of Connecting African SMEs & Banks
Forum Programme
Two Days of Impact
Policy Leadership, SME Growth & Market Access
- Opening Ceremony — MINICOM · Ministry of Finance · Ministry of Trade
- Banking Leaders Panel: Bank of Kigali · I&M Bank · Bank of Africa
- SME Investment Pitch Session & Deal Room Access
- Official Networking Reception
CBFF Deal Room — Africa's SME Investment Marketplace
- Deal Room Opening — From Dialogue to Investment (MINICOM)
- Deal Room Meetings — Round 1 & Round 2
- Closing Session: Financing African SMEs — The Road Ahead
- VIP Dinner
6th Pillar — Inclusive Growth
Women & Youth Entrepreneurship Accelerator
CBFF Kigali 2026 integrates a dedicated inclusion initiative accelerating access to finance, leadership visibility, and international opportunities for women and youth entrepreneurs.
40% of selected SMEs reserved for women-led & youth-led enterprises
Women & Youth Investment Pitch Sessions
Dedicated pitch slots for women-led and youth-led enterprises to present to banks, investors, and development finance institutions.
Leadership Dialogue
High-level dialogue on Women Entrepreneurship & Economic Inclusion, bringing together policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs.
Mentorship & Capacity Building
Structured mentorship and capacity-building sessions to strengthen investment readiness and export preparation.
Dedicated Selection Quota
At least 40% of selected SMEs are reserved for women-led and youth-led enterprises across all forum activities.
Exclusive Networking Sessions
Curated networking connecting women and youth entrepreneurs directly with investors and strategic partners.
Exclusive Feature
Deal Room Sessions
The Deal Room is the heart of CBFF Kigali 2026. Pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings connect investors and banks with Africa's highest-potential SMEs in structured, private sessions.
Deal Room access is limited and must be registered for in advance. Priority is given to registered SMEs, banks, and institutional investors.
Register for Deal Room Access
Consortium
Our Organising Consortium
Re-bird Belgium
European bridge connecting African SMEs to EU markets and investors
SBPME-UEMOA
West African regional SME finance and banking innovation platform
partenariat@salonpmeuemoa.orgKigali Serena Hotel, Rwanda
Two days of high-level dialogue, deal-making, and networking at Rwanda's premier conference venue.