Staff Writer
The Bank of Namibia has received the 2026 Institutional Leadership Award from the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), recognising its contribution to financial inclusion policy development and technical work within the global network.
The award was presented during the 2026 AFI Global Policy Forum in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
The bank’s deputy governor, Leonie Dunn, received the award on behalf of the institution. Dunn also serves on the AFI Board of Directors, where she contributes to the strategic direction and governance of the network.
The Institutional Leadership Award recognises an AFI member institution that demonstrates leadership through active engagement, technical contributions, thought leadership and representation of the network on global platforms.
The Bank of Namibia has been a principal member of AFI since 2009 and participates in its technical and policy platforms.
The bank also received individual recognition, with principal economist Sesilia Nekwaya-Okafor receiving the 2026 Technical Leadership Award for the Financial Inclusion Data and Impact Working Group (FIDIWG).
Nekwaya-Okafor serves as co-chair and gender focal point lead of FIDIWG. The award recognises individuals from AFI member institutions who demonstrate technical leadership and contribute technical inputs to the working groups’ work and outputs.
AFI is a member-owned global network of central banks, financial regulators and policymakers from emerging and developing economies focused on advancing policy solutions for financial inclusion.
Namibia’s engagement with AFI was further strengthened in 2025 when the Bank of Namibia co-hosted the AFI Global Policy Forum in Swakopmund.
The forum brought together more than 700 policymakers, regulators and financial sector stakeholders representing 71 AFI member institutions from 61 countries.
It resulted in the Swakopmund Call to Action, which called on policymakers to move beyond financial access towards financial inclusion that delivers meaningful and equitable outcomes.
Governor Ebson Uanguta welcomed the recognition of the institution and its staff following the delegation’s return from Papua New Guinea.
Uanguta said the awards demonstrated that Namibia was contributing knowledge, experience and practical solutions to international financial inclusion policy discussions.
He also encouraged the bank’s AFI team to continue using international platforms to learn from peers while sharing Namibia’s experiences and technical knowledge.
The bank said the awards build on its longstanding engagement with AFI and reinforce its commitment to an inclusive, resilient and responsive financial system that contributes to Namibia’s economic development.
