The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has received the 2026 Institutional Leadership Award from the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), recognising its contribution to financial inclusion policy development and international knowledge exchange.
BoN Principal Economist Sesilia Nekwaya-Okafor also received the 2026 Technical Leadership Award for her work with AFI’s Financial Inclusion Data and Impact Working Group (FIDIWG).
The awards were presented at the 2026 AFI Global Policy Forum in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
The Institutional Leadership Award recognises AFI member institutions for leadership within the global network, including technical contributions, policy development, knowledge sharing and representation at international platforms.
Deputy Governor Leonie Dunn received the award on behalf of BoN. Dunn also serves on the AFI Board of Directors, where she contributes to the network’s strategic direction and governance.
Nekwaya-Okafor received the Technical Leadership Award for her contribution to FIDIWG, where she serves as Co-Chair and Gender Focal Point Lead. The award recognises individuals who provide technical leadership and contribute to the work of AFI’s working groups.
BoN Governor Ebson Uanguta said the awards demonstrated Namibia’s growing contribution to international financial inclusion policy discussions.
“As a knowledge-based institution, we take particular pride in seeing both the Bank and our people recognised globally. Recognition of one of our own on a global platform is also recognition of the calibre of people we have within the Bank,” Uanguta said.
He said Namibia was increasingly contributing its own experience and technical expertise to international policy discussions rather than merely participating in them.
“These awards affirm that Namibia is not only participating in international policy discussions, but is contributing knowledge, experience and practical solutions that can help shape the financial inclusion agenda,” he said.
BoN has been a principal AFI member since 2009 and participates in the network’s technical and policy platforms.
Namibia’s role within AFI expanded in 2025 when BoN co-hosted the AFI Global Policy Forum in Swakopmund, which attracted more than 700 policymakers, regulators and financial sector stakeholders from 71 AFI member institutions across 61 countries.
The forum resulted in the Swakopmund Call to Action, which called on policymakers to move beyond expanding access to financial services towards ensuring financial inclusion produces meaningful and equitable outcomes.
