Tropics Events Coverage: 2025 Financial Alliance for Women Annual Summit, Kigali

Kigali, Rwanda (Tropics Media Group) – The energy was palpable at the Kigali Convention Centre as the 2025 Financial Alliance for Women Annual Summit unfolded, culminating in the historic launch of Rwanda’s Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code (WE Finance Code). Under the theme “Accelerating Enabling Entrepreneurial Ecosystems,” the event drew over 400 leaders from finance, policy, and entrepreneurship, all united by a singular mission: to revolutionize women’s financial inclusion.

A Defining Moment for Women’s Empowerment

The summit’s highlight came as Rwanda’s First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, delivered a stirring keynote, urging global financial leaders to see women’s empowerment not just as a moral imperative, but as a revolutionary economic strategy. “This is not just about women. This is about unleashing the full potential of our economies,” she declared. Her words set the tone for a gathering that was anything but ordinary—this was a call to action.

The Launch of the WE Finance Code

The official launch of the WE Finance Code marked a transformative milestone for Rwanda. This national, data-driven initiative mandates signatories to report gender-disaggregated data, ensuring transparency and accountability in expanding financial access for women-led businesses. “This Code is more than a gesture. It is a blueprint for systemic reform,” said Soraya Hakuziyaremye, Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda.

Hakuziyaremye emphasized Rwanda’s remarkable progress in financial inclusion—92% of adults now have access to financial services, with women’s access surging from 74% to 90% in just four years. Yet, she acknowledged persistent challenges, particularly the gender gap in access to credit, and called for leveraging fintech and data to close these gaps.

A Platform for Action and Innovation

The three-day summit was designed for impact, featuring plenary panels, country showcases, and roundtables that fostered candid dialogue between regulators, private sector leaders, and development partners. Jean Bosco Iyacu, CEO of Access to Finance Rwanda, captured the spirit of the event: “We are shifting focus from just access to meaningful usage of financial services. Our goal is to establish an enabling ecosystem where women can grow, lead, and compete at every level — local or global.”

Inez Murray, CEO of the Financial Alliance for Women, lauded Rwanda’s leadership: “With the launch of the WE Finance Code in Rwanda, we’re seeing a powerful public-private movement grounded in accountability and innovation. This is what systemic change looks like — not just in policy, but in practice.”

The Ripple Effect: Rwanda’s Global Influence

Rwanda’s commitment to gender-intentional finance now places it among a global network of over 30 countries implementing the WE Finance Code. The global ambition? To unlock the $1.7 trillion market potential of women entrepreneurs worldwide.

The summit’s closing message was clear: investing in women is smart economics and essential for resilient, inclusive societies. As First Lady Jeannette Kagame affirmed, “This is not charity. It is not a gamble. It is smart economics—and it is a revolution that we are proud to lead.”

Looking Ahead

With the successful launch of the WE Finance Code and the summit’s resounding call for action, Rwanda has once again positioned itself at the forefront of gender-inclusive innovation. The world is watching—and, as the summit proved, change is inevitable when inclusion is intentional.

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