The Financial Alliance for Women Annual Summit 2025 officially kicked off in Kigali, Rwanda, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 and is set to be concluded today.
The summit, at which the First Lady of Rwanda, H.E. Jeannette Kagame, was the Chief Guest, centred on shaping the future of women’s financial inclusion by empowering women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Held under the theme, ‘Accelerating Enabling Entrepreneurial Ecosystems’, the summit brought together leaders, innovators and change-makers from 59 countries who gathered in Kigali to unlock bold ideas and partnerships for a more inclusive, resilient financial future.
In her opening remarks at the Summit, the First Lady highlighted global strategies to empower women in business and reinforce their leadership in gender-international finance
“It has been tried and proven that we cannot combat the injustice of extreme wealth disparity, a silent killer, unless we are willing to provide end-to-end mentorship, financial literacy training, and access to financing to women entrepreneurs,” the First Lady said.
“With intentional backing, investing in women is not only a safe bet, it is a revolutionary one. For us (Rwanda), investing in entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs, is the logical choice,” she added.
She also noted that Rwanda aims to become a middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income nation by 2050, although achieving this vision requires expanding the tax base, including transitioning more people, with appropriate support, from the informal to the formal sector.
“A stronger private sector is also key, especially in export-driving industries where women are at the forefront, like agriculture, which makes up 25% of our GDP,” she stressed.
Inez Murray, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Financial Alliance for Women, emphasised that the Summit focuses on exploring proven enterprise support models and examining what it takes to build ecosystems where women-led businesses can start, grow, and thrive.
“Rwanda has tried to chart a path grounded in the understanding that women’s financial inclusion is not charity and it’s certainly not a favour. It is a matter of economic survival, national resilience, and global competitiveness,” Murray observed.
Breaking Down Barriers
The summit heard that despite leading in many spaces, women in Rwanda still face significant challenges in the business world.
The summit thus aims to break down those barriers and create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
This is because by providing women with the tools, capital, and support they need to succeed, the summit is working towards a future where women have equal opportunities to thrive.
Platform for Connection and Learning
The summit has become a centre of powerful conversations and smart solutions, where people are connecting, learning, and building together.
It’s a platform for creating real strategies to support women entrepreneurs and promote inclusive entrepreneurship across Africa and beyond.
A Movement, Not Just a Meeting
It is important to note that this summit is more than just a meeting; it’s a movement that’s shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Rwanda, especially among women.
By believing in equal chances for women, traders, and business owners, the summit is working towards making that a reality.
With its focus on empowering women entrepreneurs, this movement has the potential to create a lasting impact and promote economic growth and development.