From 7 to 11 September 2026, the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) undertook a five-day implementation mission to Lusaka, Zambia, under the FinRISE Capacity Development (CD) Programme. The ten-member, cross-functional AGF team brought together expertise in Programme Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation, Capacity Development, Analytics, Business Development, Procurement and Communications. The mission formed part of the continued rollout of FinRISE’s capacity-building activities following the successful completion of similar FMS data training in Kenya, with Côte d’Ivoire expected to follow.
A key focus of the mission was Data Collection, Disaggregation and Reporting Training for three Cohort 1 Fintechs, Microfinance Institutions and Saccos (FMSs): Premier Credit Limited, Premium Finance Limited and Agora Microfinance.
The training aimed to strengthen FMS capacity to systematically collect, manage, analyse and report data disaggregated by gender and age. Beyond meeting programme reporting requirements, the initiative seeks to embed quality data practices within FMS operations, enabling institutions to better understand their portfolios, identify financing gaps and improve products and services for women- and youth-owned/led agrifood MSEs.
The mission also included onboarding sessions for selected Capacity Development Providers (CDPs) and Business Development Services Providers (BDSPs). The sessions established a common understanding of FinRISE’s objectives, approved intervention areas, implementation expectations, roles and responsibilities, as well as Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and reporting requirements. The onboarding provided an opportunity to address technical and implementation questions and strengthen provider readiness ahead of programme delivery.
The AGF team engaged with FMSs and providers to advance the development and validation of Capacity Development proposals, particularly interventions aimed at strengthening credit readiness among MSE beneficiaries.
The mission also supported the validation of responses received through the recent Request for Proposals (RFP) for additional in-country CDPs, helping identify suitable providers for subsequent FinRISE cohorts.
Beyond implementation activities, the mission provided an opportunity to document emerging FinRISE milestones, results, lessons learned and potential impact stories. These insights will contribute to programme reporting, communications and stakeholder engagement, while supporting continuous learning and improvement.
The Zambia mission strengthened readiness across key stages of the FinRISE implementation chain equipping FMSs with stronger data capabilities, aligning CDPs and BDSPs with programme requirements, and advancing the CD origination and procurement pipeline.
Through these interconnected activities, FinRISE continues to strengthen the capacity of participating financial institutions and service providers to deliver more effective and inclusive financial services to women- and youth-owned/led agrifood MSEs.
