Kigali, 11 February 2026 – Kigali Marriott Hotel
As momentum builds toward the third edition of the Inclusive FinTech Forum (IFF), government leaders, regulators, development partners, investors and the private sector gathered in Kigali for a high-level Partners’ Breakfast to align ambition and define priorities for IFF 2026.
Opening the session, KIFC CEO Hortense Mudenge underscored a pivotal shift: IFF must move beyond convening to scaling impact.
“How do we scale financial inclusion sustainably? How do we position Rwanda as a tech-led financial hub for the region and the continent?” she asked.
She emphasized that partnerships at IFF go beyond sponsorship, they shape direction, content and measurable outcomes.
KIFC CEO Hortense Mudenge urged efforts to amplify IFF’s impact for lasting change.
Echoing this call for alignment, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, Nick Barigye, stressed that collaboration is foundational to progress.
“When policy, technology and capital move in alignment, solutions scale faster and innovation reaches the communities who need it most,” he noted.
BNR Deputy Governor Nick Barigye highlighted the need for alignment between policy, technology, and capital.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of ICT & Innovation Hon. Paula Ingabire framed the forum’s 2026 theme “Shaping the Future of Inclusive Finance: Innovation. Impact. Connection,” as a call to action built on three pillars:
- Innovation that removes barriers and expands access
- Impact that delivers measurable, last-mile results
- Connection that turns partnerships into systemic change
“Innovation, impact and connection are choices we make through the partnerships we forge,” she concluded.
Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Hon. Paula Ingabire, stressed that innovation, impact, and connection are achieved through strategic partnerships.
During the event, discussions spotlighted regulatory harmonization, capital mobilization for African founders, data protection, and investor confidence as critical enablers of scale.
As preparations advance, partners reaffirmed that the future of inclusive finance will be defined not by conversations alone, but by the commitments and collaborations that endure long after the forum concludes.
Building on previous editions that convened over 3,000 decision-makers from 80+ countries, including heads of government, central banks, global investors and fintech leaders, IFF 2026 will prioritize these key anchor themes:
- Building Africa’s Digital Currency Corridor
- AI-Powered Financial Inclusion
- Open Finance Ecosystems
- Climate FinTech Solutions
The message was clear: IFF is a year-round platform that drives regulatory dialogue, catalyzing investment and positioning Rwanda as a global connector between Africa, and the rest of the world.
