On January 20, 2026, German development bank KfW announced a $13 million equity investment in the Regional MSME Investment Fund for Sub‑Saharan Africa (REGMIFA), operational since 2010.
The injection aims to strengthen the fund’s financial capacity and expand access to credit through local financial intermediaries, mainly microfinance institutions, for SMEs and low‑income households across the region.
In 2024, REGMIFA invested $36.7 million through 18 partner institutions, supporting 218,798 end borrowers in 25 sub‑Saharan countries, with 39 % women among beneficiaries, and prioritizing local currency loans to reduce exchange risk.
KfW’s contribution boosts the fund’s ability to serve more grassroots businesses in economies where SMEs make up nearly 90 % of firms and account for around 60 % of formal employment.
