Access Bank and ITC Partnered to Support African SMEs
The three-year initiative provides small businesses with new digital tools and access to finance.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Financial Services
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Access Bank and the International Trade Centre have launched a three-year partnership across 14 African nations to improve financing and job growth for small businesses. A pilot program utilizing digital training will launch in Ghana to address capital and market access gaps.
Why it matters
Small businesses generate the majority of employment in Africa yet frequently face systemic barriers to capital and formal market participation. This initiative seeks to bridge those operational gaps through formalized training and financial integration.
The partnership spans 14 African countries and will run for a three-year term. Access Bank currently operates 700 branches across 25 countries and serves a total customer base of 63 million people.
The players
Access Bank
A multinational financial services provider that manages 700 branches across 25 countries.
International Trade Centre
A joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations focused on supporting small business internationalization.
The details
The program coordinates digital learning and training-of-trainers modules via Access Africa Office staff to streamline business development for local entrepreneurs. By aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals, the partnership aims to standardize financial support and market-entry services for small entities. The pilot phase in Ghana serves as the testing ground for these integrated tools before a planned expansion to other African markets.
Timeline
September 2026: Pilot program implementation begins in Ghana.
June 2027: The initial pilot phase concludes.
2027 onwards: The partnership scales to additional countries and programs.
Market Landscape
This partnership formalizes an operational shift toward integrating SME support with UN Sustainable Development Goals 5, 8, and 9. It follows a broader trend of financial institutions leveraging digital training to de-risk lending to small-business segments.
Business operators in the pilot region should monitor the launch of digital training tools as a potential resource for accessing new capital channels. These services represent a shift toward standardized digital financial management that may influence competitive requirements in African markets.
The takeaway
The partnership prioritizes the scalability of financial access and digital literacy as key drivers for regional economic growth. Operators should track the 2027 scaling phase as a potential signal for increased market competition and standardized business support in the affected 14 countries.
What happens next
The pilot program is scheduled to begin in Ghana in September 2026, with the initial phase running until its conclusion in June 2027. Following the pilot, the initiative is slated for expansion into additional markets starting in 2027.
Further reading
For more on the industry's approach to small business lending, see Financial Services.
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Do you believe large corporate partnerships effectively help small businesses in your community grow?
