Global SME Awards 2025

Award
Categories
Key
Dates
Guidelines
How to
Apply?
Sample Applications
Judging
Criteria
FAQ
Enter

The 2025 Global SME Finance Awards competition opens April 7 !

Welcome to the eighth annual Global SME Finance Awards!

In all the categories, we look forward to hearing from financial intermediaries from across the spectrum and globe, to share innovations, experiences, and impact to advance SME Finance. Apply for the awards and be recognized among the global peer group of leaders in SME finance and services.

WHAT'S NEW IN 2025:

Launching "Sustainable SME Financier of the Year" global category, to recognize industry leaders and trailblazers.
Enhanced benchmarking against four comparable market segments - Commercial Banks, Development Finance Institutions, Non-Bank Lenders, and Technology Innovators.

Winners will be announced in September at the Global SME Finance Forum 2025,
Johannesburg, South Africa.

Affiliated with

Award Categories

Sample questionnaires, please do not complete. Questions may differ depending on regional and institutional choices.

Key Dates

April 9: Inaugural Awards Information Session 2025 – Best Financier For Women Entrepreneurs
April 16: Awards Information Session 2025 – SME Financier of the Year
April 30: Awards Information Session 2025 – Product Innovation of the Year
May (TBC): Sustainable SME Financier of the Year

Submissions Open:

April 7, 2025

Submissions Deadline:

May 30, 2025

Winners Announced:

Sept 2025

Guidelines

1.The competition is open to any and all financiers serving SMEs - banks, NBFIs, development financial institutions, fintech companies, etc.

2. Each institution can apply in up to three categories

3. . Each nomination form is valid for 1 entry only. If you are applying in three categories, please enter each entry separately.

4. Applications must be in English.

5. Nomination is free of charge.

How to apply?

Register on the Awards Platform
Select your category
Follow the process to address the criteria and complete your entry
Upload supporting documents
Submit application
You will receive a confirmation that your nomination has been received
Submit your entries by May 30, 2025.

If your question has not been answered in the FAQ, section please send your question to the awards organizers by clicking on the button below.

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JUDGING CRITERIA

Reach

What is the number of SMEs served/financed and volume of financing provided/loan outstanding to the SMEs both directly and indirectly?

Uniqueness & Innovation

Has the project introduced new or cutting-edge innovation? How original is the idea compared to solutions that are currently in use?

Effectiveness & Impact

Did the project/product/service achieve its objectives and targets? What measures have been used to assess its success? What was the impact to your company and industry?

Dynamism & Scalability

Is the strategy, project, service or product flexible to changes and progressive opportunities?

Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs

Launched in 2018 this IFC Banking on Women Initiative, seeks to highlight the successful approaches and models financiers are implementing to better serve women-entrepreneurs in their markets.

Product Innovation of the Year

The Product Innovation of the Year award recognizes financial institutions for their innovative products or services for SME clients. Both the types of institutions and types of solutions are extremely varied and recognized at the global level.

SME Financier of the Year

The SME Financier of the Year award recognizes financial institutions for providing exceptional support to SME clients in their region, demonstrating market leadership.

Sustainable SME Financier of the Year (New)

Launched this year, the Sustainable SME Financier of the year category aims to recognize market leaders and trailblazers that demonstrate a sustained commitment to serving the SME sector in the industry.