UGAFODE Microfinance has won the Consumer Education Award at the 2026 WSBI-ESBG Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Awards in recognition of its financial education programme targeting refugee women entrepreneurs.
The award was presented on October 16, 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand, and received on behalf of UGAFODE by its Executive Director, Jonathan Mugalu.
The microfinance institution was recognised for its initiative, “From Survival to Growth: Empowering Refugee Women Entrepreneurs,” which has reached more than 4,500 refugee women with financial training and access to financial services.
The programme equips women with skills in saving, business financial management, record-keeping and decision-making, while linking financial education to savings products and loans to help them establish businesses, expand existing enterprises and improve household incomes.
According to UGAFODE, the initiative seeks to strengthen women-led businesses and improve the economic resilience of refugee and host communities by combining practical financial knowledge with access to financial services.
The awards are organised by the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) in collaboration with the European Savings and Retail Banking Group (ESBG). The two international banking organisations promote inclusive and responsible banking, financial education and sustainable economic development.
UGAFODE said the recognition reflected its commitment to advancing financial inclusion and empowering underserved communities.
The institution also acknowledged its customers, staff, partners and other stakeholders for their contribution to the programme.
The award comes amid broader efforts by financial institutions and development organisations to improve access to financial services among underserved populations, including refugees, whose ability to establish and sustain businesses can be constrained by limited access to capital and financial knowledge.