Bangkok, Thailand – 16 October 2026
The Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) has won the “Excellence in Inclusive Banking and Social Impact” award at the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals Awards, organized by the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) in cooperation with the European Savings and Retail Banking Group (ESBG).
Mr. Hammam bin Nasser bin Juraid, Chief Executive Officer of AGFUND, accepted the award at a ceremony held in Bangkok, Thailand, alongside the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.
His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, President of AGFUND, said: “This recognition from a long-established international banking institution acknowledges the value of AGFUND’s experience in using financial services to empower people, and its sustained efforts to build institutions that reach underserved communities and strengthen their capacity to earn a living and achieve economic independence.”
He credited this success to “the founders of AGFUND’s microfinance banks, foremost among them the late Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, who established strong institutional foundations and placed serving and empowering people at the heart of their mission.”
“We are proud of this recognition, which reflects more than two decades of institutional commitment, the dedication of our financial inclusion banks and partners, and the trust of the women and men who have turned financing into businesses and sources of income for their families,” he added. “It encourages us to extend opportunities to more communities. The value of our work is measured by its lasting impact on people’s lives.”
The award follows the achievements of AGFUND’s financial inclusion banking network, which has served more than 1.3 million clients since inception and disbursed over US$1.37 billion in cumulative financing. Women account for 59 per cent of all borrowers, reflecting the network’s contribution to expanding opportunities for economic empowerment.
Presented by WSBI, established in 1924, in cooperation with ESBG, the award represents recognition from the international banking sector of an approach that connects financial services with social impact and sustainable development.
Since establishing its first bank in Jordan in 2004, AGFUND has expanded the network to nine countries: Jordan, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Mauritania and Sierra Leone. The network focuses on communities with limited access to conventional financial services.
Since inception, the network has disbursed more than 1.5 million loans and opened over 927,000 savings accounts. It operates through 112 branches and employs more than 1,500 people. Its services support micro and small enterprises and income-generating activities, helping to improve livelihoods and strengthen economic independence.
AGFUND aims to build on these achievements by strengthening development partnerships, advancing digital solutions and innovative financial products, and connecting finance with training, capacity development, market access and risk protection.
It is also exploring opportunities for geographic expansion, particularly in Africa, through institutional partnerships that adapt successful approaches to local needs, enabling sustainable financial inclusion models to reach more people.