About The Forum
A New, Independently Regional Convening
EAFF is a new, independently regional convening on banking, investment, and financial integration across East Africa. A number of regional and continental platforms already exist, but none occupies the specific space EAFF is designed for.
The gap
No platform currently brings central banks, regulators, commercial banks, institutional investors, and the SACCOs, cooperatives, and microfinance institutions that reach the majority of East Africa's population together in one room — focused specifically on cross-border banking, correspondent banking access, regional monetary policy, and financial inclusion — as an open, sponsor-driven regional convening rather than a closed-door or vendor-led event.
Most existing platforms are built around banks, investors, and policymakers, and overlook the SACCO, cooperative, and microfinance sector entirely — despite its central role in savings mobilisation, rural credit, and financial inclusion across the region. EAFF closes that gap by giving these institutions a seat at the same table as commercial banks and regulators.
EAFF is positioned to be the first dedicated East Africa banking and investment forum: broader than the trade-focused EABC summits, more open than the invitation-only banking events, and more regionally grounded than the continental platforms.
Objectives
- Bring regulators and commercial banks into the same room — enable direct, open dialogue between central banks, regulators, and commercial banks on financial integration, rather than leaving this to closed-door or invitation-only forums.
- Advance regional AML and compliance harmonisation — surface practical pathways to align compliance frameworks across EAC member states.
- Mobilise institutional investment — connect investors directly with the region's banking and financial infrastructure, beyond generic trade-promotion messaging.
- Accelerate fintech and payment-gateway integration — address interoperability and cross-border payment infrastructure as a distinct agenda item, not an afterthought.
- Extend financial inclusion — give SACCOs, cooperatives, and microfinance a genuine seat alongside banks and regulators, and address the practical barriers that keep them excluded from regional integration conversations.
- Produce a durable policy outcome — close with a Forum Communiqué that captures recommendations and commitments, giving the discussions a citable, lasting record.
- Establish an annual, self-sustaining regional institution — build EAFF as a recurring convening with its own governance — Steering Committee and Secretariat — independent of any single sponsor or funder.
Meet The Speakers
Dr. Mark SmithSpeaker
Jennifer SomeoneSpeaker
Dr. David HernavoSpeaker
Alex Mercury Jr.Speaker
Who Will Attend
Central Banks, Regulators, Commercial Banks, Fintechs, Payment Gateways, Institutional Investors, SACCOs, Cooperatives, Microfinance Institutions, Government Officials, and State Agencies from across East Africa.
Why Register
Commercial Banks