upcoming event

Financing and Insurance Opportunities for SMEs

Mar 19, 2025
Online

Berne Union and SME Finance Forum joint webinar series

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face unique challenges when it comes to financing and insurance. SMEs have a variety of financing and insurance options available to them, each with its own advantages and considerations. The right mix of financing and insurance can help SMEs manage risks, support growth, and ensure long-term sustainability.

Throughout 2025, the Berne Union jointly with IFC SME Finance Forum will be hosting a series of webinars focused on exploring financing and insurance opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. These webinars will delve into how ECAs can enhance their support for SMEs and facilitate access to capital for companies at various stages of growth.

The audience will be a combination of SME Finance Forum members (banks, fintechs, non-bank financial institutions, development finance institutions, credit guarantee companies, and microfinance institutions), other IFC/FIG clients and IFC team as well as Berne Union members (export credit agencies, private credit insurers, and multilateral institutions).

Webinars will be held throughout the year, with the first starting 19th of March (13:00-14:30 GMT). More information will be published on this page in due course.

Co-host:

The SME Finance Forum (SMEFF) is a network of 300+ members and affiliates with a coverage spanning across 190+ countries. The members are primarily financial services providers such as banks, fintechs, non-bank financial institutions, development finance institutions, credit guarantee companies, and microfinance institutions. The affiliates consist of policy advocacy groups, academia, SME and banking associations, training providers, and non-profit organizations. SMEFF was established in 2012 by the G20 and is managed by the International Finance Corporation with a core objective to scale financial services for SMEs. As the leading SME finance network globally, the forum steers industry innovations, supports replication of best practices, recognizes global champions, drives thought leadership, convenes influential stakeholders, and fosters global knowledge transfer.

More information can be found via the SMEFF website.

Agenda

Session 1: Startup Phase – Laying the Foundation

Please note that the agenda below is tentative and subject to change in the coming weeks.

 13:00-13:10

Welcome from the hosts

Carla Senatore

Deputy Secretary General

berne union

Qamar Saleem

Global Head

SME finance forum

 13:10-13:20

Opening remarks and topic overview

James Smouse

Principal Investment Officer

IFC

 13:20-14:25

Moderated discussion

• Key characteristics of startups and their financing needs
• Financing & insurance options for startups with a landscape overview

e.g. angel investors, VCs, government grants, crowdfunding platforms, bank and fintech loans and microfinance - General liability insurance: coverage for accidents or damages caused by the business; property insurance: protection for physical assets like equipment, inventory, and office space.

Elodie Dancette

Financial Institutions Manager

Coface

Rennie Kariuki

Senior Underwriter

ATIDI

Vera Neugebauer

Senior Research Associate

Cenfri

Carl Williamson

Director of SME & Trade Finance and Co-Head of Business Group

UKEF

James Smouse l Moderator

Principal Investment Officer

IFC

 14:25-14:30

Closing Remarks

Carla Senatore

Deputy Secretary General

berne union

Qamar Saleem

Global Head

SME finance forum

Session 2: Domestic Growth – Expanding and Strengthening Operations

This session focuses on:

• Challenges in scaling operations within the domestic market
• The importance of maintaining cash flow and protecting assets during expansion
• Financing & insurance options for domestic growth

Session 3: Overseas Growth – Scaling Globally and Entering Export Markets

This session focuses on:

• Key considerations and challenges when moving into international markets
• Financing & insurance options for overseas growth