Afreximbank Opens Registration for 2026 Certificate of Trade Finance in Africa

The Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD) has announced the opening of registration for its 2026 Certificate of Trade Finance in Africa (COTFIA) program. This flagship initiative aims to strengthen Africa’s trade finance capacity by enhancing trade-related skills and addressing critical knowledge gaps, ultimately enabling the continent to compete more effectively in global markets.

Program Details and Registration

Registration for the program is open to banking professionals and other practitioners interested in trade finance and will conclude on May 31, 2026. Interested individuals can register here.

Partnerships and Curriculum

Developed by AFRACAD in collaboration with Factors Chain International, the American University in Cairo (AUC), and Quarter Bank, the COTFIA program is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of international trade finance. The curriculum is continuously updated to reflect best practices and addresses the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is expected to significantly boost intra-African trade.

Blended Learning Approach

Similar to the 2025 cohort, the 2026 COTFIA program will utilize a blended learning format. This includes five modules delivered online through instructor-led virtual sessions, one module conducted in face-to-face sessions at the AUC campus in New Cairo, Egypt, and a final module completed asynchronously online.

Afreximbank’s Commitment to Capacity Building

Stephen Kauma, Managing Director of Human Resources at Afreximbank, emphasized the program’s strategic importance in cultivating a new generation of highly skilled trade finance professionals capable of advancing Africa’s trade agenda and strengthening the continent’s global competitiveness.

To further expand access to high-quality trade finance capacity building, AFRACAD will offer scholarships covering 50 percent of tuition fees to the first seven applicants this year.

Recent Recognition

AFRACAD received the Silver Award in the Professional Development category at the 2025 European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Excellence in Practice Awards for the COTFIA program. The award was presented in October 2025 during a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, recognizing impactful and high-quality learning and development partnerships.

Program History and Impact

Launched in 2016 as the Certificate of Finance in International Trade (COFIT), the program was restructured in 2021 with a partnership with the Onsi Sawiris School of Business at the AUC to enhance its academic rigor and regional relevance. To date, the program has trained over 150 professionals from across the continent, equipping them with the technical, regulatory, and practical competencies needed to strengthen Africa’s trade finance landscape and unlock new trade opportunities.

The Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD) was established in October 2022 as a learning, knowledge, and networking hub to advance African trade through capacity building and thought leadership.