The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and ZEP-RE have signed a three-year agreement to enhance skills in trade, insurance, reinsurance, risk management and trade facilitation across Africa. The partnership combines Afreximbank's expertise in African trade and trade finance with ZEP-RE's experience in insurance, reinsurance and risk management. This collaboration aims to build practical, scalable and Global Africa-focused learning and knowledge solutions.
The agreement was signed at ZEP-RE's offices in Nairobi on September 16 by Stephen Tio Kauma, Group Managing Director, Human Resources at Afreximbank, and Jephita Gwatipedza, Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer at ZEP-RE. The partnership will bring together Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD) and ZEP-RE Academy to develop training, research and knowledge programmes.
The partnership will focus on three key areas: developing digital learning content, creating professional and executive programmes, and conducting research and knowledge creation. The institutions will jointly develop e-learning courses, toolkits and African case studies through a "content factory". This content will be distributed through AFRACAD's digital learning platform and ZEP-RE Academy's learning management system.
The professional and executive programmes will cover risk and reinsurance, trade guarantees, trade facilitation, financial infrastructure and market development. These programmes will include short courses, executive masterclasses and certification programmes delivered in person, virtually or through blended formats. This will equip professionals and institutions with the skills and knowledge to drive greater trade and investment across the continent.
The partnership aims to strengthen the ability of African institutions to understand and manage risks associated with expanding trade. Gwatipedza stated that trade cannot expand sustainably unless institutions can understand, price and manage the risks involved. The success of the partnership will be measured by whether professionals and institutions are better equipped to support Africa's evolving trade and investment landscape.
The agreement builds on an existing partnership between Afreximbank and ZEP-RE, the Trans-Africa Bond Alliance (TABA), launched in 2025. TABA has supported about $185 million in bonds in 2025 and $280 million in the first quarter of 2026. The wider scheme has $1 billion in guarantee limits, including a $300 million facility being implemented with ZEP-RE in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa region.
Kauma emphasized that Africa's ability to expand trade and investment depends on more than financial resources and infrastructure; it also depends on knowledge, skills and institutional capacity across markets. The partnership with ZEP-RE brings together complementary expertise in trade finance, insurance, reinsurance and risk management to build stronger institutional capability across African markets.
Key points
- The partnership will develop digital learning content, including e-learning courses and toolkits.
- The partnership aims to strengthen the ability of African institutions to understand and manage risks associated with expanding trade.
- The Trans-Africa Bond Alliance has supported about $465 million in bonds since its launch in 2025.
