The 2026 edition of the Certificate of Trade Finance in Africa (COTFIA) has commenced at the American University in Cairo, bringing together two cohorts of trade finance professionals from across Global Africa in what organisers described as a landmark year for the programme.
The initiative, delivered by the African Trade and Investment Development Insurance Academy (AFRACAD) in partnership with the American University in Cairo, is designed to strengthen Africa’s trade finance ecosystem by equipping professionals with the technical expertise, practical skills and African-focused knowledge required to support the continent’s growing trade ambitions.
According to the organisers, the programme seeks to develop a new generation of trade finance experts capable of driving intra-African trade, accelerating regional economic integration and supporting Africa’s industrialisation agenda through innovative and sustainable financing solutions.
Originally launched as the Certificate of Finance in International Trade (COFIT), the programme has since evolved into the Certificate of Trade Finance in Africa (COTFIA), reflecting a stronger emphasis on African realities, priorities and opportunities. The transformation also aligns with Afreximbank’s broader commitment to building world-class African talent by promoting learning rooted in African institutions, African case studies and African-led solutions to the continent’s trade challenges.
The organisers noted that increasing interest in the programme has resulted in the introduction of two parallel cohorts for the first time in its history, a development that underscores its growing popularity and expanding impact among trade finance professionals across the continent and the African diaspora.
The programme’s achievements have also gained international recognition after receiving the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Excellence in Practice (EiP) Silver Award, an honour that acknowledges the quality and effectiveness of its learning model. The recognition reinforces the view that educational programmes developed in Africa can meet globally recognised standards while addressing the continent’s unique economic and trade needs.
Through AFRACAD, Afreximbank said it remains committed to investing in human capital and strengthening the expertise required to transform Africa’s trade landscape. By developing highly skilled professionals, the bank aims to support sustainable economic growth, deepen regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and position Africa to play a more competitive role in global trade.
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