As part of the Uganda Green Enterprise Finance Accelerator (UGEFA), funded by the European Union and implemented by adelphi global, dfcu Bank and UGEFA held a three-day Green Finance Academy training on green loan product development from 19 to 21 May 2026 at Protea Hotel Kampala Skyz.
The workshop marked the second Green Finance Academy implemented with dfcu Bank since the bank’s longstanding partnership with UGEFA began in the programme’s first phase. Building on an earlier training on the foundations of green finance, this workshop moved to the next step: supporting dfcu teams to translate green finance opportunities into concrete, market-oriented loan product concepts.
The training brought together staff from across dfcu Bank, including product development, finance, ESG and sustainability, credit, risk, reporting and data, marketing and branch teams. By working across functions, participants were able to look at green finance not only as a sustainability topic, but as an opportunity that touches product design, client engagement, risk management and market positioning.
“Green finance requires more than a sustainability lens; it calls for collaboration across the bank to turn ambition into practical solutions for clients and the market. Bringing together cross-functional teams helps ensure that we move beyond conversation and towards developing products that can deliver real impact,” said Helena Mayanja, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at dfcu Bank.
Through practical tools, peer exchange and facilitated group work, participants explored how green lending can support small and medium-sized enterprises in Uganda while helping financial institutions manage climate-related risks and unlock new growth opportunities. The training focused on the development and refinement of green loan products that respond to market needs in sectors such as climate-smart agriculture, agro-processing, waste management, sustainable construction, resource efficiency and clean energy.
The training also gave participants space to connect product development with the realities of dfcu’s existing client relationships and internal processes. In group work, participants explored how green loan ideas could respond to concrete market opportunities while remaining practical for different bank functions involved in origination, appraisal, risk review, reporting and client engagement.
Over the course of the three days, participants examined green sectors and client segments, explored alignment with Uganda’s National Green Taxonomy, discussed product features and risk considerations, and worked towards market entry strategies for selected green lending concepts.
“dfcu Bank has been a valued UGEFA partner since the first phase of the programme. This workshop showed how far the conversation on green finance has moved: from building awareness to developing practical products that can support green SMEs and strengthen Uganda’s sustainable finance market,” said Dr Lena Giesbert from adelphi global. She facilitated the training together with her colleague Moritz Blanke, who highlighted the strong engagement of the dfcu teams, their sector knowledge and their focus on practical implementation as an important basis for further product refinement.
The highly interactive format enabled participants to move from discussion to application, working in teams on practical green lending concepts and product prototypes relevant to dfcu’s client base and Uganda’s emerging green sectors. The workshop concluded with hands-on product pitches focused and market entry strategies. By the end of the workshop, dfcu had nominated four product champions to carry the ideas forward and support further internal refinement.
dfcu Bank’s participation reflects its ambition to strengthen its position in Uganda’s emerging green lending market. Through its engagement with UGEFA, the bank continues to build internal capacity to support enterprises that combine economic growth with positive environmental impact. The training also reinforced the importance of partnerships between financial institutions, technical experts and development organisations in accelerating access to sustainable finance for SMEs.
The workshop took place at a time when Uganda’s green finance landscape is gaining momentum. With the National Green Taxonomy providing clearer guidance on what qualifies as green, financial institutions have an opportunity to develop tailored products that meet client demand, support credible impact reporting and contribute to Uganda’s transition towards a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy.
UGEFA will continue to support partner banks such as dfcu Bank in strengthening green finance capacity, developing practical financing solutions and expanding access to finance for green enterprises across Uganda.
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