Signal Africa Tokenization for SME Finance; Brookings Foresight Africa 2026

Summary

Brookings' Foresight Africa 2026 report lays out inclusive, resilient, and self-determined growth pathways for the continent. Chapter 6, 'Leveraging technology, trade, and integration,' looks at how the African Continental Free Trade Area can drive growth through technology adoption and policy coordination. One viewpoint essay within that chapter, 'How tokenization can accelerate financing of small and medium enterprises in Africa,' was published on February 3, 2026 by author Vera Songwe. The essay frames the tokenization of real-world assets as an emerging experiment in SME finance taking shape across the continent. It serves as a concrete illustration of the report's broader theme of using technology to spur growth.