SME and Agricultural Lending Risk Training Course

SME and agricultural lending risk training teaches bank relationship managers, credit staff and microfinance institutions to assess credit risk and structure lending for SME and agricultural borrowers who lack conventional collateral or financial statements. Working through a live bank case study building a lending portfolio, participants build a cash flow-based credit assessment and design a value chain finance product for a real crop.

SMEs and smallholder farmers generate a large share of African employment and food production, yet they remain among the hardest borrowers for banks to underwrite profitably. Conventional collateral-based lending simply does not fit a farmer whose main asset is a growing season, or an SME whose main asset is a customer relationship, and lenders who apply corporate credit models to these segments either reject viable borrowers or take on risk they cannot see.

This course builds the practical credit assessment and structuring skills lenders need to serve SME and agricultural borrowers responsibly. Working through a live case study of a bank building an SME and agricultural lending portfolio using alternative collateral and value chain finance structures, participants leave with lending products they have designed and stress-tested themselves.

• Explain the credit risk characteristics specific to SME and agricultural borrowers.
• Apply cash flow-based lending techniques where formal financial statements are
• Assess alternative collateral and credit scoring approaches for underserved borrowers.
• Structure agricultural value chain finance, including warehouse receipt and contract
• Evaluate weather and price risk mitigation tools relevant to agricultural lending.
• Design an SME credit scoring model appropriate to a data-scarce environment.
• Assess portfolio concentration and seasonality risk in SME and agricultural lending.
• Apply group lending and guarantee fund structures to expand access.
• Present a lending strategy for a live SME and agricultural portfolio case study.

This programme is ideal for:

• Bank SME and agricultural lending relationship managers
• Credit risk and underwriting staff serving SME and agricultural segments
• Microfinance and agricultural finance institution staff
• Development finance institution staff supporting SME and agri lending
• Guarantee fund and credit enhancement scheme staff
• Agribusiness and value chain finance professionals
• Risk management staff building SME and agri lending portfolios
• Agricultural cooperative and farmer organisation representatives
• Insurance providers structuring agricultural credit risk products

Case-led delivery built around a single bank case study building an SME and agricultural lending portfolio, developing across all five days from borrower segmentation on Day 1 through a cash flow-based credit assessment and value chain finance design to a closing portfolio strategy presentation. Exercises use real borrower profiles, so participants confront genuine data gaps. Cohorts typically bring together relationship managers, microfinance staff and development finance institution representatives, testing the design against several funding perspectives.

Upon applying the knowledge and skills gained from this programme, organisations will be able to:

• Strengthen institutional capability to finance SMEs and agricultural enterprises sustainably.
• Improve portfolio quality through enhanced credit risk assessment and monitoring.
• Expand access to finance for underserved businesses and farming communities.
• Reduce reliance on collateral-based lending decisions.
• Strengthen management of seasonal, commodity price and climate-related risks.
• Improve utilisation of guarantee schemes and credit enhancement facilities.
• Reduce dependence on external consultants for SME and agricultural lending strategies.
• Advance institutional financial inclusion and sustainable development objectives.
• Enhance reputation as a trusted and responsible SME and agricultural finance provider.

Upon completing this programme, participants will be able to:

• Build genuine confidence assessing SME and agricultural credit risk.
• Strengthen the ability to structure lending without relying on conventional collateral.
• Improve confidence engaging SME and smallholder borrowers.
• Sharpen judgement on value chain, seasonal and climate-related risks.
• Gain transferable skills in SME, agricultural and inclusive finance.
• Expand career mobility into SME banking, agricultural finance and development finance roles.
• Reduce reliance on traditional corporate credit assessment models.
• Build a professional network of inclusive finance practitioners across Africa.
• Increase understanding of guarantee schemes and risk-sharing mechanisms.

At Strategic Revenue Africa, our certification goes beyond proof of attendance—it represents practical competence and measurable capability. Upon successful completion of our training programs, participants are awarded a Certificate of Completion from Strategic Revenue Africa, recognizing their ability to apply acquired knowledge in real-world settings. As an organization focused on architecting sustainable revenue and strengthening organizational performance, our certifications signal that participants are equipped with skills that drive results, not just theory.

A working understanding of basic credit principles is assumed. No prior SME or agricultural lending experience is required.