UN Women Rwanda and Equity Bank Rwanda Plc have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing gender equality and driving women’s economic empowerment across the country. The agreement was formalised during a signing ceremony held at Equity Bank’s headquarters in Kigali on 30 September 2025, attended by UN Women Country Representative Madam Jennet Kem and Equity Bank Rwanda Managing Director Mr. Hannington Namara.
The new partnership is designed to close the gender financial and digital divide through a range of initiatives supporting entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and inclusive banking services. In alignment with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5 on gender equality, the collaboration highlights how partnerships between development agencies and the private sector can deliver measurable economic and social impact. By combining UN Women’s policy expertise with Equity Bank’s financial services and reach, the initiative aims to build sustainable pathways for women in business, from grassroots cooperatives to digital-first entrepreneurs.
The agreement sets ambitious targets, aiming to reach 3,000 women entrepreneurs in urban and rural areas, 1,000 women engaged in cross-border trade, 5,000 women-led MSMEs, 500 women’s cooperatives, and 1,000 informal savings groups (VSLAs). It also sets a precedent for the wider financial sector in developing gender-inclusive economic ecosystems and delivering solutions tailored to women’s needs.
Equity Bank Rwanda will introduce specialised financial products and services designed for women-led enterprises, cooperatives, and informal groups. Through its Social Impact Investment Unit, the bank will deliver training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital skills. It will also implement gender-responsive policies aligned with the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Additionally, the bank plans to expand access in hard-to-reach communities through community-based financial initiatives and integrate gender-lens finance into its ongoing digital transformation strategy to ensure women can participate fully in the digital economy.
UN Women will provide technical and strategic guidance to ensure gender considerations are embedded across the bank’s operations. This will include capacity-building programmes on gender equality, facilitating collaborations with women-led organisations, and co-developing initiatives to close the digital gap for women and girls. The agency will also support advocacy efforts, monitor impact, and promote successful approaches for replication both within Rwanda and across the region.
The partnership is expected to strengthen women-led MSMEs and cooperatives by improving access to finance and business support services. It will also enhance financial and digital literacy among women, enabling them to participate more actively in Rwanda’s growing economy. Furthermore, it aims to open up new economic opportunities in underserved rural and informal sectors by expanding access to inclusive financial services and technology. In total, more than 10,000 women, including entrepreneurs, cross-border traders, cooperative members, and informal savings group participants, are expected to benefit from the initiative, gaining access to essential resources, training, and capital.
Speaking at the signing event, Mr. Hannington Namara said, “We are proud to officially welcome UN Women as partners in this important initiative focused on empowering women economically through financial inclusion. Today’s signing marks a key milestone in formalizing our collaboration to enhance access to tailored financial products, digital tools, and capacity building for women and girls, integrating them fully into the family and national economy. This is not just about signing a document; it is a call to action for all partners to join us in creating equitable economic opportunities and sustainable empowerment for women entrepreneurs and communities across Rwanda.”
Madam Jennet Kem described the agreement as a pivotal step forward for women’s economic inclusion. “We celebrate this historic partnership with Equity Bank Rwanda as a milestone moment for advancing women’s economic empowerment through financial inclusion. Our shared goal is to extend financial services and support to the last mile, reaching rural women entrepreneurs, cross-border traders, cooperatives, and informal groups who have been historically underserved. This MoU represents the planting of baby seeds that, with diligent nurturing, will grow into a strong foundation of economic opportunity and security for women and girls. Together, by combining financial innovation with the Women’s Empowerment Principles, we are building a replicable model for empowering women at scale and documenting impact that will inspire further partnerships.”
The collaboration marks a significant step towards gender-inclusive growth in Rwanda and could serve as a model for similar partnerships across Africa, with the potential to reshape how financial institutions engage women in the economy.
