UN Women and Equity Bank Uganda Limited have today signed a significant collaboration agreement aimed at advancing women’s economic empowerment, expanding access to inclusive financial systems, and promoting sustainable livelihoods across Uganda.
The agreement, signed at Equity Bank’s Boardroom at Church House on Kampala Road, establishes a two-year strategic partnership (April 2026 – March 2028) focuses on supporting women, including those in refugee-hosting communities, to access financial services, build business skills, and benefit from clean energy financing solutions.
Through this partnership, UN Women and Equity Bank Uganda will jointly deliver programmes that enhance financial literacy, entrepreneurship and digital inclusion, while also strengthening women’s access to affordable financial products and services.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ms. Adekemi Ndieli, UN Women Deputy Country Representative, emphasized the importance of private sector collaboration in achieving gender equality:
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that women—especially those in underserved and vulnerable communities—have the tools, resources, and opportunities to thrive economically. By working together, we can accelerate progress toward inclusive growth and sustainable development.”
On behalf of Equity Bank Uganda, Gift Shoko, Managing Director, highlighted the bank’s role in driving inclusive finance:
“Equity Bank Uganda is proud to partner with UN Women to dismantle barriers that prevent women from achieving economic autonomy. Our commitment goes beyond financial products, we are offering training, digital literacy and clean energy solutions to ensure women can compete and succeed in today’s economy.”
Adding, “We believe inclusive finance is the foundation of inclusive growth. Together, we will empower women to transform their enterprises and their communities.”
Key Areas of Collaboration
The partnership will focus on:
- Expanding access to financial services, including savings, credit, and digital banking solutions for women and underserved populations
- Delivering financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and digital skills training
- Supporting women-led agribusinesses and cooperatives
- Promoting clean energy financing solutions accessible to low-income and rural communities
- Strengthening social protection and resilience, particularly in refugee-hosting areas
UN Women will provide technical expertise, community mobilization, and policy support, while Equity Bank Uganda will offer tailored financial products, training and advisory services. The partnership will be implemented through a jointly developed work plan with clear targets and measurable impact.
The initiatives implemented under this partnership are expected to benefit thousands of women across Uganda by enabling them to access inclusive financial services, expand their economic opportunities, and strengthen their capacity to contribute to inclusive and sustainable development. This includes supporting women’s participation in national and regional markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which has the potential to unlock greater market access, scale women led enterprises, and amplify women’s role as drivers of regional economic growth.
UN Women is the global champion for women and girls, a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality and a trusted partner for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life. UN Women works to develop, uphold standards, and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.
Equity Bank Uganda began its operations in 2008 and is regulated by Bank of Uganda. The Bank has its head office in Kampala and a network of 50 branches, over 9000 Equity Duuka (Bank Agents), over 2000 Point-of-Sale merchants and 58 ATMs spread across the country and serving 2.3 million customers.
Equity Bank Uganda is a subsidiary of Equity Group Holdings Plc. Equity Group Holdings Plc. is a Pan-African financial services holding company listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Uganda Securities Exchange, and Rwanda Stock Exchange. The Group has banking subsidiaries in Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan and a Commercial Representative Office in Ethiopia.
Equity Group is the largest integrated financial services firm in the region with a market capitalization of USD 1.94 billion. The Group has an asset base of USD 14.08 billion, a customer base of 22.2 million supported by a footprint of 407 branches, 87,047 Agents, over 1.1 million Pay with Equity (PWE) merchants, 39,598 Point-of-Sale (POS) Merchants, 885 ATMs and an extensive adoption of digital banking channels.
