On July 25, 2024, the Graça Machel Trust, in partnership with New Faces New Voices networks from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, hosted the East African Community Regional Convening on Women's Financial Inclusion in Kampala, Uganda. The hybrid event, titled "Digital Finance: Promoting Accountability for Women's Financial Inclusion," brought together over 450 participants, including experts, policymakers, and financial leaders, including Mrs Graça Machel, founder of the Trust, Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Uganda's Minister for East African Community Affairs, and Ms Soraya M. Hakuziyaremye, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda. The discussions focused on addressing the gender gap in digital finance and building a more inclusive financial ecosystem in East Africa.
Dr Theopista Ntale Sekisto, Country Director of New Faces New Voices Uganda delivered the opening remarks, underscoring the importance of cross-sector collaboration to elevate women's roles in the digital economy. Ms Shiphra Chisha, the Trust's Director of Programmes, highlighted the significance of supporting women, whom she described as "the lifeblood of our communities and key to Africa's economic rise." She called for breaking down barriers and equipping women with the necessary tools to succeed in the digital economy.
In her keynote address, Mrs Machel stressed the importance of integrating women into the digital economy. She urged leaders to advocate for inclusive policies and champion the adoption of digital technologies. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga echoed these sentiments and committed to supporting women entrepreneurs in Uganda.
Ms Soraya M. Hakuziyaremye, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, shared insights from the Expert Leader Group (ELG) on navigating complex financial landscapes to advance women in the digital age. Mr Chad Pollock, Vice President and General Manager of Visa East Africa, discussed Visa's efforts to promote gender-sensitive technology policies and support small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) through global partnerships.
The event also featured testimonies from Ms Maureen Amakabane, a Kenyan entrepreneur, who shared her experiences with digital financial products. In a discussion led by Ms Joy Rwamwenge, policies supporting women-owned SMEs were explored, with contributions from experts like Mr Kimenyi Valence. A panel moderated by Ms Caroline Armstrong delved into the role of technology in promoting gender inclusion, drawing on insights from industry leaders.
Ms Emma Kawawa, Country Director of New Faces New Voices Tanzania, concluded the event by stressing the critical need for women to access digital tools and infrastructure. She highlighted the necessity of affordable mobile phones, reliable internet connectivity, and user-friendly digital financial services. She gave an example from Tanzania, where towers have been installed in rural areas to extend Wi-Fi access to everyone.
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Dr. Tukiya Kankasa-Mabula, Interim Chair of the Expert Leaders Group--Zambia, stressed on the importance of integrating digital literacy into the business ecosystem to create equal opportunities for women entrepreneurs. She called for more female leadership in the financial and regulatory sectors and urged women in strategic roles to join the Expert Leaders Group to drive economic progress and financial inclusion across the region.
Explore some of the media coverage of insights that provide a closer look at the transformative ideas and powerful voices that shaped the event:
- Watch the event highlights and interviews for an in-depth understanding of the discussions here.
- Read about the potential of digital services in unlocking women's potential in East Africa here.
- Learn more about women's access to digital finance and the innovative solutions presented here.
- Explore how women's financial advancement is gaining momentum in East Africa as leaders converge on digital finance here.
