UN Women Rwanda & Equity Bank Rwanda MoU Signing to Accelerate Women’s Economic Empowerment
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UN Women Rwanda has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Equity Bank Rwanda Plc to accelerate gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in the country. The partnership, announced at Equity Bank’s headquarters in Kigali on 30 September 2025, was formalized by UN Women Country Representative, Madam Jennet Kem, and Equity Bank Rwanda Managing Director, Mr. Hannington Namara.
This strategic collaboration aims to bridge the gender financial and digital divide through programs that support entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and inclusive banking solutions. Aligned with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5, the MoU underscores the power of development and private sector partnerships to deliver transformative results. By combining UN Women’s technical expertise with the financial innovation and reach of Equity Bank Rwanda, the partnership seeks to create sustainable pathways for women’s economic empowerment, from rural cooperatives to digital entrepreneurs.
The initiative targets 3,000 women entrepreneurs in both urban and rural settings, 1,000 women cross-border traders, 5,000 women-led MSMEs, 500 women’s cooperatives, and 1,000 informal savings groups (VSLAs). It sets a benchmark for the financial sector to address gender disparities, foster inclusive economic ecosystems, and deliver purpose-driven innovation.
Equity Bank Rwanda will provide tailored financial products and services designed to meet the needs of women entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and informal sector groups. Through its Social Impact Investment Unit, the Bank will deliver training in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and digital skills, while implementing gender-responsive policies and practices aligned with the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). It will also reach last-mile communities through community-based financial solutions and integrate gender-lens finance into its broader digital transformation strategy to ensure women are not left behind in the digital economy.
UN Women will provide strategic and technical support to embed gender mainstreaming across the Bank’s operations. This includes capacity building on gender equality, facilitating partnerships with women-led organizations, and co-developing programs that bridge the digital divide for women and girls. UN Women will also support evidence-based advocacy, track impact metrics, and promote the replication of best practices across the financial sector both nationally and regionally.
The MoU is expected to strengthen women-led MSMEs and cooperatives by increasing access to finance and tailored business support; enhance financial and digital literacy for women, empowering them to participate more fully in Rwanda’s economy; and expand economic opportunities for women in underserved rural and informal sectors through inclusive financial services and technology-driven solutions. In total, the partnership aims to empower over 10,000 women, including entrepreneurs, cross-border traders, cooperatives, and informal savings groups to access tools, training, and capital, promoting systemic change and gender-balanced participation in Rwanda’s economic transformation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, 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 added, “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.”
