Ecobank, a financial institution that engages in banking operations, has signed a historic partnership with the United Nations Women Regional Office (UNWRO) to promote Women Empowerment in Africa.

The Ecobank Foundation and the UN Women’s Regional Office for West and Central Africa endorsed the partnership agreement with the aim to strengthen women’s sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others.

For the first time, Ecobank Foundation and UN Women’s Regional Office have collaborated to jointly undertake a series of awareness, advocacy and action activities to achieve their common goals of combating violence against the feminine gender in several African countries and accelerate the empowerment of women in Africa.

“Women have always had a central role in the Foundation’s activities and initiatives. Through our partnerships, we have been able to promote, among other things, women’s leadership and girls’ education. With UN Women, we want to go further. We are thrilled to have such a partner, which expertise and experience will help us ensure that a gender equality lens is applied in all our actions.”
Elisa Desbordes-Cissé,CEO of the Ecobank Foundation

Ecobank focuses on women Financial inclusion

Ecobank’s Foundation, for the past nine years, has been organising an event called “the Ecobank Day”, with the agenda of giving a unique opportunity for Ecobank Group employees each year to serve the well-being of their communities.

This year’s Ecobank Day, scheduled for 12^th November, 2022 will focus on the availability and equality of opportunities given to women and girls to access financial services.

This event is with the aim of improving financial literacy and inclusion among the feminine gender as a key factor in lowering poverty and promoting shared prosperity for women and youth, especially outskirts of towns.

The theme for this year’s Ecobank’s Day is “Leave no one behind: Financial Inclusion for all!” Through this signed partnership with UN Women, particular attention will be paid to the specific needs and challenges faced by women and women entrepreneurs in both rural and urban areas.

In achieving its objectives, Ecobank hosts an annual international event called “The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign” which begins on 25th November, as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and continues until 10th December; Human Rights Day.

Women Empowerment Through Sports

As part of the partnership, the Ecobank Foundation and UN Women will focus on the sporting sector and take a critical look at how sports will help empower women and the opportunities it brings to both the personal and professional development of women.

Commenting on the partnership, Deputy Regional Director of UN Women West and Central Africa Regional Office, Florence Raes said, “we are excited about this partnership with Ecobank in many ways”.

“Through this collaboration, we will be able to work together to promote gender equality in Africa and empower many more women by increasing their levels of financial literacy and inclusion.

“And given our shared interest in sports, we will together more effectively combat gender stereotypes by promoting more equal participation of women and girls in the sports industry in Africa.”
Florence Raes