AfDB provides WAMA grant for gender digital gap in West Africa
The West Africa Monetary Agency (WAMA) has received a $320,535 grant from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB).
The funds will be channelled to the mainstream gender in ECOWAS’ core digital financial services (DFS) regulatory frameworks.
In a Tuesday statement, the bank said the disbursement would be via the Africa Digital Financial Inclusion (ADFI) Facility.
According to the bank, the funds will target aiding a gender gap analysis of WAMA strategies, consisting of those for “financial inclusion; gender disaggregation data analytics; digital payment services and infrastructure; and digital identity.”
With its three-year life span, the project is expected to impact 350 million people in the ECOWAS region.
Speaking on the project, the ADFI coordinator, Sheila Okiro, stated, “With a secretariat comprising all the 15 ECOWAS central banks, WAMA plays a pivotal role in the consolidation and implementation of strategic financial inclusion objectives.”
Okiro added, “ADFI and the WAMA project team will work closely with other ecosystem players in the region to ensure harmonisation of efforts for maximum impact.”
Upon completing the project, the region is expected to have upped women’s involvement in financial market operations by 35 percent, which will address Africa’s poor gender-inclusion gap of 11 percent compared to that of the global average of nine percent as surveyed in the 2017 Findex Report.
The ADFI, aiming to enhance digital financial inclusion in Africa, said it wanted to achieve its target of ensuring that 332 million Africans, of which 60 percent of them are women, have access to the formal financial system.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Economy
Stronger governance to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness, $1 trillion economy: Tinubu
Mr Tinubu called for strategic positioning of Nigeria amid profound shifts in the global economy, alongside stronger corporate governance, to boos the country’s competitiveness.
States
FRSC zonal command restates commitment to safer roads
The Federal Road Safety Corps, RSHQ zone, has reiterated its commitment to safer roads and reducing the casualty rate in the zone.
Rights
Enugu: Governor’s wife seeks stronger action against child abuse
Mrs Mbah, who is also the founder of the Custos Care Foundation, said many children were exposed to different forms of aggression, abuse, neglect and violence.
Politics
Rejection of APC will bring prosperity for Lagos residents: APM Governorship Flagbearer
APM governorship candidate in Lagos, Laja Adeoye, says voting out APC in 2027 is necessary to end persistent hardship and unlock inclusive prosperity for residents.
Rights
Osinbajo advises Nigerian lawyers to champion public interest
Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo urged lawyers to champion public interest beyond litigation, insisting that democracy must deliver justice.
Politics
APC-PCC hails Tinubu’s courage in tackling Nigeria’s economic challenges
Spokesman for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC), Mr Dele Alake, has applauded President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies.
