As part of Mastercard’s ongoing commitment to connecting women in Africa to the possibilities and opportunities that will enable them to make a living, follow their passions, and contribute to collective prosperity, Mastercard has rolled out its first digital Girls4Tech Connect programme in partnership with Junior Achievers Nigeria.
Investment Platform Unveils E-Market to Support Women Entrepreneurs in Nigeria
An impact investment platform, SME.NG has unveiled Nigeria’s first all-female e-market platform, ‘Ebi’ Marketplace, to democratise access to finance and e-commerce for women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
At the unveiling of the platform recently, Managing Partner, SME.NG, Thelma Ekiyo, said the platform was a direct response to the impact of COVID-19 on women-owned businesses in Nigeria, to ensure they remained sustainable and resilient to economic shocks.
She said the e-market platform, which would serve as financial inclusion, access to finance and access to markets platform, would also create better economic opportunities for women-owned businesses.
New Zealand Legalize Paid Leave after a Miscarriage or Stillborn Experience
Working mothers and their partners will be allowed to take paid bereavement leave after suffering a miscarriage or stillbirth in New Zealand.
Ethiopia: President Sahle-Worke Launches 50 Million African Women Speak Platform
Ethiopian President Her Excellency Sahle-Worke Zewde has launched the 50 Million African Women Speak (50MAWSP) platform in Addis Ababa with a call on the country’s women to embrace it and use it to grow their businesses.
Ethiopia became the thirteenth COMESA Member State to officially unveil the platform, which is an information and networking hub for women, providing them with resources to start, grow and scale up their businesses and to access financial and non-financial services.
Namibia Lifts Tax on Sanitary Products
Three weeks ago, Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Information, Emma Theofelus, tabled a motion that tax on sanitary products should be removed or at least be reduced to three percent. “I ask that this matter be referred to the relevant standing committee and for the finance ministry to consider bringing an amendment to the tax laws relevant to this motion,” she said.
Canada, AFDB Provides Gender Lensed Climate Financing
The Canada-African Development Bank Climate Fund (CACF) is aimed at providing concessional loans to climate change-related projects with a strong gender-responsive component. The funds will be capitalised through a combination of a $104,8 million (CAD122.9 million), repayable contribution.
World ORT, UNESCO Launches STEM Project for Girls in Ghana
World ORT is leading an innovative training project in Ghana to promote computer courses led by women for young girls.