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AFDB Approves Grants to Enhance Women’s Digital Access to Loans and Micro-Insurance

The African Development Bank has approved two grants for research that will increase African women’s access to a range of digital financial services including loans and micro-insurance. The grants, for $1 million and $300,000 respectively, will be disbursed through the Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility, a blended finance vehicle supported by the Bank, to two financial technology firms, Pula Advisors Kenya Ltd., and M-KOPA Kenya Ltd.

Meet the First Women Beneficiaries of AFAWA Guarantee

In celebration of International Women’s Day, and to mark the rollout of the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Guarantee for Growth program, the African Development Bank and the African Guarantee Fund are showcasing the first beneficiaries of the AFAWA Guarantee for Growth program – an innovation aiming to unlock up to $3 billion in loans to women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Google Provides $25-Million to Support Women in Africa

Tech giant Google has furthered its commitment to the economic empowerment of women in Africa by establishing a grant worth $25-million in the new Global Impact Challenge (GIC) for women and girls. Google’s Global Impact Challenge aims to support women and girls in Africa Alistair Mokoena, Google South Africa country director quotes the Foresight Africa report 2021 with direct reference to the importance of supporting women and the impact the pandemic has had on equality. “It confirms that the coronavirus has ‘exacerbated already-existing gender inequalities, laying bare serious fault lines in safety, physical and mental health, education, domestic responsibilities, and employment opportunities”. The Global Impact Challenge The challenge provides $25-million in cash grants to non-profit organisations and social enterprises that are aimed at improving the livelihoods of women and girls’ lives. “As economies and societies rebuild, we need bold new ideas that will propel us forward. We can’t afford to go back to the way things were,…