GRACA MACHEL, KADAGA LEAD CHARGE ON WOMEN’S FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN EAST AFRICA

Kampala, Uganda, 23rd July 2024- The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, will join forces with renowned international advocate for women’s and children’s rights, Graca Machel, at the East African Community (EAC) Regional Convening on Women’s Financial Inclusion in the Digital Economy. The event, themed “Digital Finance: Promoting Accountability for Women’s Financial Inclusion,” will take place on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Graca Machel, Founder of the Graca Machel Trust, will deliver a special address on “Accelerating Women’s Financial Inclusion through Digital Innovation” at the convening. She will share her insights on the critical role of digital finance in promoting women’s economic empowerment and reducing poverty.

The convening will take place at the Kampala Serena Hotel, a prestigious venue in the heart of Uganda’s capital city, Kampala. The hotel’s state-of-the-art facilities will provide an ideal setting for stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions, share experiences, and forge partnerships to advance women’s financial inclusion in East Africa.

Organized by the Graca Machel Trust in partnership with New Faces New Voices (NFNV) networks from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, the hybrid convening aims to tackle the persistent gender disparities in access to financial services in East Africa. Despite progress, women in the region still face significant barriers to financial inclusion, with a 9% global gender gap in access to formal bank accounts.

In Uganda, for example, only 38% of women have access to digital financial services, compared to 45% of men. The convening will bring together stakeholders from across the region to discuss innovative solutions, gender-responsive policies, and collaborative efforts to bridge this gap and create an inclusive financial ecosystem.

Kadaga’s participation underscores the Ugandan government’s commitment to promoting women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion. Her keynote address will set the tone for a day of panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions focused on promoting accountability and driving action on women’s financial inclusion in the digital age.