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
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.”
NationWide
Soldiers will stop at nothing to kill criminals in Nigeria, army chief declares
“I wish to warn criminal elements in our society that the Nigerian Army will stop at nothing to neutralise them,” he said.
Rights
About one million people in forced labour in Nigeria, National Bureau of Statistics reveals
“While 36.9 per cent of individuals in forced labour in their current job are found in the service sector, other than domestic work,” said the report.
Economy
FG asks stakeholders to manufacture, export Nigerian-made vehicles
The minister said the government was doing all necessary to ensure this was achieved, thus requiring stakeholders also to play their role.
States
One soldier killed, two wounded in gunfight with IPOB/ESN militants in Okija: Army
“The bravery and dedication of our troops in the face of danger are testimonies of their unwavering commitment to protecting the people and communities,” said the army.
World
U.S. vetoes Palestine’s request for full UN membership
The Security Council on Thursday rejected Palestine’s request for UN membership, with the United States casting a veto.
World
Hamas-Israel War: UN appeals for restraint in Middle East
“Ending the hostilities in Gaza would significantly defuse tensions across the region,” Mr Guterres said.