The strength of Sudanese women has endured, even before the war started on April 15th 2023. Despite facing tough times and challenges over many years, they stayed strong, facing difficulties with courage and determination, kept their families and communities strong, advocating for peace every step of the way. Throughout Sudan’s history, Sudanese women have led the way in responding to crises. Their strength and determination have been a source of hope during difficult times.

By providing platforms, resources, and support, UN Women played a role in amplifying the voices of Sudanese feminist peacemakers. They facilitated connections between these feminist change makers and regional as well as global influential actors, ensuring that their perspectives and efforts were heard and recognized on a broader scale. UN Women empowered these women to participate effectively in peacebuilding efforts, bridging local grassroots movements with regional and international networks. Through these collaborative efforts, feminist peacemakers are contributing substantially to advancing peace and gender equality agendas globally.

Through consultations in September 2023 with more than 350 internally displaced groups, refugee women, and diverse communities across Sudan, the needs, and priorities of women during times of crisis were brought to the forefront. These consultations laid the groundwork for a historic gathering in Kampala in October 2023, where Sudanese women, with the support of UN Women, came together to forge a feminist peace agenda. The conference in Kampala was a turning point, a moment of solidarity and empowerment for Sudanese women. Together, they crafted a declaration outlining their vision for peace and justice, addressing the immediate needs of women in conflict zones while also tackling the systemic causes of violence and vulnerability.

But the journey didn’t end there. With the support of UN Women, Sudanese women took their message to the regional and global stage. They participated in regional and international events, sharing their stories, insights, and demands for peace with the world. In New York, on the margins of the October 2023 Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace, and Security, Sudanese women presented a powerful statement, urging world leaders to take action to end the war. They also made their voices heard at the African Union Peace and Security Council and the Gender Is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) event in February 2024, leaving an indelible mark on the global conversation on peace and security.

Mariam Hamid, a Women’s Rights Activist, says “My participation in the Kampala conference for Sudanese Women and the GIMAC event reignited my hope and determination to advocate for women’s inclusion in the peace processes through

these powerful platforms. I recognize that women are the most affected by the war in Sudan, and we play a pivotal role in contributing to peace efforts. I also believe in the inherent power of women to make a difference and vow to continue my meaningful work in this regard.”

Sudanese women, both at home and in the diaspora, stood strong in their advocacy efforts. They sent powerful statements to leaders around the world, demanding an end to the violence and shining a light on the urgent needs of women in areas affected by conflict. With the backing of UN Women, more than five statements were sent to key regional and global decision-makers, including the UNSG, Security Council, actors involved in Jeddah talks, and the League of Arab States (LAS). Their voices echoed across continents, calling for peace and justice in Sudan.

As a clear testament to the power of the women’s collective efforts, regional actors are engaging with more Sudanese women in the ongoing peace negotiations. This reflects an increased focus on inclusivity of women and girls. Adjaratou Ndiaye, UN Women Sudan Country representative says “By advocating to the international community during the 68th Commission of the Status of Women about the need to not neglect the Sudan war in the context of a global turmoil, Sudanese women are showing that they are at the forefront to alleviate the suffering of their people and end the devastating war. UN Women has committed to help the women movement navigate the complex terrain since the 2019 Revolution by ensuring women meaningful participation in all fora discussing and deciding the future of the country.”

Through it all, UN Women committed to stand by the Sudanese women’s side, providing support, and unwavering solidarity. Together, they proved that even in the midst of war and crisis, the voices of women cannot be silenced, and their power to effect change knows no bounds.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

UN Women in Zimbabwe hosted members of the diplomatic corps and their spouses, Representatives of Government and the United Nations including the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator’s Office to an International Women’s Day Reception and Panel Discussion focusing on Investing in Women and Accelerating progress. The event, held in Harare served as a multi-stakeholder platform for key partners to reflect, cross-share insights and make a joint clarion call for increased investments towards Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Zimbabwe.

In her opening remarks, the UN Women Country Representative Ms. Fatou Lo highlighted the importance of making women’s voices heard and having women at the decision-making table across sectors and platforms. On the same note, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Edward Kallon, called on all stakeholders to Invest strategically: by allocating resources to programmes that empower women economically, socially, and politically; Leverage Data: by utilizing gender-disaggregated data for informed decision-making on Gender; Promote Inclusive Finance: by ensuring that women have access to financial services, credit, and entrepreneurship opportunities and; Amplify Voices: by engaging men and boys as allies in the pursuit of gender equality. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator also acknowledged the uneven progress on SDG goal 5 and other gender related targets which show that there still a long way to go for the country in fulfilling its commitment to women and girls.

The European Union Ambassador and Chairman of the #HeForShe solidarity Movement in Zimbabwe, His Excellency Jobst von Kirchmann, emphasized the critical role of women in shaping societies and economies. He underscored the EU’s unwavering commitment to supporting initiatives that promote gender equality, both within Zimbabwe and globally with the Spotlight Initiative being one of the signature interventions implemented towards this cause.

On behalf of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Engineer Francis Gondo reiterated Government’s commitment to investing in women and investing in a collective future. He also highlighted the need for targeted investments in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for women and called upon all stakeholders to collaborate in accelerating progress toward gender equality in Zimbabwe.

A key highlight during the International Women’s Day Reception was the highly inspirational panel discussion that saw female Ambassadors sharing their leadership journeys and discussing strategies for increasing investments in gender equality and women’s empowerment in Zimbabwe. Some of the key messages that emerged from the conversation include the importance of deepening multi-stakeholder collaborations and the need for Government of Zimbabwe to continue heightening efforts towards improving fiscal space for gender equality and women’s empowerment and complimenting external investments where possible.

The International Women’s Day Reception served as a powerful call to action and vivid reminder that progress begins with collective action. By investing in women, we invest in a brighter future for all. As Zimbabwe moves forward, the echoes of message will resonate, inspiring change-makers to champion the cause of gender equality and make deliberate efforts to INVEST IN WOMEN.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

The Hustler Fund will be recalibrated to allow Muslims consume the product.

President William Ruto said packaging the Fund to be Shariah compliant will deepen financial inclusion in Kenya.

He said so far more than seven million Kenyans are benefiting from the Hustler Fund that is barely 16 months old.

“We will also adjust other Government financial instruments to comply with the Islamic Law,” he explained.

He added that the move will make available more funds to drive the country’s development.

President Ruto spoke on Monday evening at State House when he hosted the Iftar Dinner.

He challenged religious leaders to be on the forefront in praying for the country.

“We are on track to making Kenya a better country for all. It is our responsibility to make it greater,” he noted.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.

Africa50 and Oikocredit lead equity investment in Ghanaian fintech Zeepay to support Africa expansion; The investment will support the expansion of Zeepay’s cross-border remittances and mobile financial services business across Africa and the Caribbean; The investment was made by Africa50, Oikocredit, Injaro Ghana Venture Capital Fund (IGVCF) and Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund (www.Verdant-Cap.com), with a follow-on investment from Investisseurs&Partenaires (I&P).

Ghanaian fintech company Zeepay Ghana Ltd announced the completion of an equity investment by pan-African investment firms Africa50, Oikocredit, Injaro, Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund, and I&P. The funds will go towards expanding Zeepay’s operations in Africa and the Caribbean.  

Zeepay is a fast-growing payment infrastructure company with a footprint in more than 20 countries globally. Since its inception in 2014, Zeepay has specialised in facilitating the instant settlement of remittances into mobile money wallets in Africa and the Caribbean on behalf of leading international money transfer organizations (IMTOs). Last year, the Company settled over 10 million remittance transactions worth over $ 3 billion in value. 

The company’s vision is to promote financial inclusion and transform cross-border payments, particularly in low-income countries. This equity investment will support Zeepay in expanding its geographical footprint and in deepening its offering to IMTOs as well as senders and recipients of remittances.  

Andrew Takyi-Appiah, the Founder&CEO of Zeepay Ghana Ltd, commented: “We would like to thank all our stakeholders, including our customers, shareholders, and staff, for all the support in bringing this round to a close. The raise will greatly assist us in completing our ongoing expansion drive into the rest of Africa. Our short to medium plan is to expand our mobile money reach into a minimum of 10 countries within the next two years, leveraging remittances in partnership with MoneyGram, and we are delighted to see this vision come through.” 

“Africa50 is delighted to be partnering with Zeepay to support its leading role in the digital payments infrastructure space on the African continent and beyond. Foreign currency inflows from remittances are the lifeline for many African economies with sizable diaspora populations, especially in the current economic environment. Zeepay provides a local, affordable, secure, and convenient money transfer solution for the industrious African diaspora to support their loved ones,” said Raza Hasnani, Managing Director and Head of Infrastructure Investments at Africa50.  

Oikocredit is delighted to partner with Zeepay as we grow our global portfolio of impactful fintechs. Remittances are essential to financial inclusion for many households in Zeepay’s countries of operation, and its digital wallets help overcome challenges around transparency, cost,  convenience, speed and safety for both senders and receivers of funds. We are pleased to partner with a fast-growing African business led by a capable team and look forward to supporting its growth,” said Samuel Kibiri, Equity Officer for Africa at Oikocredit.  

”I&P’s follow-on investment in Zeepay demonstrates our conviction in the success and prospects of the business. We are proud to have partnered with a highly capable promoter and management team in delivering impressive financial and social returns over the past two years with our initial investment. We are excited to be joined by new like-minded investors and remain fully committed to supporting Zeepay to attain its goal of becoming a leading pan-African mobile financial services business impacting the lives of millions of underserved users across Africa and the Caribbean,” said Sebastien Boyé, Co-CEO of I&P.   

“The Injaro team is honoured to partner with the Zeepay team, which Andrew Takyi-Appiah, a dynamic and visionary young Ghanaian entrepreneur, leads. We look forward to working together to achieve the ambitious goal of creating a successful Ghanaian multinational and a market leader in the fintech space. It is especially gratifying to finance Zeepay with Ghanaian capital as this ensures that profits from this investment flow back into the local economy to trigger a virtuous cycle of economic development. We believe that this investment represents an important first step in building linkages between Ghana’s pension funds and exceptional local businesses, which are important drivers of Ghana’s economic growth”, remarked Jerry Parkes, Managing Director of Injaro Investment Advisors Limited.  

Kwabena Appenteng, Director at Verdant Capital, said, “Zeepay offers investors like Verdant an attractive combination of hard currency earnings through its remittance-to-the-wallet business and growth opportunities across the continent. Testament to the strength of the management team at Zeepay:  the business reached profitability earlier in its lifecycle than other fintechs and has maintained strong profitability while growing and diversifying its footprint and revenue base. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Verdant Capital.