The UN Women have signed a memorandum with Stanbic Bank to provide non-financial and in-kind assistance to women in South Sudan.
The two parties forged a partnership to boost women’s economic empowerment in the country, as aligned with the agenda for growth Stanbic Bank South Sudan supported.
Sixteen computers were presented as part of empowering women in digitalisation.
Stanbic Bank country director Andrew Murugu says the MoU is based on the belief that economic empowerment for women benefits only individuals but also households, children, and communities.
According to Murugu, the assistance will focus on seven key areas of empowering women and complementing the ongoing interventions to rebuild economic resilience in South Sudan.
“This MoU focuses on the following key areas, capacity building of women in financial literacy, business management, and gender-responsive procurement, support for women value chains, providing information on cancer and cancer screening for women and girls,”
“The project will supports women and adolescent girls in sports, providing access to banking services and providing access to ICT training and services are among the critical areas of focus.” He explained.
The UN Women country representative, Peterson Magoola says, their partnership with Stanbic bank is to advance the rights of women in areas of access to economic opportunities.
He says his organization will be working closely with the Ministry of Gender, the Ministry of Youth and sports, and the Ministry of Health to engage young women and girls in sports.
Magoola stated that the gender-responsive processes will link women in South Sudan to other counties to improve their businesses and livelihood.
According to UN Women, Data hub, 51.5%of women in South Sudan aged 20-244 yrs old were married or in a union before age of 18.
These statistics coupled with imbalanced gender power as a result of lack of resources ownership and land rights by women are the driving force behind the women empowerment agenda in South Sudan.