From Left to Right: United Nations Assistant Secretary General and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, and Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman, Dr. James Mwangi, during the signing of a partnership between UNDP and Equity Group Foundation. /PHOTO ; Courtesy
Equity Group Foundation (EGF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate innovation and provide robust support to businesses to drive inclusive economic growth across Africa.
Through this partnership, UNDP and Equity Group Foundation will establish centers of excellence under the UNDP’s flagship timbuktoo initiative to foster innovation and empower African entrepreneurs.
These centers will provide comprehensive training, mentorship, and improve access to finance, enabling the creation and growth of high-potential, climate-neutral businesses.
Speaking at the signing, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman, Dr. James Mwangi, lauded the collaboration as a transformative step toward empowering young people and fostering innovation to address societal challenges.
“Equity Bank was built on the principle of inclusion. The issue of inclusion, particularly in the digital, AI, and cloud computing spaces, resonates deeply with us. This partnership will not only empower young innovators with the tools, resources, and networks they need to succeed but will also ensure that innovation is harnessed to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”
“With our presence in seven African countries, serving a combined population of over 350 million people, Equity provides these young innovators with access to a vast marketplace and the capabilities and brand strength of the Group, to serve the region as a single market under the African Continental Free Trade Area.”
The collaboration will foster socio-economic development through targeted programs that advance economic empowerment, reduce poverty, expand access to education, and promote financial inclusion, with a strong emphasis on gender equality and climate action.
Central to this collaboration is the identification of key value chains and high-potential sectors, where UNDP and Equity Group Foundation will develop and implement targeted interventions to unlock growth and create new opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and communities.
“This partnership with Equity Group Foundation marks a significant step toward building an innovation-driven and sustainable future for Africa. By joining forces through UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative, we are nurturing entrepreneurs, reinforcing value chains, and advancing socio-economic empowerment. This is how we move from potential to prosperity, laying the ground for lasting impact across the continent,” stated Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Bureau for Africa Director.
The cooperation underscores the shared commitment of UNDP and Equity Group to advance transformation across Africa by leveraging their collective expertise and resources.
It aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Equity Group’s Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), emphasizing innovation, inclusion, and empowering young people to lead transformative changes.
About Equity Group Foundation (EGF)
Equity Group Foundation is the social impact arm of Equity Group, established to champion inclusive socio-economic transformation across Africa.
The Foundation focuses on six key pillars: education and leadership development, health, financial inclusion, enterprise development and financial literacy, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
Through these pillars, EGF works to expand opportunities for young people, support MSMEs, and strengthen community resilience.
About UNDP
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development agency working in over 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilient nations.
UNDP supports governments and partners to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promote inclusive growth, strengthen governance, and address climate change.
Through its timbuktoo initiative, UNDP is investing in Africa’s innovation ecosystem by empowering entrepreneurs, catalyzing financing, and developing high-potential start-up sectors across the continent.
