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Introducing the WDFI Advocacy Hub members

The Women’s Digital Financial Inclusion (WDFI) Advocacy Hub is UNCDF’s new flagship gender initiative to promote participation in WDFI policy change and support the creation of gender-inclusive digital economies. We’re excited to introduce the first cohort of members of the newly founded WDFI Ethiopia Coalition.

Introducing the WDFI Ethiopia Coalition members

Identifying and addressing women’s diverse needs to become digitally financially included requires not only willingness of government to solicit feedback when developing new policy and regulatory frameworks, but also a proactive business community and civil society prepared to advocate on issues that impact millions of lives. Without multi-sectoral engagement and support across the board, the transformative impact promised by global commitments will be constricted.

There are two interconnected components to the WDFI Advocacy Hub: Local Coalitions made up of civil society, and public and private sector organizations and the Global Advocacy Hub.

The Ethiopia Coalition will be a platform for local stakeholders to discuss, strategize and collaborate for greater impact. UNCDF will support the members of the Coalition by facilitating access to training and insights, and by channeling financial resources to support the implementation of innovative practical solutions. At the global level, the Global Hub will create unified messages on the priority issues identified by the Coalition in partnership with global organizations, as well as open opportunities for local stakeholders to gain visibility at high-level platforms. 

Unlike other global platforms, the WDFI Advocacy Hub is centered on elevating and amplifying local voices, shifting resources to local partners, and spurring a constructive dialogue with decision-makers. Below are the members we are proud to be working with in the coming months. 


List of Member Organisations:

  • Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE)

  • Dot Ethiopia

  • Enat Bank

  • Ethiopian Communications Authority

  • Ethiopian Youth Entrepreneurs Association

  • EthSwitch

  • Financial Sector Deepening Ethiopia (FSD Ethiopia)

  • Girl Effect

  • Mercy Corps

  • Ministry of Finance

  • Ministry of Labor and Skills

  • National Bank of Ethiopia

  • Network of Ethiopian Women's Associations (NEWA)

  • Peace MFI

  • Safaricom

  • Thunes


The WDFI Hub Ethiopia Coalition will hold its inaugural meeting in the coming weeks. Members of the coalition will gain access to capacity building through the Tufts University Fletcher Leadership Program for Financial Inclusion (FLPFI) 8QM Program, as a first step to better understanding and addressing women’s digital financial needs through policy change and smart-product design. A general timeline of the Hub’s activities can be found below.


Beyond the Ethiopia Coalition 

The Ethiopia Coalition, the WDFI Advocacy Hub has an Advocacy and Communication Network for all those who want to be agents of change in the digital journey of Ethiopia and the African continent. 

By joining the extended WDFI advocacy and communication network, you will:  

  • Have access to our community of partners, allowing you to engage with a wide network of stakeholders in Ethiopia and at regional and global levels 

  • Stay up to date on the latest news and activities of the WDFI Advocacy Hub 

  • Receive exclusive invitations to hub-related events and more. 

  • *No organisational presence in Ethiopia is required. 

If you are interested in staying up to date on the activities of the Coalition and joining the Advocacy Network, please fill out the online form.  


Contact us

Questions? Please don’t hesitate to contact us and join the conversation @UNCDFdigital #ItsHerEconomyToo


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