This archive report was first published on 25 June 2021.
June 23, 2021 - Nairobi, Kenya - Equity Group and the United Nations system in Kenya have joined forces to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Kenya by 2030.
The partnership, signed on June 23, 2021, aims to promote and catalyze investments in the SDGs beyond short-term cycles, enabling the UN system in Kenya to reach more people on the ground through Equity's strong brand in the community, its infrastructure network, development expertise, and local knowledge.
Equity Group, led by MD and CEO Dr. James Mwangi, will deploy USD 6 billion on the SDG Partnership Platform, expecting 5 million MSMEs to benefit from this financing within the region. Dr. Mwangi emphasized that these enterprises will create at least 5 jobs each, addressing the issue of unemployment.
Equity Group continues to play a leading role in contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda on the Sustainable Development Goals. Through its regional banking subsidiaries, Equity collaborates with UN agencies in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and other footprint countries.
Dr. Mwangi noted that existing partnerships with UN agencies have proven mutually beneficial, resulting in great outcomes, such as supporting 3.3 million refugee and vulnerable beneficiaries and providing USD 852 million in social protection work.
Through the enhanced partnership, Equity will work together with the UN Resident Coordinators Office, the SDG Partnership Platform, and 23 UN agencies with operations in Kenya to accelerate knowledge management for SDG achievement, with training and catalytic investments to facilitate market access and cross-border trade across diverse value chains, especially for women and youth entrepreneurs.
