by Jenny Dunn, Head of Marketing and Communications
Farmers play a crucial role in the economy of Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) yet without resources and training, many smallholder farmers operate at 40% or less of their harvest potential. Female farmers are particularly disadvantaged due to cultural barriers and lack of access to financial training and services. Our Roots of Change project sought to overcome these barriers. Over the last three years we have worked with rural female farmers in Ghana and the DRC to establish…
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by Emily Wilson, Communications Officer
Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination… We work with women farmers and entrepreneurs as they equip themselves with the financial skills and products to create sustainable livelihoods. Livelihoods that raise their standard of living. So that their children can go to school, their families can eat well and they have a secure income for the future. This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #breakthebias. It's a call to celebrate women’s achievements,…
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by Opportunity International
Ugandan-born journalist and author Yasmin Alibhai-Brown understands the power of an opportunity. Her own story of leaving a country she loved amid hardship to seize an opportunity for a different future mirrors that of so many of our clients. In February 2022 Yasmin presented our BBC Radio 4 appeal, highlighting the brilliant entrepreneurial women and men we work with. Yasmin has an incredible story of growing up in Uganda with Ugandan-Asian parents who had to flee the country 50 years ago. Yasmin…
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by Opportunity International
Farmers in Ghana are increasingly hit by drought, flooding and pests. Using satellite data, and in person visits to farmers fields to calculate crop loss, Opportunity International can help farmers manage and protect themselves against the increasing effects climate change. Our Roots of Change project in Ghana was recently featured in Reuters, which reported on one specific and very important element of the project which looked at how our agricultural products and services can help best support rural…
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by Melissa Bell, Programme Manager for the disabilities project in Uganda
Discrimination, exploitation and exclusion are daily challenges for people living with disabilities. COVID-19 has disproportionally affected disabled people. Healthcare has been interrupted, restrictions cause further isolations and public health messages labelling disabled people as 'high risk' quickly spread fear. Over 80% of people with disabilities live in some of the poorest countries in the world. The vast majority have the capacity to make meaningful economic contributions. There is a vast…
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by Noah Ssempijja, Refugee Programme Coordinator
“We're more than elated to announce that our partner bank, Opportunity Bank Uganda, has officially opened it's Nakivale Branch to the public. This new branch means Opportunity can scale up its financial inclusion services to underserved refugee communities. We can provide financial literacy training and tailored financial services leveraging digital services.” Noah Ssempijja is Opportunity International’s Refugee Programme Coordinator in Uganda. He manages our Refugees: Innovation, Self-reliance…
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by Lydia Baffour Awuah, Senior Programme Manager
“I’m leaving the beautiful Upper West Region of Ghana, inspired by the amazing stories of the women farmers and the brilliant staff I met; who have been working tirelessly to transform the lives of rural women and their local communities.” Lydia Baffour Awuah, one of our Senior Programme Managers, is recently home from Ghana where she's been hosting the learning and close event for Opportunity's 'Roots of Change' project - a three year project funded in partnership with the UK government's…
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by Opportunity International
Women in low and middle-income countries are 10% less likely than men to own a phone and 23% less likely to use mobile internet. We regularly host roundtable events about Digital Financial Services (DFS) - bringing together leaders in technology, development and business to discuss difficult questions. As financial services increasingly digitise, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, the question on the table at our latest event was – how can Opportunity International help tackle this gender…
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by Opportunity International
Who or what do you see when you first hear the word refugee? Do you see a mother? A businessman? A daughter? A teacher? An athlete? Or do you see empty rubber boats, overrun border posts, packed reception centres, tent cities, rows of people needing assistance? Maybe you see many things. It is unlikely, however, you see Albert Einstein, Freddy Mercury or Madeleine Albright to mention just a few famous refugees. Refugees suffer enormously from stereotyping and false narratives. They are ordinary…
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by Emily Wilson, Communications Officer
I recently spoke to Agnes, a colleague working for our partner in Uganda about how financial inclusion is increasing gender equality in the Nakivale refugee settlement. This is our conversation... Agnes, please tell us a bit about how you ended up working with Opportunity International. “I am a Senior Relationship Officer in charge of Refugee Financial Inclusion at Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited. I manage the bank’s business within the refugee settlement, local government and other NGO’s.…
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