New digital partnership to power women’s economic opportunities in Africa

Photo: UN Women Africa

UN Women and NEC partner to advance digital empowerment for women and girls in Africa

UN Women and NEC Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance digital empowerment and economic opportunities for women across Africa. The partnership was formalised during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) held in Yokohama, Japan, on 21 August 2025.

The collaboration builds on a shared commitment to closing the digital gender gap and advancing women’s leadership in technology and innovation. NEC became a Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) signatory in 2023, underscoring its strong commitment to gender equality. In 2025, the company reported continued progress in increasing the number of women in managerial roles with decision-making authority. NEC has always prioritised hiring more women; however, in 2024, the previous year’s Inclusion and Diversity initiatives began to deliver tangible results, resulting in a significant increase in the recruitment of women across its operations in Africa.
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Building on successful past projects, including UN Women’s e-Voucher programmes in Mozambique and Côte d’Ivoire, the MoU outlines a framework for future collaboration to use digital solutions that support women’s socio-economic resilience, inclusion and empowerment.

In Mozambique, 2,100 women and girls benefitted from digital solutions which enabled them to access essential items such as maize, rice, sanitary products, clothing, and groceries via a UN Women e-Voucher programme supported by NEC’s digital distribution platform. Similarly, in Côte d’Ivoire, over 2,800 women benefitted from e-Vouchers for groceries and cleaning materials. These projects demonstrate how gender-responsive technology can strengthen humanitarian response and empower women economically.

“Gender equality in the digital age requires innovation that puts women at the centre,” said Anna Mutavati, Regional Director, UN Women East and Southern Africa. “Through this partnership, we aim to scale inclusive digital tools that open new pathways for women’s participation in the digital economy and accelerate progress toward gender equality.”

“The signing of this MoU marks an important step in our ongoing partnership with UN Women. By combining NEC’s technological expertise with UN Women’s programme delivery capabilities, we aim to create meaningful opportunities for women across Africa,” said Yosuke Koide, General Manager: Global Synergy Development at NEC XON.

The partnership contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and sets the stage for joint initiatives that strengthen women’s access to technology, enhance their livelihoods, and promote inclusive digital transformation across the continent. 
 
About UN Women
UN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead UN entity on gender equality and secretariat of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, we shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. Our partnerships with governments, women’s movements and the private sector coupled with our coordination of the broader United Nations translate progress into lasting changes. We make strides forward for women and girls in four areas: leadership, economic empowerment, freedom from violence, and women, peace and security as well as humanitarian action. UN Women keeps the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress–always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are. https://africa.unwomen.org/en.
 
About NEC XON
NEC XON is a leading African integrator of ICT solutions and part of NEC, a Japanese global company. The holding company has operated in Africa since 1963 and delivers communications, energy, safety, security, and digital solutions. It co-creates social value through innovation to help overcome serious societal challenges. The organisation operates in 54 African countries and has a footprint in 16 of them. Regional headquarters are located in South, East, and West Africa. NEC XON is a level 1-certified broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) business. www.nec.africa.
 
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