UNHCR receives USD 100,000 from Ecobank for livelihoods and education in Africa
27 October 2016
Nairobi, KENYA – The UN Refugee Agency’s operations in Africa received a major boost last week when Ecobank donated USD 100,000 towards developing livelihoods and education for refugees.
The bank, through its Ecobank Foundation handed over the cheque to UNHCR which was represented by the Kenya office Deputy Representative, Wella Koyou and the lead for Private Sector Partnerships in Africa, Needa Jehu-Mazou.
This strategic partnership with the Pan African bank will see continued multiyear support for UNHCR’s work across the continent.
Over 430,000 refugees will benefit in the education sector with the investment going to quality primary, secondary and professional education.
“We are extremely grateful to you for this wonderful show of support. We believe that such partnerships are vital to delivering home-grown solutions to the refugee situation in our continent,” said Ms. Mazou.
Ecobank Group CEO, Ade Ayeyemi outlined the reasons why this partnership with UNHCR was necessary. “Every institution in the society has to heed the call to help the vulnerable,” he said. “Through our Ecobank Foundation, we have heeded this call and engaged in a couple of social investments in the continent.”
There are 28 countries where both UNHCR and Ecobank are operational. This is an opportunity for both entities to have a significant reach in support of the refugee community.
UNHCR caters for 65.3 million forcibly displaced persons in the world, 19.4 million of them in Africa.
“UNHCR is very grateful for the support from the Private Sector in Africa. The continent shares nearly a third of the world’s refugee burden, with some situations protracted for decades and other crises sadly, constantly erupting,” Valentin Tapsoba, UNHCR Regional Bureau Director for Africa said.
“Corporates like the Ecobank Group help us to find home grown solutions to the problem of refugees in Africa. While global humanitarian resources are dwindling, such committed support, helps us to plan and implement programmes including ensuring education delivery, and creating and developing business opportunities for refugees and their gracious host communities,” he added.
