MTN Uganda has realised a significant succ stride in championing gender diversity within its supply chain, increasing the representation of women suppliers from 7% in 2023 to an impressive 15% in 2024.
This milestone was reached through the Advancing Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program, under which more than 118 exceptional women entrepreneurs have been selected to serve as service providers.
Launched in October last year in partnership with DFCU Bank (Women in Business), PSFU, NSSF Hi Innovators, ATC, UN Women, The Innovation Village, and MTN MoMo, the AWE initiative aims to expand the female MTN supplier base, enhance women’s business capacities through skills development, and cultivate sustainable business ecosystems via mentorship and coaching programs.
During a competitive selection process that drew expressions of interest from across the country, MTN has partnered with women entrepreneurs excelling in various sectors, including IT, networking, commercial, professional, and facility-related services.
MTN Uganda CEO, Sylvia Mulinge, stated that, “By choosing these women entrepreneurs as service providers to MTN Uganda, we are not just investing in their businesses; we are investing in the future of Uganda. We believe that by empowering women economically, we create a ripple effect that benefits families, communities, and ultimately, our nation’s prosperity,”. Mulinge said the telecom company will ring-fence about Shs15b in supplier contracts to women businesses.
The program’s unveiling was graced by Prof. Gudula Naiga Basaza, an entrepreneur and founder of Gudie Farm, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Limited (UWEAL).
She encouraged the women entrepreneurs to remain focused, resilient, tenacious, and compliant to ensure the prosperity of their businesses.
Partners such as Dorothy Kabagambe Semanda, CEO of ATC Uganda, and Kate K. Kiiza, Executive Director at DFCU Bank, reaffirmed their support for the AWE program, highlighting initiatives aimed at ensuring the program’s sustainability and offering specialized training and financing options tailored for women entrepreneurs.