Interior Minister Angelina Teny shakes hand with William Ngabonziza, INKOMOKO’s Country Director in South Sudan after the signing of the MoU. (Photo: Courtesy).

South Sudan’s Ministry of Interior and INKOMOKO organization have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance financial inclusion and economic empowerment for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities.

Building on last year’s breakthrough, which enabled 438 refugees to open bank accounts for the first time in South Sudan, this new partnership is set to remove even more barriers to economic participation for displaced populations.

The 2023 initiative, a first of its kind in South Sudan, granted refugees access to banking services through Equity Bank and formally allowed them to register businesses.

This success demonstrated the transformative power of financial inclusion in fostering self-reliance and community resilience.

The new MoU now focuses on scaling these achievements by addressing systemic challenges such as the lack of legal documentation, which restricts access to essential services like banking, telecommunications, and economic opportunities.

“This MoU is a bold step forward in empowering refugees and IDPs to take control of their futures,” said Dut Akol, Director General of the Commission for Refugee Affairs (CRA).

“Through this collaboration, we are creating opportunities for displaced populations to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of South Sudan.”

The Ministry of Interior, through the Commission for Refugee Affairs (CRA), will continue to lead efforts to coordinate refugee protection and foster integration.

Meanwhile, INKOMOKO, committed to empowering entrepreneurs in communities hosting forcibly displaced persons, collaborates with micro and small businesses to deliver the tools, skills, and capital needed to drive growth and success.

The charity organization said the partnership aims to empower displaced people to rebuild their lives while strengthening South Sudan’s economic resilience.

William Ngabonziza, INKOMOKO’s Country Director in South Sudan, emphasized: “This partnership is about unlocking the potential of marginalized populations. By removing barriers like documentation challenges, we are paving the way for inclusive economic growth in South Sudan.”

This MoU solidifies South Sudan’s resolve to build a future of inclusion and opportunity, ensuring that refugees and IDPs are supported and empowered to become active contributors to a stronger, more prosperous nation for all.

Inkomoko was first established in Rwanda in 2012 but gradually extended its operation to Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The business firm mainly work with micro and small entrepreneurs in Africa, providing them with business advisory, access to finance and market linkages to create thriving communities.

Focused on inclusion for women, youth, and displaced populations, Inkomoko’s services address challenges such as lack of access to affordable capital, business skills and tools,
professional networks and larger markets. Since opening in South Sudan.

In 2023, the organization served more than 400 entrepreneurs in Juba and surrounding areas. Inkomoko’s mission is to create jobs and thriving communities for all.