Tech Herfrica
Established2023
FounderImade Bibowei-Osuobeni
TypeNGO, Nonprofit
PurposeHumanitarian, Women Empowerment, Digital Literacy Programme, Financial Inclusion, Bridging Digital Divide.
HeadquartersAbuja, Nigeria
Staff
500+ (Staff and Volunteers)
Websitetechherfrica.org

Tech Herfrica is a non-governmental social impact organization that focuses on the digital and financial inclusion of women and girls in rural areas of Africa.[1][2] The organization was established in February 2023 by Imade Bibowei-Osuobeni, a Nigerian public policy advisor and advocate for the inclusive digital economy. Bibowei-Osuobeni is also the founder and chief executive officer of Tech Herfrica.[3][4]

Tech Herfrica’s assists women and girls in rural and marginalized communities in Africa to thrive in the digital economy.[5] The organization supports the development of women-led businesses in these rural communities, using technology as a tool to bridge the digital divide.[1][3]

Programs and focus

Tech Herfrica's activities includes provision for farmers and traders, especially women, in rural Africa with the information, digital tools, digital and financial literacy training, and resources they need to enhance their farming and business activities to sell more of their products at competitive market prices.[1][2] The organization works to reduce poverty, reduce food waste, contribute to food security, promote social orientation, and promote digital equity.

Tech Herfrica operates through different digital and financial literacy programmes that offers to its beneficiaries[6][1]Access to an e-commerce platform, "HerLocal Market", that connects rural female farmers and traders in Africa to local and international buyers,[3][1]Access to freely distributed internet-enabled mobile devices, health insurance, business finance, supply credit and long-term savings plans,[7][5]Access to local technology for farmers and traders to increase production,[1][5]Digital financial literacy training in indigenous languages for women and girls in rural African communities,[7]Access to essential information on market prices, new markets, weather forecasts, improved agricultural methods and governmental policies.[7][5]

The organization has trained thousands of farmers and traders, impacted communities, distributed mobile devices, disbursed business finance, facilitated millions of Naira in trade, and increased the income of its beneficiaries by 50% on average.[5][8]

History

Tech Herfrica, founded on February 2023 by Imade Bibowei-Osuobeni, a Nigerian public policy advisor and advocate for the inclusive digital economy,[9][10] is headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria. Tech Herfrica’s main focus is providing women and girls in rural African communities with digital tools, information, digital and financial literacy training, and other resources to enhance their livelihoods and opportunities.[11][12][9]

The organization has since its establishment expanded its scope to support the agricultural and entrepreneurial activities of these women and girls, helping them to increase their productivity and market access.[9] Tech Herfrica relies entirely on voluntary assistance and contributions from cooperate individuals, government and private donors and currently operates in six African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania.[5][13]

Activity

Tech Herfrica, expanding its social impact beyond Nigeria has engaged in projects across Africa to assist African women and girls in the fields of technology, digital and financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.[1] In collaboration with Orbeets Digi-Tech Solution, Tech Herfrica partnered to build an e-commerce platform, "HerLocal Market" to connect local and international buyers to rural female sellers and women farmers in various underserved African communities in March 2023.[3][14][12][15]

To provide digital literacy training, Tech Herfrica, in collaboration with Faslearn Africa, and African Leadership Foundation built, organized and manage the “Digital Literacy for All” course, made available to pupils in public schools in underserved communities across Africa in March 2023.[3][16]

Conducting agricultural training and giving agricultural incentives in May 2023, the organization collaborated with Onome Foods and Lexicon media to promote food security and empower women farmers and traders in rural communities under the "EquipHer 4Growth" initiative.[17][12][18][15]

In June 2023, Tech Herfrica and Afriex assisted some Nigerian women in agriculture, by providing them with the necessary tools such as free smart phones, point of sales (POS) devices, micro finance loans, and access to digital resources to improve their trade.[14][19]

Giving financial aids and education, Tech Herfrica collaborated with Sterling Bank in September 2023 to offer the "One Woman Saver" designed with the needs of low-income earning rural Nigerian women in mind, offering incentives to women who cultivate a continuous savings habit cycle by giving back 6% interest on their savings and access to business loans.[17][18]

Other entities who assisted the organization to deliver digital and financial literacy programmes in various underserved communities across Africa as of October 2023 includes Champion Mall, Gention Global Resources, Visual Earth Group, the Fight Against Drug and Alcohol Foundation, Bridge Outpost Mega Services, Bullbear, and other volunteers in support of the organization's goals.[1][14][12][15]

Awards and recognition

Tech Herfrica
Year AwardIssued byResultRef
2023 2023 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Digital Game Changers Award in the People CategoryInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU)Won [20][21][22]
2023 Visionary African Women AwardLilian Ike FoundationWon [23]
2023 Women Empowerment Champion Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Reporters Won [24]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "How TechHerfrica is promoting inclusiveness in African digital economy-Imade - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  2. 1 2 Nigeria, Guardian (2023-04-11). "Tech Herfrica's visionary approach to digital inclusion for low income women". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tech Herfrica championing inclusion of African women in local communities - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  4. ↑ "Imade Bibowei-Osuobeni: Championing Female-Led Businesses in Underserved African Communities – The US Times". theustimes.com. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vanguard (2023-08-17). "Social impact organisation empowers rural women farmers in Éferené Project". Vanguard. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  6. ↑ Vanguard (2023-04-30). "Intra-gender digital divide in Africa requires social innovation, programming – Bibowei-Osuobeni". Vanguard. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  7. 1 2 3 Nigeria, Guardian (2023-04-11). "Tech Herfrica's visionary approach to digital inclusion for low income women". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  8. ↑ "Empowering Women Farmers: Nigerian Imade Bibowei's Tech Herfrica". TheFounder. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  9. 1 2 3 Vanguard (2023-06-30). "How we're championing digital inclusion for rural African women — Imade". Vanguard. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  10. ↑ "Imade Bibowei-Osuobeni: Championing Female-Led Businesses in Underserved African Communities – The US Times". theustimes.com. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  11. ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2023-09-17). "Tech Herfrica honoured with 2023 SDG Digital Changers Award at UN headquarters". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Nigeria, Guardian (2023-05-27). "With equipher, tech Herfrica rolls out initiative for women in underserved communities". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  13. ↑ Scorecard, The Africa (2023-06-11). "EquipHer: Tech Herfrica's innovative approach to poverty reduction through digital inclusion". The conscience of africans. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  14. 1 2 3 "Tech Herfrica, Afriex tackle poverty with digital financial inclusion initiative". Vanguard. 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  15. 1 2 3 TSJ.org (2023-05-27). "With Equipher, Tech Herfrica Rolls Out Initiative For Women In Underserved Communities". The Street Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  16. ↑ Ochoga, Patrick (2023-05-05). "Tech Herfrica Partners Alf To Conduct Financial Literacy Training In Indigenous Languages". Leadership. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  17. 1 2 "World Literacy Day Collaboration Drives Financial Empowerment In FCT Mpape Community | Independent Newspaper Nigeria". independent.ng. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  18. 1 2 The SUN (2023-09-10). "How World Literacy Day Collaboration Drives Financial Empowerment in Mpape Community". The SUN. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
  19. ↑ "Bridging the Digital Divide: Afriex and Tech Herfrica Empower Nigerian Women Farmers and Traders for Economic Growth". www.afriexapp.com. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  20. ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2023-09-17). "Tech Herfrica honoured with 2023 SDG Digital Changers Award at UN headquarters". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  21. ↑ Vanoli, Christine (2023-09-17). "SDG Digital GameChangers Award: Meet the Winners". ITU Hub. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  22. ↑ Erika (2023-09-17). "SDG Digital GameChangers Award: Meet the Winners". eTrade for all. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  23. ↑ Leadership News (2023-07-16). "Nigerians, Others Honoured As Ghana Hosts Visionary African Women Summit". Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  24. ↑ CSR Reporters (2023-07-09). "Abuja Agog as CSR REPORTERS Celebrates Nonprofit Champions Across Nigeria". CSR Reporters. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
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