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In a historic milestone, the Ministry of Interior of South Sudan and INKOMOKO 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 Honourable 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.”