Red Cross partners with Equity Bank to enhance emergency response

Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Ahmed Idris signs an MoU alongside Equity Bank MD Moses Nyabanda as other officials watch

The Kenya Red Cross Society has partnered with Equity Bank to enhance response to humanitarian emergencies by strengthening humanitarian support and sustainably promoting the well-being, financial literacy, health, and resilience of communities across the country.

Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, KRCS secretary general Ahmed Idris said the collaboration seeks to leverage the respective strengths of both institutions to enhance community preparedness and response to humanitarian emergencies.

He said the partnership will enable both organisations to work closely in designing and implementing innovative, community-driven programmes that alleviate human suffering and support long-term development.

“It is also an opportunity to co-create sustainable solutions with Equity Bank to support families affected by disasters, restore livelihoods, and help communities find long-term pathways to resilience,” Idris said.

"Together, we hope to enhance access to financial literacy, economic empowerment and dignified recovery for vulnerable households."

Equity Bank MD Moses Nyabanda welcomed the collaboration, emphasizing Equity’s commitment to strengthening community resilience through impactful partnerships.

“This partnership allows us to blend the Red Cross’ deep expertise in humanitarian response with Equity’s strength in financial inclusion,” he said.

"We are keen to learn from KRCS on how best to support communities during crises, while complementing their efforts through the Equity Group Foundation’s pillars in social protection, access to finance and livelihood restoration.

"Our goal is to ensure that vulnerable families not only recover from shocks but are also equipped to thrive."

He added that Equity sees the partnership as an opportunity to enhance social protection initiatives through the provision of insurance solutions and to scale community support mechanisms by leveraging the bank’s financial infrastructure and outreach networks.

Under the partnership, the two organisations agreed to collaborate in several key areas aligned with their mandates, policies and operational frameworks.

Nyabanda said the key areas include financial literacy, through the training of women and youth groups on basic budgeting, prudent borrowing, effective saving and investment.

This will also include entrepreneurship and digital literacy training for vulnerable groups and provision of loans and other financial services to trained groups.

Idriss said the partnership will also enhance the delivery of cash transfers and other forms of cash and voucher assistance, with Equity serving as a financial service provider to facilitate some of the disbursement of aid through mobile money, bank accounts and other appropriate channels.