Hanaano Programme Learning Event | Mandera, Kenya | 8–10 April 2026
Stakeholders from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia convened in Mandera for the Hanaano Financial Inclusion Learning Event, hosted by IGAD and Concern Worldwide, bringing together governments, private sector actors, and partners including RACIDA, Pastoralist Concern, and Lifeline Gedo to align strategies and accelerate inclusive finance solutions.
In a region facing recurrent drought and fragile livelihoods, financial inclusion is a critical resilience lever, enabling households to save, invest, manage risks, and improve food security and nutrition outcomes. Discussions were anchored on access, affordability, quality, financial literacy, and digital finance, providing a shared framework for action.
Partner insights, including RACIDA’s, highlighted VSLA groups as effective entry points into financial systems, while underscoring persistent gaps in access to credit, financial literacy, and linkages to formal institutions. Cross-border exchanges and private sector engagement reinforced a clear direction: community-driven models work, but scaling impact requires stronger integration with formal finance and markets.
Key takeaway: Moving from access to impact will depend on coordinated partnerships that connect community systems, policy frameworks, and financial institutions, unlocking sustainable livelihoods and addressing the root causes of vulnerability in the Mandera Triangle.