Congratulations Leila Akahloun: Most Influential People of African Descent (2018)
The Graça Machel Trust family is proud to celebrate Leila Akahloun who was named in the Most Influential 100 Class of 2018 under the Humanitarian and Religious category by Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD).
Leila Akahloun is an international development professional and serves as Special Advisor to Mrs. Graça Machel. In this role she supports Mrs Machel her in advocacy work around child health and nutrition, education, women’s economic empowerment, as well as leadership and good governance.
“It is an absolute blessing and privilege to work for the inspiring Mama Graça Machel and support her in her global human rights advocacy efforts. I am also honoured to help advance the missions of Ashoka Southern Africa, Ngalo Foundation, and Safe Hands for Girls Foundation in my capacity as board member of these noble organizations that are accelerating social change in Africa. This MIPAD recognition instils in me an even greater responsibility, in the words of Mama Graça, to “do bigger, do better, do differently,”- Leila Akahloun.
MIPAD identifies high achievers of African descent in public and private sectors from all around the world as a progressive network of relevant actors to join together in the spirit of recognition, justice and development of Africa, it’s people on the continent and across it’s Diaspora.
Congratulations Andia Chakava 2018 CEO Global winner!
“Whatever we do, if there is passion, purpose and perseverance the profit will come,”- Andia Chakava
We are happy to celebrate Andia for being recognised as Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government during this year’s annual CEO Global Pan African Award that showcases Africa’s most influential women across the continent.
These women are identified through a peer-driven nomination and a multi-tier judging process which recognizes the best women that are making impact and are key in future successes across the continent. Andia was awarded the Most Influential Woman under the Financial Services category.
“The fact that this award has been given is a recognition of all the efforts that we have done within the Graça Machel Trust to draw attention to this issue and to mobilize capital from existing and new financial providers to serve this market through the creation of a special purpose investment vehicle which we are in the process of developing.” Andia Chakava
Andia Chakava is the Investment Director for Graça Machel Trust who has dedicated the last two years of her career discussing and promoting gender lens investment, which sheds more light on the untapped investment opportunities that are available for Africa’s women entrepreneurs in different sectors. It highlights on how their capacity to grow has been limited by inadequate financial capital to propel their momentum.
Congratulations Renée Nhamau: Chair Amnesty Kenya
“Effective entrenched normalization of Human rights will only happen when everyone no matter what their station in life, becomes an “activist.”– Renée Ngamau
The Graça Machel Trust is proud to congratulate Renée for being appointed Chair of Amnesty Kenya. It is an honour to have her as part champion of the Trust’s Women in Media Network and we appreciate the role she takes in ensuring issues of human rights, dignity and positive rights become a norm on the African continent. Commenting about her appointment, she said she is very honoured to be part of the disruptive board which encompasses of people from all walks of life who represent different faces of activism.
“Every human has rights. And every human has the responsibility to uphold her rights and those of others. We will not achieve dignified housing without architects and contractors who believe this to be a right. Nor will we ensure access to adequate nutritious food unless farmers and people in agribusiness stand for food as a human right. We will never achieve this until human rights are applicable to everyone regardless of gender, race, religion, creed, age or sexual orientation.”
Renée is also an active member and champion of the Graça Machel Trust Women in Media Network which is represented of female journalists that seek to change the present narrative of women that presents them as powerless victims and ignores the many positive stories and successes.
Read more on our Women’s Economic Advancement Programme
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.