The Trust would like to congratulate members of our Women in Media Network - Selma InocĂȘncia  and Suzgo Khunga - who have recently been appointed into new and exciting roles in their respective countries. We wish them the very best in their endeavors!  Selma InocĂȘncia - Chief Operations Officer, Center for Democracy and Development (Mozambique)
The Graça Machel Trust has been running a Youth Advocates programme. This is a mentorship programme targeting young people from Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia on how to champion Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) in their countries. This month, the Trust is excited to welcome on board our newest members joining
 Our focus in the Nutrition Programme is to place nutrition high on the agenda of governments and civil society as a key development issue. Working with civil societies, our advocacy efforts are aimed at creating greater awareness and political commitment for effective food security and nutrition. Here is what our nutrition advocates got up
 "The empowerment of women is not only a developmental issue, it is very much an economic issue. Those institutions that recognise the changes that are happening globally and take steps to make certain that they are participating in the next emerging market, will more fully reap the economic benefits of their investment." â Graça
 16 July, 2019 â Pretoria  The past 12 months have been characterized by a worsening of the food security and nutrition situation in southern Africa. The regionâs current food and nutrition status is dire, compared to the same time last year. According to the Southern Africa Development Communityâs (SADC) Food and Nutrition Security
Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) partner to bolster women entrepreneurs in East Africa 2X Challenge Members inaugurate competition to empower women entrepreneurs in East Africa  Nairobi, Kenya â July11, 2019 â Leading development finance institutions(DFIs) including FinDevCanada, Commonwealth Development Corporation Group (CDC) of the United Kingdom, Proparco of France and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting childrenâs 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 Childrenâs Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescentsâ 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 Trustâs 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 motherâs health and social economic conditions, the early years of a childâs life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.