“Empower a woman and a whole community will thrive, empowering women benefits everyone and is essential for communities to thrive. Research shows that increasing women’s involvement leads to improved financial management and more sustainable, thriving communities,”- Mrs Graça Machel.
We have partnered with the MasterCard Foundation and FinDev Canada to officially launch the Invest2Impact, a programme of the Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) of Canada, France, the United Kingdom and United States into a competition that aims at providing access to funding for women-led initiatives in East Africa.
Mrs. Graca Machel spoke at the launch of the Invest2Imapct in July. In her presentation to alluded to how it is through numerous engagements with women across the continent that the Trust has witnessed an increase in the number of African women venturing into sectors that are traditionally male-dominated and are still improving their technical knowledge and capacity to equip themselves when they are faced with big challenges that continue to cripple the business landscape.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of FinDev Canada, Stephanie Emond said the programme intends to bridge the gap between women entrepreneurs and investors and help them showcase their work.
“We will enter into a relationship with them that will go beyond winning the prize money. The event finale will be the beginning of our journey with them as we connect them to other global partners through crowd funding and expo opportunities.” – Stephanie Emond
Andia Chakava, Investment Director for the Graça Machel Trust highlighted on the Invest2Impact competition and emphasized that it is not just about the final prize but the experience that the community will get through the women-owned businesses that receive the funding.
“We have created networks across the continent that aim to change the narrative about women-owned businesses. We hope that through the mobilization process the world will see all the innovative businesses that women in Africa have come up with. We want a new narrative to be written about how to finance women in business,”- Andia Chakava
While there are many other business competitions concentrated on the African continent, as well as women-focused entrepreneurial forums, programs, and initiatives, 2XInvest2Impact will stand out by pinpointing women-owned businesses at the growth stage, poised for investment capital. 2XInvest2Impact will provide them with mentorships, business development services, visibility and the opportunity for funding.
Read more on our Women’s Economic and Social 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.