The Graça Machel Trust has been very involved in providing platforms to discuss and strategize around the impacts of COVID-19 through various initiatives which have highlighted the critical role women play in managing both their professional lives and home lives, particularly in times of crisis. In Mrs Machel words of “Never waste a good crisis”, among the initiatives we have driven was the two part Leading through COVID-19: Women’s Business Support Initiative webinar series in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The webinars provided a targeted, short-term rapid response in women leading change, technical and self-care virtual training targeting women entrepreneurs in the energy, extractives & infrastructure (EEI) sector in South Africa and Zambia and further extended to Malawi and Mozambique.
The Leading through COVID-19: Women’s Business Support Initiative was a two part series held on 29thand 30th June and 27th and 28th of July 2020 and leveraged on expertise in our networks as well as external partners. The webinar provided an opportunity to engage in a space where strategies, tools and information could be shared on different ways in which women’s businesses can of pivot through the pandemic.
The supportive intervention covered a range of topics from Contextualizing the implication of Covid-19 – opportunities and repurposing existing businesses; Implementing business continuity planning; Network building, Managing and balancing family responsibilities and Wellness & Selfcare to Innovation & Creativity and Financing Options & Opportunities amongst others. Participants expressed appreciation of content of the trainings and how it had been useful and relevant to their current business needs through a snap evaluation poll done during the trainings. Based on the high rating of the evaluations conducted, we believe most entrepreneurs took away 1-3 lessons that they are acting to support their business at this time.
We look forward to establishing and building a long-term partnership with IFC who holds a leading position in promoting private sector investment in Africa and who invests and works in many countries with entrepreneurs who work in infrastructure, mining and extractive sector. We aim to leverage this engagement with EEI sectors entrepreneurs to revive and incubate an EEI network, as part of our strategy to increase the representation and participation of women the energy, extractives & infrastructure.
Catch up on some of the Leading through COVID19 Webinar Series
Watch Innovation and Creativity Webinar here
Watch Financing Options and Networking Webinar here
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.