COVID-19 lockdowns continue to impact the lives of everyone. In African economies, the women in informal economies have been the most affected with many of their businesses closing and others struggling to survive. In August this year, New Faces New Voices Nigeria conducted a study COVID-19 impact study featuring vulnerable women in marginalized communities in
âLockdown has impacted on the livelihoods of everyone, particularly women. Most African economies are informal, and this is where the majority of women work to provide for their families. It is in the formal economy that women are represented in very small and medium enterprises. Here they have also felt the shocks of the pandemic
 Award-winning WIMN member Ruth Kanyanga Kamwi  Ruth Kanyanga Kamwi is the Deputy Assignments Editor â Community News for the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a member of the Graça Machel Trust Women in Media Network. She has worked for ZNBC for 20 as a radio and TV producer, as well as
 âIf you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.â African Proverb.  Graça Machel Trust Women in Media Champion & Amnesty International Kenyaâs Chairperson and advocate, Renee Ngamau was recently honoured for her dedication as a human rights defender to protect public land. Renee received
The Graça Machel Trust works across the continent on three issues: womenâs rights, childrenâs rights, and governance and leadership. We catalyse action, support local initiatives, lend solidarity and offer support where it is needed. We connect people and groups that should know each other and work together; and engage both publicly and behind the scenes
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.