As part of its activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day on March 8, The Graça Machel Trust and TikTok partnered to run the #WomenofNow campaign. The campaign was used to introduce the Graça Machel Trust Expert Leaders Group on Women’s Financial Inclusion in the Digital Economy (ELG). The Expert Group convened by the Trust’s Founder, Mrs Graça Machel, with the Trust’s New Faces New Voices Champions; comprises of Women leaders who currently serve, or have previously served in leadership positions as Governors/Deputy Governors of regulators (Central/Reserve Banks).
The Expert Leaders group aims to seize the urgency of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to advocate for gender inclusiveness in relief, recovery responses and a reconstruction agenda. This is in a context of pre-existing entrenched structural barriers, social and economic inequalities that disproportionately affect women, worsening due to the pandemic.
The mandate of the Expert Group is to elevate the voices of African women, driving a regional and continental agenda, working with the GMT Network Country Chapters at national levels. This will build a strong ecosystem of voices and actors at all levels. “Women’s leadership at all levels is a fundamental requirement to fighting inequality successfully. COVID-19 presents us with unprecedented opportunities for the regeneration of the African socio-economic landscape and the movement towards a just, equitable and sustainably prosperous continent. Let us dare not squander this opportunity for a rebirth, ” Open Letter – “Times of Unprecedented Crisis Present Unique Opportunities for Unprecedented Action” – Graça Machel, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr. Vera Songwe and Maria Ramos.
GMT #WomenofNow Campaign on TikTok.
The leaders are a true representation of Women of Now, driving change while multiplying the faces and amplifying the voices of women and girls. Dr. Tukiya Kankasa-Mabula Former Deputy Governor; Bank of Zambia; Mrs Elsie Addo Awadzi- Deputy Governor; Bank of Ghana; Ms Gail Mathabo Makenete- Deputy Governor at Central Bank of Lesotho; Dr Natu Mwamba-Deputy Governor of the Bank of Tanzania; Dr. Dhliwayo the Deputy Governor at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and Dr Aisha Ahmed Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria were the expert leaders who took part in the campaign to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
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.