April 29, 2021: The Graça Machel Trust's New Faces New Voices (NFNV) Zimbabwe Chapter convened a virtual roundtable under the theme Impacts of COVID-19 on women-led businesses and their financial inclusion. The meeting's main objectives were to share experiences of women-led businesses given the emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic and engage stakeholders on the impacts
The business environment, especially in South Africa, was already in a precarious position before the pandemic hit us unprecedently. With a 0.2% economic growth in 2019, businesses from JSE to the streets of Soweto would have to buckle up to survive. COVID19 required extraordinary efforts from businesses. This has been to the benefit of some
IT URGES WEALTHY NATIONS TO PLEDGE âDOLLARS FOR DOSESâ TO VACCINATE 6.5M AFRICAN HEALTH WORKERS. Â #VaxLive: The Concert to Reunite the World, a televised event that will call for equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution for all. Â South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged his support for Global Citizenâs latest concert initiative, VAX
 We must remember that global threats like COVID-19 demand a coordinated multilateral response. Image by Elf-Moondance from Pixabay.  COVID-19 is an enemy that knows no borders. There will be no final victory until every person in every country is protected. With a population of over 1.3 billion, Africa is one of
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.