April 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Rotary Club of Johannesburg (RCJ), the first Rotary Club on the continent of Africa. It celebrated a century of driving impactful socio-economic transformation throughout the continent. For the first time, on May 8,2021, the organisation had a cutting-edge online platform that allowed thought leaders
The GraƧa Machel Trust (GMT) partnered with the African Development Bank (AfDB) Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) on aĀ webinarĀ on accountability for Southern African civil society organizations (CSOs). The convening rallied CSOs from eight Southern African countries on 28 April 2021, discussing accountability and good governance in projects funded by multilateral development banks. Ā Photo Credit:
University of the West Indies presents Mrs Machel with prestigious Luminary Award Ā GraƧa Machel Founder GraƧa Machel was among six leaders honoured at the 12th annual University of the West Indies (UWI) Toronto Benefit Awards, which took place virtually on May 22, 2021. Hosted under the theme' Meeting the Moment', the 2021
About the Author: Andia Chakava is the Investment Director at GraƧa Machel Trust and Investment committee member at OPES LCEF Restart fund, Justice, equality, diversity and inclusion steering committee member at GenderSmart, visiting lecturer at Bertha Centre for social innovation and entrepreneurship and Founding Chairperson of New Faces New Voices Kenya. Ā IMPACT INVESTING IN
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting childrenās 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 Childrenās Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescentsā 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 Trustās 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 motherās health and social economic conditions, the early years of a childās life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.