Womenâs Experiences in Accessing Finance in South Africa
Embarking on a journey to access finance for growing a business is often filled with many highs and lows. In South Africa, we see women redefining the socio-economic landscape and taking up space in various sectors of the economy. More women are becoming entrepreneurs, building brands, and shaping society. To do this, one requires financial stability to expand and grow their business. Over the past months, we
have engaged women entrepreneurs in conversation to explore their different journeys into accessing finance within various financial entities in South Africa.
The Graca Machel Trust under the Womenâs Economic and Social Advancement Unit (WESA) has been able to document a study titled âDocumenting Financial Inclusion: Experiences of Women in South Africa and Zambiaâ funded by the African Women Development Bank (AWDF). Women have shared rich information and feedback on their struggles, lessons, and overall experience on their efforts to access finance in South Africa. Below, we take you through a journey of accessing finance in South Africa through the lens of six (6) women entrepreneurs:
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.