A significant challenge women small business owners face is raising finance to grow their businesses. It is estimated that women's financing gap is $42 billion. The GraƧa Machel Trust WCW (Women Creating Wealth Programme) and African Development Bank AFAWA (Affirmative Finance Action for women in Africa) have joined hands to start closing this gap. Our
The GraƧa Machel Trust is delighted to announce that its Founder, Mrs GraƧa Machel is this year's Lifetime African Philanthropy 2022 Recipient. Mrs Machel was recognised during The African Philanthropy Conference on Wednesday, 3 August 2022, in Sandton, South Africa. Ā Mrs Machel was awarded this prestigious Award for her tremendous contribution and notable efforts
According to a UN Women Report on the impact of COVID-19, it not only had a profound shock on our societies and economies, but the pandemic also underscored societyās reliance on women, exposed structural inequalities across every sphere, from health to the economy, security to social protection. Additionally, it showed that when resources are strained
According to United Development Programme (UNDP), the COVID 19 pandemic exposed the risk of offshoring production of Africaās basic needs. From vaccines and PPE to wheat and oil, the real risk is the same: Africaās sustainability requires a new development approach that focuses on the Made in Africa Revolution. The African Continental Free Trade Area
"Women will come in their thousands and millions but will have no face. When the moment of truth comes but they will have no voice. To have a voice is power. It allows one not only to put ideas on the table, but to influence decisions, policy, and the shaping of your country," Farai Mpofu,
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.