Recently, the Graça Machel Trust networks, the women’s business community, government ministries, sector leaders and women associations convened to create and launch a Community of Practice (CoP) in Kampala, Uganda. The goal of the CoP is to help women in business and the rest of the stakeholders connect, learn, grow together and respond to challenges women face in business.
The CoP on Women Leadership, Inclusive Finance, and Enterprise Development is a forum for individuals with shared goals to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and address emerging issues from partner women associations, aiming to drive rapid progress in their businesses.
The group discussed ways to leverage each other’s skills and networks and to foster a supportive and collaborative community of women entrepreneurs. This gathering was an essential step in the journey towards a more empowered and sustainable business environment for women in the country.
The event, held at the Hotel Africana in Kampala, drew participants from various fields, including agriculture, technology, government officials, community development, and the United Nations. The guest of honour, Hon. Amelia Anne Kyambadde, a prominent entrepreneur, philanthropist, and advocate for women’s empowerment, added a touch of distinction to the gathering. Hon. Amelia previously served as Uganda’s Minister for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives and was a Member of Parliament for Mawokota North County from 2011 to 2021. She is an advisor to the President of Uganda and is one of the nominated champions for Uganda GMT networks.
Ms. Bridgette Kigongo Nambirige, Hon. Amelia Anne Kyambadde and Dr Theopista Ntale. Share a light moment after the meeting.
Hon. Amelia underscored the importance of the unwavering commitment to business success during her keynote address. She noted that one of the leading reasons for the failure of women-led businesses is the tendency to juggle multiple engagements at the onset, which distracts them from building a solid foundation to help them achieve sustainable growth. Hon. Amelia pointed out the sobering statistic that many businesses fail to survive beyond their third year.
Sharing her invaluable insights and experiences in launching and nurturing a women-led business, Bridgette Kigongo Nambirige, the founder of Vintage Herbals and participant in the Women Creating Wealth  – Africa Firestarters Programme, emphasised that financial resources alone do not guarantee success in the business world. Ms Nambirige highlighted the significance of understanding policies, particularly taxation, mastering effective marketing techniques, and navigating the male-dominated business environment. She passionately advocated for the CoP’s focus on these crucial areas to empower women to excel in their business endeavours.
Throughout the day, participants discussed growth strategies and visions for the future. Led by Dr Theopista Ntale, the Country Director of GMT’s Women in Finance, New Faces New Voices Uganda Chapter, the gathering established a Community of Practice for women entrepreneurs in Uganda. The CoP will harness the collective knowledge and expertise of the group to sustain and fortify women-led businesses. This inspiring initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration and marks a promising step towards furthering womenâs economic empowerment in Uganda.
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.