By Korkor Cudjoe, Senior Entrepreneurship Manager - Graça Machel Trust In recent years, there has been a remarkable surge in the number of female entrepreneurs in Africa. These women are breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and carving out their places in the business world. For the Graça Machel Trust, the mission has always been clear
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, digital literacy and access to public sector procurement opportunities are vital for the growth and sustainability of women-owned and led Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). Acknowledging these crucial needs, the Graça Machel Trust organised a transformative one-day training session on 8th August 2024 in Johannesburg,
200+ women entrepreneurs graduate from the Women Creating Wealth programme in 5 African countries From March to May 2024, we proudly celebrated the graduation of more than 200 women entrepreneurs from the Women Creating Wealth (WCW) programme, adding to the existing 500 graduates. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the host partners in
Afrishela (her money in Swahili) is a $30M emerging innovative Pan-African impact-investment vehicle that seeks to invest with a gender and climate lens targeting early growth stage women-owned and led businesses in East and Southern Africa. It is currently being incubated by the Graça Machel Trust and supporting the women entrepreneurs we work with to
The Graça Machel Trust is filled with dedicated people whose leadership is evident in everything we do. We always appreciate and admire their contributions, but it's especially meaningful when others outside our organisation recognise their work. In this section, we highlight some of our leaders and colleagues who have made important progress in supporting the
There is so much amazing work being done by the various networks GMT is privileged to partner with... far too much to include all of it in a single newsletter. So, in this section we are highlighting just a few activities from some of the New Faces New Voices country networks, with links at the
Charity Mandishona, the Country Representative of the Graça Machel Trust’s Network of African Businesswomen – Zimbabwe chapter, is a passionate advocate for women and girls' rights, a dedicated feminist, and an 'economic promotion' trainer. With a rich background in supporting women's entrepreneurship, Charity plays an important role on the boards of several influential organisations, including
On July 25, 2024, the Graça Machel Trust, in partnership with New Faces New Voices networks from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, hosted the East African Community Regional Convening on Women's Financial Inclusion in Kampala, Uganda. The hybrid event, "Digital Finance: Promoting Accountability for Women's Financial Inclusion," attracted over 450 participants, including experts,
To overcome market entry barriers and enhance women entrepreneurs’ s access to local markets, the Trust has actively developed strategic partnerships, orchestrated convenings, and connected women to exhibitions and forums to advance them in the agricultural value chains. The Trust supported three women entrepreneurs from our Women Creating Wealth's Agricultural Value Chains and Fair for
Our Founder Mrs. Graça Machel and Interim CEO and Board of Trustees member, Theo Sowa, attended the 5th Annual African Philanthropy Conference held at Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, from July 29th to August 2nd, 2024. Themed 'The Next Frontiers of African Philanthropy,' this conference highlighted a critical moment in the evolving
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s 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 Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ 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 Trust’s 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 mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.