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 rights of women, and adolescent girls.
Leila Akahloun, Advisor to Mama Graça Machel, has not only been selected to be a B-WEL Fellow for 2023-2024, but was also named one of the Global Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent under 40 in the Humanitarian Sector! At the Trust, Leila plays the crucial role of advising, supporting and driving Mama Machel’s work advocating for women’s rights and equality issues at regional, continental and global levels. This includes women’s economic advancement, supporting adolescent girls on the continent to express and use their innate power effectively, as well as women’s participation in the green energy sector.
Andia Chakava, Investment Director at the Trust and Managing Director of Afrishela, was selected to be part of the Kayana News Women to Watch 2024! Read her article here.
Andia was also featured in Bayes Business School’s Alumni Stories and continues to make waves with her influential blog in the gender lens investment sector. Andia’s insights bridge significant gaps between women entrepreneurs and financial service providers, fostering substantial progress toward financial inclusion at all levels. Read the blog here.
Shiphra Chisha, our Director of Programmes, was recently honoured as the runner-up in the Social Impact Leader category at the 2024 Future of Leadership Awards (South Africa). This accolade reminds us of the impactful leadership Shiphra brings to our initiatives, significantly advancing our mission.
Anabahati Mlay, Women Creating Wealth Tanzania Country Lead, was awarded the ‘EmpowerHer Excellence Award’ in Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion. Anabahati’s dedication to promoting women’s roles in decision-making and leadership is deeply inspiring. Her personal commitment echoes the foundational principles of the Graça Machel Trust.
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.