Photo: From left to right: Leila Akahloun (Mrs Machelâs Senior Advisor) Theo Sowa GMTâs Interim CEO, HE Graça Machel (GMTâs Founder) and Vimla Naidoo (Mrs Machelâs Personal Assistant.  Reflection â Move with courage, humility and a learning mindset  This year the Office of the Founder was tasked by the Board to
 When fundraising for women and gender led initiatives we find that the money needs to be chased, the money needs to be convinced, the money needs to be influenced and the money needs to be aligned to our values.  We will do all these things but we will not lose our integrity.  The
By Korkor Cudjoe, Senior Manager, Entrepreneurship Programme   As the year draws to a close, it offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on our achievements, insights, and challenges within the Women Creating Wealth (WCW) and Graça Machel Trust (GMT) Entrepreneurship Development Programme. These reflections not only showcase our progress but also help identify areas
Supporting girls through leadership and partnerships in Zambia The Pan-African Adolescent Girls' Movement achieved a key milestone by establishing its first 'Nest' in Lusaka, Zambia, collaborating with the Foundation for Adolescent Girls Movement and Young People in Zambia (FAPEZA). FAPEZA serves as the local implementing partner and ensures that the project addresses pressing social challenges
Afrishela, the Graça Machel Trust's gender-lens investment initiative, demonstrated its transformative impact at the recent AVPA Conference. Jane Mbinya highlighted how investment lensesâchild, gender, and displaced peopleâdrive sustainable growth. She shared examples of businesses supported by the Trust, including food production in Kenya, health services in Tanzania, and digital financing in South Africa, which advance
During November's recent African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) Conference, Jane Mbinya, the Trust's Senior Investment Officer, highlighted how investment lenses drive sustainable growth. Speaking on the panel Intersectionality of the Investment Lenses, she explained how child, gender, and displaced people lenses intersect in the investment space. She shared case studies from the Trust's work, demonstrating
GMT Afrishelaâs recent participation at the 2X Global Annual General Meeting was important in highlighting the challenges faced by underserved women in rural and informal sectors. By addressing gaps in gender financing and advocating for inclusive solutions, Afrishela is helping to amplify the voices of grassroots women. These efforts are driving systemic change, ensuring their
At the recent 2X Global Annual General Meeting in Kenya, Andia Chakava, Investment Director at the Trust and Afrishela Fund Managing Director, shared a powerful message about the importance of inclusive, gender-smart solutions. Speaking to global investors and leaders, she emphasised prioritising underserved groups, especially women in the informal business sectors. Â Andia highlighted how
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.