At the Graça Machel Trust, we believe in spotlighting the women whose leadership lights the way for others. In this issue of The Catalysts, we proudly celebrate three phenomenal trailblazers whose contributions are shaping the future of financial inclusion, economic justice, and womenâs advancement.   Gloria Lema: Coaching with Purpose, Leading with Heart Coach.
The Graça Machel Trusts' Women Creating Wealth (WCW) Programme continues to achieve transformative impact, supporting thousands of women entrepreneurs, generating sustainable jobs, and unlocking critical funding and market opportunities across the continent. Here are some of the achievements that the programme has made this quarter.   Driving entrepreneurial impact By the end of 2024,
   At our  Connect & Inspire session, WCW entrepreneurs shared powerful reflections on navigating the highs and lows of business. What emerged was a clear reminder: entrepreneurship is not just about building a company, itâs about building oneself. "No one is coming to save you - rescue yourself."   That was the
In 2024, the combined efforts of the Graça Machel Trustâs Women Creating Wealth (WCW) programme and Afrishelaâs gender-lens investment initiatives unlocked over US$5 million in funding pipelines for women entrepreneursâproving that when access to capital is matched with the right support systems, finance becomes a powerful driver of transformation.     Access to
Sometimes, one opportunity is all it takes to change the trajectory of a business. For many women in the WCW Programme, 2024 has been a year of breakthroughs - where barriers gave way to bridges, and small businesses found space to grow.     Thanks to focused coaching and training, WCW entrepreneurs opened
African women entrepreneurs transforming public procurement  Despite substantial contributions to Africaâs economic growth, particularly in SMEs and cross-border trade, women entrepreneurs face significant barriers in accessing public procurement opportunities. Limited awareness, complex digital requirements, and bureaucratic hurdles impede their economic participation. However, advocacy groups like COMFWB Malawi are leading the charge to implement gender-responsive
Africa is at a critical moment in philanthropy. With traditional funding streams from the Global North shrinking, the continent must innovate and rethink its social justice and investment approaches. Recently, Mrs Graça Machel, global advocate, philanthropist, and founder of the Graça Machel Trust, spoke powerfully during a lecture hosted by the Centre on African Philanthropy
Strategic partnerships are crucial for creating a lasting impact in Africa's evolving entrepreneurial landscape. The collaboration between the Graça Machel Trust and Mastercard Foundation through the Women Creating Wealth Intergenerational Initiative (WCW-I) demonstrates how values-driven partnerships advance womenâs and youth entrepreneurship.   Photo: Janet Lohay of Jamec Farm in Bagamoyo Tanzania is one
The Graça Machel Trust is a leading advocate for womenâs economic advancement across Africa. Through strategic policy engagement, capacity-building workshops, and high-level advocacy, the Trust breaks down barriers and creates opportunities for women entrepreneurs.  Strengthening Advocacy for Women Entrepreneurs  Recently, the Trust hosted Advocacy Review Workshops in Malawi and Zambia. These events provided
Women in agribusiness across Africa continue to face entrenched systemic barriers. Although they make up over 60% of the continentâs agricultural workforce, women receive less than 10% of available credit and control less than 20% of agricultural land (FAO, 2011). These figures highlight a persistent gap in access to resources, opportunities, and support. Â Â
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.