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 women’s and youth entrepreneurship.
Photo: Janet Lohay of Jamec Farm in Bagamoyo Tanzania is one of the participants of the WCW programme who was visited by the team
GMT focuses on improving the economic, social well-being and leadership of women and youth on the African continent. At the same time, the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy aims to help 70% of young women achieve self-employment or dignified work. Together, these efforts accelerate meaningful change.
Our recent site visit to entrepreneurs in Malawi and Tanzania was about more than observation— it was an opportunity for deep learning and collaboration. We explored how our missions align, understood the role of values in achieving outcomes, and identified scalable approaches for economic advancement.
The power of values-driven collaboration
During the visit, the Foundation actively participated in co-creation and embodied its core values of kindness, respect, and humility.
WCW Tanzania team with Mastercard Foundation leadership during the visit
This immersive experience encouraged open dialogue, allowing both teams to exchange ideas and refine strategies. By fostering a listening and shared learning culture, we strengthened our ability to drive impactful transformation in women’s and youth entrepreneurship.
Photo: Chifuno Stevens (left) Managing Director for Dedza Pottery and Lodger and CEO of Chifuno Changa Green Initiative in Dedza interacting with Mastercard Foundation leadership- Makena Mworia and Phirista Nassali Nakato
One highlight was our engagement with the COMESA Federation of Women Entrepreneurs in Business (CONFWEB) in Malawi, where ecosystem players discussed challenges and opportunities in entrepreneurship. This reinforced the insight that collective action and shared knowledge are vital for systemic change.
Confidence as the cornerstone of economic advancement
A clear insight emerged from the visit: confidence is essential to entrepreneurial success. Almost every entrepreneur we met experienced a shift in mindset following their participation in the WCW programme, significantly improving their businesses.
This highlights the importance of personal leadership. The WCW Personal Mastery and Leadership curriculum equips women to overcome imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and other barriers.
We asked, “How long does it take to build entrepreneurial confidence?” Evidence suggests transformation can start within a month when individuals receive inspiration, practical knowledge, and strong support. When entrepreneurs see tangible results, their confidence—and businesses—grow rapidly.
Scaling youth employment: Lessons from a young entrepreneur
In Africa, addressing youth unemployment through entrepreneurship is critical. One standout example from our visit was Neema’s Beauty Bar & Boutique in Malawi. Neema, a young entrepreneur, built a successful beauty business and trained 60 female high school dropouts, many of whom have started their own businesses.
Photo: WCW Malawi team with Mastercard Foundation leadership visiting some of the entrepreneurs in the programme
Neema’s model aligns with WCW-I’s goal to create 52,500 youth jobs in the next 15 months. It emphasises the importance of robust tracking mechanisms to replicate and scale successful models.
The site visit confirmed a powerful truth: partnerships rooted in shared values and mutual learning drive extraordinary change. Moving forward, we are committed to deepening our collaboration to ensure African women and youth have the confidence, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.
Photo: Esther Msefula, owner of Starise Furniture and Home Deco in Lilongwe Malawi interacting with GMT and Mastercard Foundation leadership – Makena Mworia and Phirista Nassali Nakato.
Acknowledging our partners, teams, and entrepreneurs
We extend our sincere thanks to the Mastercard Foundation for their active participation in this insightful visit. Marieme Esther Dassanou, Makena Mworia, and Phirista Nassali brought expertise and vision brought depth to our engagements.
Mastercard Foundation’s unwavering commitment to collaboration and learning continues to shape and strengthen entrepreneurship across Africa in meaningful ways.
We’re equally grateful to the Women Creating Wealth country teams. Under the leadership of Evelyn Kamanga in Malawi, and Anabahati Mlay in Tanzania, their dedication and seamless coordination made this experience both productive and inspiring.
This visit showcased the power of collaboration and the potential of entrepreneurship to drive meaningful change. The stories shared by entrepreneurs in Tanzania and Malawi reaffirmed that with the right support, confidence, and partnerships, we’re not just growing businesses—we’re shaping a more inclusive and resilient future for Africa.
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.