Our Women’s Economic and Social Advancement Programme welcomed new additions to their team, Nthateng Mhlambiso and Tamara Ncala who will continue the good work that the programme is already doing in supporting and building strong networks of women in their efforts to drive, influence and shape socio-economic policies in the region. We asked our WESA team to tell us more about about their experience working with the networks so far and they shared exciting updates!
“The journey to gender equality is a long road, but we believe together, with us holding hands, we can leave a legacy of more respect, recognition, equal rights and justice for the women and men that come after us”
Continuing the work in network building
A major undertaking we will embark on during this strategic period, 2019-21, is the Network Growth Path (NGP). The ultimate goal of the NGP is to give the Trust a road map to determine progress in our network building work and to help better respond to network needs. The Trust would like to further optimise the network building opportunity to advance African women at the national, regional and continental levels. We are cautiously optimistic as we know network building does not lend itself to quick results. The group formation and institution building process takes time and this seems common for most social movements that are initiated through volunteerism. The evidence gathered from our network building work reveals that we need to accelerate progress; a clear value proposition; a skilled and committed team; seed funding, communication; management of expectations; recognition, awards and incentives.
We value the journey we have undertaken with the networks and greatly value and appreciate their work and interest, so that together we can, in Mama Machelâs words: âdo more, do better and do differentlyâ.
Our Women in Business network project kick off
In another exciting update, our Women in Trade project in partnership with the United Parcel Services (UPS) kicked off in Tanzania on the 27th August 2019. Â The partnership with UPS has strengthened the opportunity to incubate our women in trade programme. A key objective of the project is to educate and expose women in trade about trading online and E-Commerce opportunities, with a particular focus on the International Trade Centre (ITC)âs Shetrades Platform. The goal of the Shetrades platform is to connect one million women entrepreneurs to the markets by 2020 and we are delighted that our networks are taking part in this initiative.
Programme Manager for WESA, Korkor Cudjoe said that they will  run interesting workshops in 7 of our networks countries; Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe and she added that the workshop in Tanzania was hosted by NABW-T with the leadership of Vida Nasari Mndolwa and her dynamic NABW board and the support of the sister networks NFNV and AWAB. They had 86 participants from at least 6 business networks.
Presentations at the workshop were made from local Tanzanian and regional up and coming online platforms and initiatives – driven by women entrepreneurs, Irene Kiwia and Faraja Nyalandu of KWEA and Shule Direct, respectively.
Attendee entrepreneurs from the workshop expressed their appreciation from what they learnt through the workshop outcomes
âTodayâs workshop has opened up my eyes. For the first time I am aware that even with this business of mine, I can do it online. I have been seeing businesses like eBay, Amazon online, but never related to possibility of having the sameâ-Hawa Masawanga, Sally Stationaries
The workshop also energised NABW-T commitment to continue to bring together women organizations on a common platform to inform and deliberate on matters that serve the needs of their members, and they believe the event has contributed to objectives of the greater women movement in Tanzania.
We cant wait to hold our next workshops in Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe in September and October!
Read more on our Women’s Economic and Social Advancement programme here
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.