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.
Andia highlighted how women like Wanjiku*, a rural worker, and Mama Mboga*, a street vendor, often remain invisible in traditional economic metrics. She called for systems that value their contributions and address their challenges. Her reflections align with the Trust’s mission to advance women’s financial inclusion and participation in decision-making.
These conversations drive practical action by addressing gaps in gender lens financing and promoting systemic change. They ensure grassroots women are included in sustainable economic growth. By collaborating with partners like 2X Global, the Trust, through Afrishela, continues to advance gender-inclusive economies, promoting equity, dignity, and opportunity.
Photo 1: Andia Chakava, GMT Investment Director and Afrishela Managing Director (right); Dorothy Nyambi, President and CEO of MEDA (center); and Sarah Ngamau, Managing Director of Moremi Fund at Kuramo (left).
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Andia’s poem, shared with 2X Global members which beautifully captures the essence of Kenya’s identity while shedding light on the challenges marginalised groups, especially women, face. It urged the audience to reflect on why inclusive solutions must prioritise their needs. Enjoy the welcome poem by Andia Chakava to 2X Global members below;
Welcome to the land of Obama
Our own Silicon Savannah
Welcome to our green city in the sun
With our National Parks for a bit of fun
ââHakuna Matataâ is what we say
When we work hard and call it a day
We are in the country of Wangari Maathai
Our big five animals will make you sigh OH MY!
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We call our average woman âWanjikuâ
To demonstrate it has to be simple enough to do
Wanjiku will rarely own her own land
Even though she is the main farm hand
Our female informal traders are called âMama Mbogaâ
Many of them are faceless, nameless -not counted in GDP
However, their presence is at every street corner for us to see
We have a vibrant youth called GenZ
They are taking the political movement by storm
They do defy the norm
So when we meet, greet, learn and share
Tell me why Wanjiku, Mama Mboga and Ms Genz should care.
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.