The global outbreak of COVID-19 continues to create significant challenges for everyone. For leaders operating at different levels of the economy, it has become a double-edged sword. This year, the Graça Machel Trust joined the rest of the world in commemorating International Women's Day under the theme Women in leadership. We asked women in our networks
Private sectors in Africa are more innovative and dynamic than ever before. At the same time, its youth are plugged-in and eager to become full-fledged members of the globalised world. African women have gradually taken on a more significant role than ever before in the economic sphere, winning, with patience and determination, an ever-growing number
Graça Machel Trust Archive Picture Women bring unique feminine qualities and valuable perspectives to every industry and every decision-making table. Be vocal and make your voices heard. Challenge the norms that you feel constrain you. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed a lot of social and economic crisis around the world. However, one thing
Credit: World Health Organisation website Screenshot  The World Health Organisation (WHO) believes that, if safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 are developed, everyone, everywhere who could benefit from these vaccines should have access as quickly as possible, starting with those at highest risk. WHO has provided recommendations about the populations that need to be
Mrs Graça Machel urges global leaders to play a part in guiding Covid-19 recovery and reconstruction agenda and implementation of policies that will ensure the interests of all citizens are included.  Mrs Machel said this during the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, which took place on 19th November 2020. The Forum brought together world leaders
Africa Gender Index Report Global Launch panelists  The African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and UN Women unveiled details of its Africa Gender Index report during a virtual global dissemination event that took place on 01 December 2020. The online event drew more than 150 participants from government,
  Johannesburg, November 3, 2020  The Graça Machel Trust will mark its 10th anniversary this year by launching the Expanding Equality (EE) Initiative. The Trust was constituted with a primary goal of amplifying womenâs movements, influence governance and promote womenâs contributions and leadership in the economic, social and political development of Africa; and
Eliminate the hoe and replace with simple, accessible agricultural technologies. It has to be part of the âindustrialisationâ of Africa!- Graça Machel  "Women need to be at the forefront of agricultural industrialisation, at the decision-making table and throughout the value chain, including in the development of better farming technologies as African women are still using a farming
The economic impact of COVID19 remains a great concern everywhere. On May 26, 2020, the Graça Machel Trust partnered with ABSA Kenya through a series of virtual convenings that seek to support entrepreneurs during this unprecedented environment. During the Leading through Change Webinar, high-level representatives from the Absa Kenya Leadership team and expert speakers offered insights on
Graça Machel has called on civil society organizations to organise smallholder farmers into associations for them to support one another and apply a gender-lens approach to benefit women.   Mrs. Machel said this on 29 July 2020, during a Society Talk public Webinar hosted by the Southern Africa Trust. The session was organised in corroboration
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.