 Photo Credit: Zach Vessels  The COVID19 has brought about so many uncertenities around the world and the negative impact of the pandemic can not be ignored. During this years' RELX SGD Inspiration Day, Mrs. Graça Machel brought in inspirations and looked at positive examples of the COVId-19 pandemic. She focused on climate change and vaccines.
 Dr. Marcia Balisciano, Global Head of Corporate Responsibility- RELX and Mrs. Graça Machel, Founder - Graca Machel Trust and SDG Advocate  The Graça Machel Trust (GMT) founder and also UN SGD Advocate, Mrs. Graça Machel on Wednesday, 24 June delivered the keynote address at the 2020 SGD Inspiration Day. The event,
Photo Credit: Annie Spratt  On 15th April 2020, the Graça Machel Trust (GMT) and its African Women in Agribusiness Network (AWAB) hosted a Webinar with The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) to address the effects of COVID-19 on food systems and agribusiness in the Eastern and Southern African (ESA) region. The Webinar attracted different
 The National Development Plan 2030 (NDP) describes Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) as catalytic economic mechanisms for sustainable development and economic growth. However, this narrative has been drastically disrupted in the past weeks with the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic presents a dual challenge of both economic growth as well as
 âIf they refuse to make space for you at the table, then create your own tableâ- Graca Machel  In any setting a table may often be furniture that is overlooked as a mundane feature of the space that it occupies, it serves as a gathering place, for both people and things. If this is
This month, our Interim CEO, Dr. Shungu Gwarinda was privileged to deliver a  keynote address at The Great Funders Conference in Sandton. The event called different development partners, academics, and stakeholders from the development space from around Johannesburg to look into ways of developing the first South Africa CSI development agenda. The event themed  âThe Localised Sustainable Goalsâ narrowed
Photo: UCT Brenton Geach Screenshot  âYou have been a faithful support to me and my predecessors. You have stood with UCT at our most vulnerable times as our mother, our elder and our conscience. You have shared our anger and our joy. You are a woman of action and by your example
 "Sexual violence and the exploitation of children represents our shortcomings as a society in our responsibility to protect our children,"- Graça Machel.   Child sexual exploitation is a form of sexual abuse that all of us must not turn a blind eye on. Sometimes, a child is abused by a person they trust. When
  This year's International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) focused on celebrating the amazing things girls are achieving that prove they are unscripted and unstoppable! In keeping up with the goals and objectives of the Isithunzi initiative-restoring her dignity, the Graça Machel Trust (GMT) team in partnership with the AngelRock Project South Africa
Recognising women as business leaders in Tanzania    The Graça Machel Trust Interim CEO Shungu was invited to be a guest speaker at the launch of CEOâs Forum in Tanzania hosted by our very own New Faces New Voices (NFNV), Emma Kawawa, the founding director of this exciting initiative which aims to increase
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.