In celebration of Womenâs Month 2025, we spotlight remarkable African women leaders from the Graça Machel Trustâs Expert Leaders Group (ELG). Among these trailblazers is Ms. Elsie Addo Awadzi, a leader whose 30-year career has been largely devoted to transforming financial systems and economies into more stable, resilient, and inclusive spaces.  A career defined
The Graça Machel Trustâs Pan-African Adolescent Girlsâ Movement recently introduced a community outreach initiativeâthe Innovation Challengeâthat enabled girls to identify key issues in their communities and design creative solutions with real impact. By collaborating with Womandla Foundation Trust and Errymaple High School in Zimbabwe, Future Lift Foundation and Break-through Centre in South Africa, and the
Did you know that over 70% of informal cross-border traders in West Africa are women, yet many lack access to the digital tools needed to grow and scale their businesses? To address this pressing challenge, the Graça Machel Trust, in collaboration with Network for Women's Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), New Faces New Voices Nigeria, and
Supporting girls through leadership and partnerships in Zambia The Pan-African Adolescent Girls' Movement achieved a key milestone by establishing its first 'Nest' in Lusaka, Zambia, collaborating with the Foundation for Adolescent Girls Movement and Young People in Zambia (FAPEZA). FAPEZA serves as the local implementing partner and ensures that the project addresses pressing social challenges
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. Â Andia highlighted how
Zambia is currently grappling with an energy crisis impacting economic growth and daily life across the nation. Recognising the untapped potential of women to drive change, the Graça Machel Trust launched the GMT Energy and Climate Action Network Summit in Lusaka to position women as leaders in addressing the country's energy challenges. According to the
"There is no effort too little to make a change," said Shiphra Chisha, Director of Programmes at the Graça Machel Trust, as she addressed an enthusiastic crowd of over 100 adolescent girls from Katlehong, Leondale, and Soweto. Affectionately known as the "Eagles," these girls are part of the Trust's Pan African Adolescent Girlsâ Movement and
On a global scale, women are 20% less likely to start business ventures compared to men. In South Africa, women entrepreneurs face significant challenges, including limited access to funding, mentorship, and networks, as well as societal expectations and gender biases, highlighting the urgent need for gender-focused investment and support.[1] Â Â Â In response to
Charity Mandishona, the Country Representative of the Graça Machel Trustâs Network of African Businesswomen â Zimbabwe chapter, is a passionate advocate for women and girls' rights, a dedicated feminist, and an 'economic promotion' trainer. With a rich background in supporting women's entrepreneurship, Charity plays an important role on the boards of several influential organisations, including
To overcome market entry barriers and enhance women entrepreneursâ s access to local markets, the Trust has actively developed strategic partnerships, orchestrated convenings, and connected women to exhibitions and forums to advance them in the agricultural value chains. The Trust supported three women entrepreneurs from our Women Creating Wealth's Agricultural Value Chains and Fair for
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.