In Africa's dynamic landscape of trade and agriculture, the partnership between the Graça Machel Trust's Network of African Business Women (NABW) and the Zambian Federation of Associations of Women in Business (ZFAWIB) is making noticeable progress. Established in 1993, ZFAWIB has developed a formidable track record under the visionary leadership of its Chief Executive Officer,
Highlights from the Lead Circle NFNV Mentorship Programme  Our 2017 research, Growth Barriers Faced by Women Entrepreneurs, highlighted a concerning statistic: less than 30% of senior management roles in Sub-Saharan Africa were held by women, despite evidence that gender-diverse leadership teams significantly enhanced profitability and value creation. This disparity underscored an urgent need for initiatives
Insights from Aishatu Debola Aminu: Country Director, New Faces New Voices-Nigeria  New Faces New Voices (NFNV) is a flagship initiative of the Graça Machel Trust committed to enhancing women's presence and impact within the financial sector. The network champions the cause of increasing women's access to finance and financial services to close the economic
Changing the narrative, balancing stories to improve the lives of Africa's women and children positively: An interview with Eleanor Ayuketah Ngochi, a Women in Media Network Champion. Â Eleanor Ayuketah Ngochi is a Cameroonian online journalist who has spent the past decade carving out a niche for herself in a challenging and transformative field. As
"Working with the Trust made me appreciate the gap between the women who have a voice and the women who need our voice more." Â Dr. Theopista Ntale Sekitto is among the few women at the centre of financial inclusion and social innovation in Uganda. As a seasoned banker, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Dr Sekitto
The Graça Machel Trust team recently visited Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa, to host a two-day capacity-building workshop for women-owned small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). The workshop provided the space for an enhanced understanding of land ownership and essential skills in financial literacy and business planning.   Women engaging during the dialogue
 On March 19, 2024, the Graça Machel Trust's Adolescent Girls Movement Programme hosted its 3rd annual Pan African Adolescent Girls Jubilee. The hybrid event provided a significant dialogue and connected over 250  high-spirited adolescent girls and young women aged 10 to 20 in five African countries to address some of the most pressing issues
In November the Graça Machel Trust held an Investor Showcase session in Johannesburg  South Africa. This was orgnised by our two programmes; Women Creating Wealth (WCW) and Afrishela (Gender Lens Investment vehicle), bringing together âa dynamic mix of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts.     Jane Muia, Senior Investment Officer at Afrishela, set the tone for
 The Graça Machel Trust hosted a compelling side event during the first  Africa Climate Summit (ACS), held in Nairobi Kenya on 5th September 2023. The session recognised women as key players in adopting sustainable practices essential for meaningful change. We learned that integrating gender-responsive strategies in climate policies will enable women to play an
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.