To become better partners, banks are encouraged to design new ways to assess women entrepreneurs' full scale, including track record, entrepreneur profile, and how women in business manage to pay debts, overheads, and suppliers. On 8th March 2022, the Graça Machel Trusts' Women Economic and Social Advancement (WESA) Programme launched a Financial Inclusion Project Documentary
Breaking the Gender Bias in Finance  Financial inclusion is critical in breaking the poverty circle for women as it helps them access many forms of credit facilities, help them with saving money, accumulate assets. However, despite the progress being made to improve the status of financial inclusion for women, World Bank reports indicate that
On 24th November 2021, the Graça Machel Trust was part of the African Development Bank Regional Civil Society Forum, which aimed to enhance stakeholder engagement at the regional level. It was stated by the Bank that each region has determined its most relevant theme, which highlights existing challenges and opportunities to enhance Civil Society engagement
The Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G), which took place in Japan from 7th to 8th December 2021, was a reset opportunity and a great reminder that we only have nine years left to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. This summit mobilised ambitious and wide-reaching multi-stakeholders who committed to transforming food and
In 2020, the Graça Machel Trusts' Women's Economic and Social Advancement (WESA) programme conducted a financial inclusion best Practice study,  documenting the experiences of 60 women in the financial sector from South Africa and Zambia. The data published from this study reveals that women still need additional investor strategies to strengthen their business acumen related
It is estimated that over 400 million children are currently living on the African continent. But, how many children are aware of the existing child rights systems and mechanisms designed to protect their rights? According to Child Rights International Network, children are affected by all of the Sustainable Development Goals, and not only poverty, hunger,
 The Covid-19 pandemic has forced millions of children across the world out of the normal school environment as countries try to implement measures to curb the transmission of the novel virus.  More than 160 countries across the world have to date implemented some form of school closure. If not properly handled these closures
 Prior to Covid 19 pandemic, the Trusts' Nutrition Programme team attended an African Union Summit on the CAAP 2nd Biennial Review Report which took place on 8th February 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the theme Silencing the Guns â creating conducive conditions for Africaâs development. This theme highlighted on Accelerating Implementation of Agriculture, Climate and
 With over 190,000 confirmed cases and at least 7,894 deaths recorded across the world, COVID- 19 continues to wreak havoc not only in our everyday lives and global economy,  is set to worsen the inequality gap in Africa.  The continent is home to almost all the countries[1] with the highest rates of extreme
 What is the Malabo Declaration?  The Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods is a set of new goals showing a targeted approach to achieve the agricultural vision for the continent which is shared prosperity and improved livelihoods by 2025. It was adopted by African Union Heads
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.