ā€œGod did not make a mistake by putting natural resources in Africa, it’s time for us to take ownership of what we haveā€ GraƧa Machel challenges women to participate in the energy sector

2025-06-13T07:22:41+00:00June 12th, 2025|

PRESS STATEMENT For Immediate Release 12 June 2025 Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  ā€œGod did not make a mistake by enriching Africa with so many resources. Mozambique and the rest of Africa’s energy future holds immense promise. Yet it cannot, and must not, be charted without the full and equitable participation of women—as consumers, as entrepreneurs,

Leading with Intention: How Soraya Hakuziyaremye is Redesigning Finance for Women in Africa

2025-05-22T09:12:52+00:00May 22nd, 2025|

Rwanda’s first female Central Bank Governor shows why inclusive finance must be intentional Ā  Ā  Ā  In April 2025, Rwanda appointed Soraya Hakuziyaremye, Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda—the first woman to hold this position in the country’s history. Her appointment made headlines in most parts of Africa, not just for its symbolic value

New Faces New Voices South Africa joins regional movement to redefine women’s financial inclusion

2025-05-13T12:02:07+00:00May 13th, 2025|

On 9 May 2025, the GraƧa Machel Trust officially launched the South African chapter of New Faces, New Voices (NFNV) in Johannesburg. It marks a powerful new phase in the continental movement to reshape financial systems with and for women. Anchored by the Africa Women Financial Inclusion Initiative (AWFII), the chapter will champion systemic change

Celebrating our trailblazers: Honouring the women leading with vision, courage, and impact across Africa

2025-04-22T11:35:49+00:00April 22nd, 2025|

At the GraƧa Machel Trust, we believe in spotlighting the women whose leadership lights the way for others. In this issue of The Catalysts, we proudly celebrate three phenomenal trailblazers whose contributions are shaping the future of financial inclusion, economic justice, and women’s advancement. Ā  Ā  Gloria Lema: Coaching with Purpose, Leading with Heart Coach.

Driving Inclusive Growth Across Africa

2025-04-25T10:40:06+00:00April 22nd, 2025|

The Graça Machel Trusts' Women Creating Wealth (WCW) Programme continues to achieve transformative impact, supporting thousands of women entrepreneurs, generating sustainable jobs, and unlocking critical funding and market opportunities across the continent. Here are some of the achievements that the programme has made this quarter.     Driving entrepreneurial impact By the end of 2024,

The road to entrepreneurship: A journey of reinvention

2025-04-25T09:21:10+00:00April 22nd, 2025|

Ā  Ā  Ā  At our Ā Connect & Inspire session, WCW entrepreneurs shared powerful reflections on navigating the highs and lows of business. What emerged was a clear reminder: entrepreneurship is not just about building a company, it’s about building oneself. "No one is coming to save you - rescue yourself." Ā  Ā  That was the

Unlocking possibilities: How WCW is transforming access to finance

2025-04-25T10:40:46+00:00April 22nd, 2025|

In 2024, the combined efforts of the GraƧa Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth (WCW) programme and Afrishela’s gender-lens investment initiatives unlocked over US$5 million in funding pipelines for women entrepreneurs—proving that when access to capital is matched with the right support systems, finance becomes a powerful driver of transformation. Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Access to

Expanding Market Access: Unlocking New Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

2025-04-22T08:01:55+00:00April 22nd, 2025|

Sometimes, one opportunity is all it takes to change the trajectory of a business. For many women in the WCW Programme, 2024 has been a year of breakthroughs - where barriers gave way to bridges, and small businesses found space to grow.Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Thanks to focused coaching and training, WCW entrepreneurs opened

African women entrepreneurs driving inclusive economic transformation

2025-04-23T10:59:07+00:00April 22nd, 2025|

African women entrepreneurs transforming public procurement Ā  Despite substantial contributions to Africa’s economic growth, particularly in SMEs and cross-border trade, women entrepreneurs face significant barriers in accessing public procurement opportunities. Limited awareness, complex digital requirements, and bureaucratic hurdles impede their economic participation. However, advocacy groups like COMFWB Malawi are leading the charge to implement gender-responsive

Can African philanthropy succeed without Global North funding?

2025-04-21T17:06:38+00:00April 17th, 2025|

Africa is at a critical moment in philanthropy. With traditional funding streams from the Global North shrinking, the continent must innovate and rethink its social justice and investment approaches. Recently, Mrs GraƧa Machel, global advocate, philanthropist, and founder of the GraƧa Machel Trust, spoke powerfully during a lecture hosted by the Centre on African Philanthropy

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