The global outbreak of COVID-19 continues to create significant challenges for everyone. For leaders operating at different levels of the economy, it has become a double-edged sword. This year, the GraƧa Machel Trust joined the rest of the world in commemorating International Women's Day under the theme Women in leadership.Ā We asked women in our networks
March 9, 2021 Today, on the Peopleās Vaccine Global Day of Action, we mark a year since we as a global family have been confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, humanity has shared in the collective trauma of managing an unfathomable magnitude of sickness and death in our midst. Together, in every corner of the
Private sectors in Africa are more innovative and dynamic than ever before. At the same time, its youth are plugged-in and eager to become full-fledged members of the globalised world. African women have gradually taken on a more significant role than ever before in the economic sphere, winning, with patience and determination, an ever-growing number
One in every four adolescent girls in the world lives in Sub-Saharan Africa. If well nurtured, they will be integral in Africa's social transformation and economic development. In the last few months, Mrs. GraƧa Machel has focused on developing a movement focused on nurturing African adolescent girls' innate power.Ā Ā Photo credit: Annie-Spratt
Immaculate Atwine, from Ntungamo District western Uganda, is an Agri-business women entrepreneur, specializing in processing pure millet flour for porridge and ghee from cow milk. Her company Nepstat Limited, like most companies, suffered several setbacks due to the lockdowns enforced by the government early in the year.Ā Ā Millet, image by Couleur, Pixabay.
Ā Ā The GraƧa Mache Trust is gravely concerned by, the ongoing violence in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Uganda. We are especially concerned about the adverse short and long term effects the current unrests are having on women and children. Ā Research by UN Women reveals that Violence not only has negative consequences for women but
Ā āTokabiila maata gayiiseāĀ is a Luganda saying that loosely translates to ādo not cry over spilt milkā, and encourages people to cut their losses and move on.Ā Salmah Dusman, is one of the businesswomen affected by the COVID ā 19 national lockdown in Uganda. Her story is one of resilience and focuses on productivity while forging
COVID-19 lockdowns continue to impact the lives of everyone. In African economies, the women in informal economies have been the most affected with many of their businesses closing and others struggling to survive. In August this year, New Faces New Voices Nigeria conducted a study COVID-19 impact study featuring vulnerable women in marginalized communities in
Ā Award-winning WIMN member Ruth Kanyanga Kamwi Ā Ruth Kanyanga KamwiĀ is the Deputy Assignments Editor ā Community News for the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a member of the GraƧa Machel Trust Women in Media Network. She has worked for ZNBC for 20 as a radio and TV producer, as well as
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting childrenās 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 Childrenās Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescentsā 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 Trustās 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 motherās health and social economic conditions, the early years of a childās life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.