Since its inception over a decade ago, Graça Machel Trust (GMT) has brought together networks of African women representing a range of sectors. The work of these networks is underpinned by a desire to support women in their efforts to drive, influence and shape socio-economic policies in their various countries, as they work towards making a lasting impact on the continentâs developmental agenda.
As we continue to be intentional in putting women at the centre of the continentâs development, GMT provides both institutional and technical support to the networks in an effort to build a critical mass of highly qualified, active women who then become effective voices in areas where women are currently underrepresented. Our current networks include: Women in Business, Women in Agriculture, and Women in Finance and the Graça Machel Trust Scholarship Programme.
Leverage the power of numbers
Support network building and strengthening and grow membership numbers
Develop entrepreneurship capabilities
Strengthen womenâs capacity and confidence to drive scalable, inclusive, innovative projects and financing models that increases access to finance and market opportunities and productive assets.
Develop leadership capabilities:
Identify a critical mass of women leaders in key sectors to champion and drive transformation in the economic, social and political spheres.
Advocate for the removal of structural barriers and contribute to instructional transformation
Influence governments, regulators, the private sector, and civil society and development partners to be more responsive to the needs of women.
Our Networks
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.