Graça Machel Trust

21/08/2026

📣 Calling women angel investors in Kenya 🇰🇪 and South Africa 🇿🇦!

Afrishela, promoted by the Graça Machel Trust in partnership with RisingTide Africa, is inviting first-time and experienced women angel investors to apply for the Angel Investor Readiness Programme.

This programme is designed to build your investment knowledge, strengthen your confidence and skills to assess investment opportunities, and connect you with investors and ecosystem leaders across Africa. 🌍

Whether you’re making your first investment or looking to sharpen your skills, this is an opportunity to grow your investment journey and be part of a stronger ecosystem for women investors.

🔗 Apply now: https://bit.ly/Angel-Investor-Readiness-Registration
📅 Applications close 28 August 2026.

19/08/2026

We’re pleased to partner with Africa in Colors, through our Pan-African Adolescent Girls’ Movement programme (My Kiota), in supporting the participation of girls from the Movement at the upcoming Africa Creative Economy & Investment Forum in Kigali. 🇷🇼

Through this partnership, the girls will be active participants in the Forum, engaging in creative sessions, talent discovery, conversations and mentorship. This reflects our commitment to ensuring that girls are not positioned only as future leaders, but are recognised as contributors and change-makers.

We look forward to seeing the girls bring their ideas, talents and perspectives to Kigali. 🙌🇷🇼

Very pleased to welcome our new partner Graça Machel Trust among our partners.

Our partnership will allow amazing young girls, talents from the Pan-African Adolescent Girls Movement My Kiota

Get more info about in our bio and make sure you secure your spot today vivakigali.com/events

See you in for collaboration and greater impact.

14/08/2026

Stories like Gugu Motsoeneng’s reinforce why investing in women’s economic participation matters. When women are able to grow and thrive, they can create opportunities for young people, families and communities, contributing to more inclusive and resilient economies. 📈

12/08/2026

We congratulate our Programme Lead, Thelma Bamhare, on her appointment as an Advisory Board Member of the Standard Bank Top Women Advisory Board for 2026.
💐👏👏👏

This prestigious appointment is a testament to Thelma's unwavering commitment to advancing women's economic inclusion across Africa.

As she joins fellow leaders at the upcoming Standard Bank Top Women Conference, we celebrate this well-deserved recognition and the opportunity to contribute further to a platform that continues to champion women's leadership and entrepreneurship across the continent.

Congratulations Thelma. We look forward to the continued impact of your leadership.🎉🎉

11/08/2026

We’re hiring! 📢

The Graça Machel Trust is looking for a Francophone Programme Coordinator (Consultancy Contract) to support the coordination and implementation of the Pan-African Adolescent Girls’ Movement programme, with a focus on Senegal 🇸🇳 and Cameroon 🇨🇲.

🔗Click the link for more information and to apply:
https://bit.ly/4z6s61f

📅 Application deadline: 21 August 2026

09/08/2026

On this Women's Day in SA 🇿🇦, we honour the courage of the women who marched for justice, dignity and equality, and the generations who continue to build on that legacy.

Their story is part of Africa's story. It reminds us that progress is shaped by women who dare to lead, challenge the status quo and create opportunities for others.

As we celebrate this day, we honour every woman whose resilience, vision and compasion continue to shape a more just, inclusive and prosperous continent.

Happy National Women's Day, South Africa.

07/08/2026

The was an opportunity to contribute to important discussions on women's economic inclusion, cross-border trade and the role women entrepreneurs play in building stronger, more competitive economies. 📈🌍

Our latest article reflects on the conversations, insights and opportunities that emerged throughout the week, and why connecting women entrepreneurs to regional platforms is essential for unlocking sustainable growth across the continent.

📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/4wnMGI8

SADC BUSA "Business Unity South Africa" Agripremium

When Kedibone Nyamakazi, founder and Chief Executive Officer of AgriPremium stood at her exhibition space during the 9th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Industrialisation Week in Durban, she was not just showcasing her business. She was stepping into one of the region’s most influent...

05/08/2026

"When history reflects on this era, it will not remember which country adopted AI first. Nor which company built the fastest algorithm. History will remember whether this generation used technology to widen inequality or to expand opportunity." - Our CEO, Shiphra SP, delivering her keynote at the 8th Annual Regenesys Women in Business & Leadership Conference under the theme - Women in AI & Business: Empowering Change, Innovation and Inclusive Leadership.

At the heart of her message was the reminder that as AI reshapes industries, economies, education, governance and the future of work, technology is never neutral, it reflects the people who design it and the problems they choose to solve. That is why women's leadership and perspectives must be part of shaping how these technologies are designed, governed and applied.Women do not lack ambition, ideas or resilience. Too often, it is the systems around them that fail to recognise their value.

Turning to Africa 🌍, she challenged us to consider whether African women will simply participate in the future economy, or lead its transformation. At the Trust, this is why we continue to strengthen women's leadership, build influential networks and create the ecosystems that enable African women to influence policy, drive innovation and shape Africa's future.

03/08/2026

The continued driving important conversations on how the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can unlock greater opportunities for women and youth entrepreneurs across the region.

Our Programme Lead, Thelma Bamhare, joined fellow panellists for a discussion on Leveraging Cross-Border Trade and AfCFTA to Enhance Market Access and Competitiveness for Women and Youth in the SADC Region, pushing the focus beyond policy commitments toward practical implementation.

Women and young people make up a significant share of entrepreneurs and cross-border traders, yet continue to face barriers to participating in regional value chains, pointing to practical support, stronger partnerships and accessible quality systems as key to building competitive, export-ready businesses.

Quality must be viewed as an enabler of trade, not a barrier, helping women and youth-owned businesses compete and seize regional opportunities under AfCFTA. 🌍

Photos by SADC Business Council.

SADC BUSA "Business Unity South Africa" South African Government

31/07/2026

As we wrap up Mandela Month, our July edition of The Catalysts brings together stories of leadership, global advocacy and entrepreneurship that are helping shape a more just and inclusive future. 📩

Discover stories from the Pan-African Adolescent Girls Movement (My Kiota), The Graça Machel Trust Women Creating Wealth Programme, insights from our founder, Mrs Graça Machel , on her global advocacy and Afrishela's work to expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs. 🌍

Read here: https://bit.ly/3RMkz75

Join our community of readers, subscribe to The Catalysts and stay connected. 🔔