Empowerment of African Women Project

Republic of Mozambique, Republic of Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Uganda and Republic of Zambia

Amount: € 350,000.00

Overview

The project undertaken by the Graça Machel Trust focused on the economic advancement of women in Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Specific objectives included strengthening national networks of African businesswomen, launching a Regional Network of African Businesswomen, supporting women to run their businesses, strengthening women’s rights and advocating for opportunities and resources.

Key results

The Graça Machel Trust formed the Network of African Business Women (NABW) in Sub-Saharan Africa

• convening 2 annual NABW conferences;
• implementing the portal of women entrepreneurs; 
• training 292 women in financial literacy, communication and ICT skills: 30 Zambian women in advocacy and governance, 100 Ugandan women in financial literacy, 135 Kenyan entrepreneurs in the government's procurement system and  27 Mozambican women in association building and management;
• facilitating mentoring, albeit informally, within the networks;
• attendance by members at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kenya;
• attendance of 12 NABW members at the 2014 African women's economic summit as well as convening meetings between the network and the Kenyan Ministry of Devolution and Planning and the National Treasury.

NABW also established a portal to facilitate access to business opportunities and convene meetings between its members.