A PAN-AFRICAN ADVOCACY GROUP FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND FINANCE
PART OF THE GRAÇA MACHEL TRUST
GRAÇA MACHEL – FOUNDER AND PATRON
A social and political activist over many decades, Mrs Graça Machel is an international advocate for women and children’s rights. As a founding member of the African Women’s Foresight Network, she established Multiplying Faces Amplifying Voices, which is committed to the empowerment of African women across sectors such as finance, agriculture, media and science. New Faces New Voices is the first pillar of Multiplying Faces Amplifying Voices to be established and it builds on Mrs Machel’s already substantial legacy.
INVEST IN WOMEN, INVEST IN AFRICA
Study after study shows that empowering women and girls accelerates economic growth.
WOMEN ARE THE NEXT EMERGING MARKET
Over the next decade, the economic power that women will control globally is set to exceed the combined GDP of China and India. According to Boston Consulting Group, women now control $12 trillion of the overall $18.4 trillion in global consumer spending.
WOMEN ARE AFRICA’S UNTAPPED POTENTIAL
Investing in women represents a vast opportunity for African business. There is a $20 billion funding gap for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. While women in Africa are responsible for 60% to 80% of food production in Africa, they receive less then l% of the total credit given for agriculture (Fukuda-Parr, 2009). Of the $62.5 billion in new private equity invested in Africa in 2009, less than 8% was invested in enterprises that are either owned or controlled by women.
OUR INITIATIVE TO DRIVE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN WOMEN
New Faces New Voices was launched to help African organisations to take advantage of this untapped potential. As the business and finance pillar of the Graça Machel Trust(Multiplying Faces, Amplifying Voices), we have the research and influence needed to drive change. Our objectives are clear: 1. To improve women’s access to finance 2. To build the capacity and skills of women entrepreneurs and business leaders 3. To increase the number, visibility and influence of women in leadership positions in the financial sector. We seek a fundamental shift in the business and financial landscape across Africa. With the right approach, we believe that this aim is as achievable as it is ambitious.
WE ARE TRULY PAN-AFRICAN
Our head office is in South Africa and we have chapters in the following countries: Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
WHAT WE DO: DRIVE ENGAGEMENTS THAT INSPIRE CHANGE
Through collaborating with carefully chosen strategic partners, we are able to engage at the highest levels, helping to shape the policies and programmes that will realise our objectives.
Organisations working with New Faces New Voices include:
– African Development Bank – Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund
– German Federal Development Agency
– Global Banking Alliance for Women
– Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion
– International Council of Women Business Leaders
– International Labour Organization
– UN Women and UN Global Compact
– World Economic Forum
– German Development Agency (GIZ)
– Roundtable: Women and Access to Finance
– Access to capital Subcommittee of the International Council of women business leaders
Our activities create a common ground between economic interest and social imperative. In so doing, we drive African businesses, NGOs and governmental organisations to take concrete steps to bring women to centre-stage of the financial and business sectors.
Our key activity is the biennial African Women’s Economic Summit, which we host together with African Development Bank. The Summit brings together key stakeholders in the financial sector that can influence and effect change within their respective institutions.
CONTACT US
HEAD OFFICE
7 Eton Road | Block A | Sandhurst |South Africa | 2196
PO Box 1317 | Parklands | 2121 |South Africa
+27 11 783 4951 fax
+ 27 11 783 7499
contact@nfnv.org www.nfnv.org
About NFNV
New Faces, New Voices. A pan-african advocacy group for women in business and finance.
Our Founder and Patron
A social and political activist over many decades, Mrs Graça Machel is an international advocate for women’s and children’s rights. Through the Graça Machel Trust, she established Multiplying Faces Amplifying Voices, as a program that is committed to the empowerment of African women
Summit Information
There are many roles to be played by women in building robust and diversified financial systems and attracting private investment as Africa continues to rise. It is against this backdrop that the theme of the 3rd African Women’s Economic Summit is appropriately titled “African Women Realizing Africa’s Economic Potential”.
Partners and Sponsors
