To the crisis caused by climate in Zambia, the Government has joined a UN coalition led by UNDP, FAO and WFP in a GCF-funded project to help women turn goat rearing into an economic fortune. This is in response to the devastating situation faced by many women in rural places of the country. For example; Sylvia Chiinda lives on the edge of desperation. Her husband died a few years ago, leaving her with no savings or possessions. It was a crushing blow for the mother of seven. To make matters worse, Zambia has seen a rise in more frequent and intense floods, recurrent droughts and other climate risks that have reduced yields for farmers like Sylvia, putting lives and livelihoods in the crosshairs. With her maize and groundnut farm production dwindling, Sylvia was forced to find an alternative income to keep her family afloat. She started running…

Elsie’s Women Empowerment Farm is the first women-owned farm producing organic cotton in the Gambia, and as the name might suggest, women’s economic empowerment is at the heart of this enterprise. Moreover, as a member of the Young Female Farmers Association, Elsie A. Williams works together with the association to boost women’s role in agriculture. ‘My vision was to revitalize cotton production in The Gambia,’ says the farm owner. ‘When we are successful with this, much more people will have jobs. I told myself to take the responsibility and mobilise other women, as I cannot do this alone.’ The Gambia has a rich history in cotton production – a major cash crop in the 1970s and 1980s. However, as a result of political changes, cotton production and export decreased significantly at the end of the century. Observing the shifting market, Elsie identified a growing demand for organic cotton in recent…

The influence of African music and culture on the lives of two of Nigeria’s most famous women, football superstar Asisat Oshoala and award-winning singer-songwriter Tiwa Savage, are centre stage in the latest episode of the FIFA PlayOn Podcast. The duo tells the podcast’s co-hosts, Universal Music Group’s global chart-topping artist Liam Payne and sports broadcaster Jaydee Dyer, about how their love of Afrobeats inspired them to overcome the odds and become trailblazing global icons. Oshoala, now a prolific FC Barcelona Femení striker, admits that it had been “emotional” to revisit tough times from her past while selecting six songs to represent a personal soundtrack to her life so far. “It made me think back to how I left my family and created my own happiness out of nothing,” she says. “These songs kept me going.” Oshoala explains how she had a strict upbringing and was forced to hide her passion for football from her parents before…

Some 48 mentors and mentees will officially kick off this year’s Katuka Mentorship Programme in Windhoek tomorrow. Well-known human resource specialist Sabine Ruegg will conduct the three-day orientation programme. Sponsored by Bank Windhoek, the Katuka Mentorship Programme aims to empower and encourage entrepreneurs, business and professional women to succeed in their careers through mentorship by seasoned business and professional women. The late Lena Markus, former Businesswoman of the Year 2000 in the category of Corporate/Professional, founded the programme. In its twentieth year, the programme has produced significant results in the careers of the participating mentees. To date, 401 entrepreneurs and businesswomen have completed the programme. “The Katuka Mentorship Programme is a method of advancement, which provides support and training through relationship building. It is about matching a mentee and a mentor with a similar personal and professional interest in the process of support, sharing, and learning to help entrepreneurs and…