Partners & Sponsors
Partners
Hosted in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the Summit reflects
our shared commitment to:
● Youth employment
● Financial inclusion
● Digital transformation
We also recognise the urgent need to amplify the voice and agency of young women entrepreneurs, while honouring the leadership and experience of older generations.
Our sister gender lens investment Fund, Afrishela is a key partner in the work we do as they play a critical role in helping our entrepreneurs understand the investment landscape.
FASSET is the Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority. The finance and accounting services sector is particularly important as it is the largest employer of people with financial management, accounting, and auditing skills. The partnership between the Graça Machel Trust and FASSET is designed to advance women entrepreneurs to transition from income generation to sustainable wealth creation. Aligned with FASSET’s mandate to strengthen entrepreneurial competencies, build business confidence, and drive enterprise growth, the programme addresses opportunities, challenges, policy interventions, and innovative approaches that support women entrepreneurs within South Africa’s financial services sector.
The European Union (EU) Delegation in South Africa, one of over 140 EU Delegations worldwide, is South Africa’s leading trade and investment partner and the only Strategic Partner of the EU on the African continent. The European Union is also South Africa’s first investment and trade partner, and together we cooperate on key areas of common interest and challenge. Through its collaboration with the Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth programme, the EU supports women and youth in agribusiness, particularly in citrus, wine, and poultry. This partnership addresses barriers such as limited market access, lack of skills, and financial constraints, with the aim of strengthening entrepreneurship, improving access to finance and markets, and accelerating Africa’s socio-economic transformation.
CCRED (Centre for Competition, Regulation & Economic Development), based at the University of Johannesburg, is a leading research centre advancing evidence-based insights on competition, regulation, industrial development, and economic transformation in Africa. Through its research, policy engagement and training, CCRED explores how market dynamics and regulatory frameworks impact inclusive growth and innovation. As a Summit partner, CCRED strengthens our dialogue on women’s entrepreneurship and wealth creation by ensuring conversations are grounded in rigorous economic analysis that supports meaningful structural change.
Sponsors
Absa Group Limited (‘Absa Group’) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups. Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance.
The German Government though the GIZ Botswana and SADC, has been working in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region since 1992. In close partnership with the SADC Secretariat and its Member States, GIZ supports sustainable development initiatives that strengthen regional cooperation and foster inclusive growth. Through this collaboration with the Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth programme, GIZ Botswana and SADC affirm their shared commitment to advancing regional economic integration and entrepreneurship. This partnership underscores the importance of empowering women entrepreneurs as drivers of transformation in Southern Africa, while creating pathways for more resilient, equitable, and prosperous societies across the region.