Africa Investment: New Faces New Voices

Mrs. Machel was motivated to create this program after observing the absence of women engaged in the re-formulation of the financial services sector following the global financial crisis.  Mrs. Machel sees the crisis as a time in which much change is taking place in the architecture of industry, which in turn creates an opportunity to engage the other half of the African population.

New Faces New Voices is working with the African Development Bank to accelerate a $300 million USD fund to provide guarantees to increase African SMEs long-term financing options.

The organization recently held its first conference in Nairobi, Kenya with over 120 participants from across the continent.

Based on the momentum gained in the financial services sector, Mrs. Machel plans to establish a similar initiative in the African agriculture industry.