By Frank KamuntuÂ
The Graca Machel Trust (GMT) proudly announces the successful completion of its Africa Fire Starter Workshop, themed “Actioning Sales and Marketing Strategies to Achieve Business Growth for SMEs.” Held at Hotel Africana in Kampala, this event aimed to equip women entrepreneurs with essential skills to drive business growth through effective sales and marketing strategies.
Dr. Theopista Sekitto, Country Representative of GMT, highlighted the importance of creativity in product development during her opening speech. She remarked, “Women must innovate and differentiate their products to stand out in the competitive market. Creativity is key to capturing and retaining customer interest.”
Empowering women in business is crucial for economic growth and development. According to the World Economic Forum, closing the gender gap could add $28 trillion to global GDP by 2025. In Uganda, women represent 54% of the labor force but face significant barriers in accessing capital, markets, and business networks. SMEs, the backbone of the Ugandan economy, particularly benefit from targeted support in sales and marketing to achieve sustainable growth and competitiveness.
The workshop brought together women entrepreneurs from various sectors, providing them with practical training and insights into effective sales and marketing strategies. Warda Katende, Coordinator for Afrishela and Women Creating Wealth (WCW), underscored the critical role of marketing in business growth. “Effective marketing is the lifeline of any business. It drives sales, builds brand loyalty, and opens new market opportunities,” she stated.
Yvonne Mpaga, a renowned business development consultant, guided the 35 women and 1 man participant through actionable marketing strategies. She emphasized, “It’s often assumed that when an entrepreneur has a vision and a product or service, the market will come automatically. However, Graca Machel Trust and Women Creating Wealth (WCW) have realized that marketing and sales strategies must be integral parts of business plans for MSMEs to grow into MSEs and eventually go global.”
Mpaga, also the organizer of the 5th Business Trendsetters’ Forum on August 29th at Sheraton, delved into the 2024 marketing mix, highlighting the need to augment traditional tactics like direct marketing with social media marketing, website marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO). She also stressed leveraging peers, family, and networks to optimize these strategies.
The Graca Machel Trust is a Pan-African organization committed to uplifting women and children through advocacy, capacity building, and fostering partnerships. GMT’s Country Chapters in Uganda form a Consortium of Women in Finance (New Faces New Voices – NFNV), Women in Media (WIM), African Women in Agriculture Network (AWAN), and the Network of African Business Women Uganda Chapter (NABW-U).
The Network of African Business Women Uganda Chapter (NABW-U) is an affiliate of GMT, based in South Africa, and a founding member of GMT, formed in 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Some of the NABW-U members include:
Women in Extractives Network (WIEN)
Women and Youths for Climate Change Adaptation in Uganda (WOYCA-U – Under the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance Uganda (PACJA Uganda)
Women in Self Employment (WISE)
Women in Education (WIE)
Women in Fintech (TAWAZA)
GMT has 17 similar country chapters across Africa, including Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria, South Africa, Malawi, and others. We extend our gratitude to these Country Chapters for their support.
The Trust celebrated a significant milestone with its first-ever graduation in Uganda on May 23, 2024. This event marked the culmination of intensive training programs that equipped women with critical business skills, preparing them to take on leadership roles and drive economic growth in their communities.
The GMT Africa Fire Starter Workshop is a testament to the Graca Machel Trust’s ongoing commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs. By focusing on sales and marketing strategies, the workshop provided participants with the tools needed to enhance their business operations and achieve sustainable growth. GMT remains dedicated to fostering an environment where women in business can thrive, innovate, and lead.
This press release is intended for immediate distribution.
