It is with great honour and appreciation that I present the second quarter reflection of FAWEZI’s work in 2025. This period has been significant in strengthening our institutional foundations, accelerating the implementation of gender-transformative education programs, and forging strategic partnerships that amplify our mission to empower girls and young women through equitable access to quality education and training.
A defining moment for this quarter was the official launch of the FAWEZI Strategic Plan 2024–2028, which took place on June 6, 2025. This milestone signifies not only the beginning of a new chapter for the organisation but also our strengthened commitment to reposition FAWEZI as a leading player in the advancement of girls’ education in Zimbabwe. The Strategic Plan is grounded in three core objectives:
Expanding access to quality education,
Strengthening evidence-based advocacy and policy influence
Enhancing the institutional capacity of FAWEZI to deliver sustainable impact.
Underpinning these objectives are five strategic pillars that align with the broader FAWE Africa framework:
Quality Education,
Advocacy and Policy Influence,
Knowledge Generation and Dissemination,
Capacity Strengthening
Collaboration and Networking.
These pillars are the architecture upon which FAWEZI will build transformative solutions that address long standing and emerging barriers to girls’ education including poverty, harmful social norms, disability, displacement, and climate change. With an intersectional lens and a clear theory of change, this strategy will guide our work over the next four years, ensuring we remain adaptive, relevant, and impactful.
In tandem with the strategy launch, we unveiled FAWEZI’s new visual identity, a bold and modern brand that embodies the resilience, aspiration, and leadership of Zimbabwe’s girls and young women. The logo is rich in symbolism, placing the image of a young girl with a book at its centre, reinforcing our belief in education as a tool of liberation, opportunity, and social transformation.
Throughout this quarter, FAWEZI engaged in a series of high-level courtesy visits and strategic dialogues, conducted in collaboration with the FAWE Regional Secretariat. We met with key institutional partners, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Zimbabwe, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Zimbabwe, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Zimbabwe, and the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. These engagements reaffirmed our shared commitments and facilitated new pathways for collaboration. We were particularly encouraged by the support expressed by the Honourable Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr. Torerayi Moyo, who lauded FAWEZI’s work in strengthening the capacity of educators through our transformative training models.
Another key highlight of the quarter was the launch of the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Program, a transformative seven-year initiative implemented across ten African countries dubbed “Second Chance Pathways for Increased Access to Tertiary Education for Marginalised Young Women and Men,” this program aims to reach 10,550 young women and men aged between 15-25 from disadvantaged backgrounds affected by poverty, conflict, gender inequality, climate change, or forced displacement. The program focuses on scaling up innovative inclusive learning pathways such as the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC) and Higher Education Access Program (HEAP), with a strong emphasis on young women, refugees and persons with disabilities. The program targets 80% young women, 20% young men, and 5–15% persons with disabilities and refugees.
This high-level event brought together senior government officials, representatives from academia, civil society, multilateral development partners, and regional education institutions all united by a shared commitment to advancing inclusive, gender-responsive education. The proceedings were officiated by Professor Fanuel Tagwira, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, who represented Honourable Minister Ambassador Frederick Shava. Among the eminent guests were Dr. Martha Muhwezi, Executive Director of FAWE Africa; Dr. Fay Chung, FAWEZI Founding Member and Former Minister of Education; Professor Ruth Gora, Chairperson of the FAWEZI Executive Committee; and Queen Nozizwe Ka Mulela, FAWE Africa Board Member from Eswatini. The Mastercard Foundation was represented by Mr. Daniel Mundeva, Lead of the Scholars Program Network, alongside senior officials from the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE), Tertiary Education Service Council (TESC), vice chancellors and principals of partner tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe.
The event was further enriched by regional representation from Uganda and Malawi. Uganda, delegates included Professor Mary Okwakol, Director of the National Council for Higher Education; Professor Joy Kwesiga, Vice Chancellor of Kabale University; and Professor David K. Olema, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Education at Busitema University. The Malawi delegation featured Dr. Levis Eneya, Secretary for Higher Education in the Ministry of Higher Education; Dr. Ambumulire Phiri, Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Higher Education; and Dr. Japhet Bakuwa, Director of Standards and Quality Audits. These esteemed guests shared insights and experiences, deepening cross-country dialogue on tertiary education access and second-chance programming for marginalized youth.
A key highlight of the launch was a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring education leaders from both Uganda and Zimbabwe. Professor Joy Kwesiga offered a compelling account of Uganda’s success in expanding rural access to tertiary education, citing over 700 students currently pursuing degrees in medicine, engineering, education, and economics. The session underscored the importance of adaptable, inclusive models in higher education access.
In recognition of foundational leadership and longstanding service, FAWEZI honoured several individuals whose contributions have been instrumental to the organisation’s evolution and impact. Dr. Fay Chung, Tsitsi Mudenha, Irene Mkondo, Sarah Kachingwe, Jannie Makawa, and Patony Musendo were awarded for their exceptional contribution to FAWEZI’s vision. While Enet Tini, Ndaneta Chivaviro, and Eveline Gumbo were awarded for their roles in championing FAWEZI’s methodologies.
As part of our efforts to inform and influence education policy, FAWEZI convened a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting, supported by FAWE and the Mastercard Foundation. The dialogue provided a platform for experts and policymakers to assess the landscape of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focused bridging programs in Zimbabwe and draw lessons from successful models in the region, particularly Uganda. This initiative is integral to our broader goal of promoting skills development and increasing tertiary education access among marginalised youth.
Our visibility and thought leadership were further enhanced through our active participation in the 3rd Africa Education Summit, held under the theme, “Translating Our Education Advancement to Continental Development.” We proudly hosted a side event symposium, “Bridging the Gap: The Role of STEM and TVET in Empowering Young Women and Men for Socio-Economic Transformation,” in collaboration with Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), Education Coalition of Zimbabwe (ECOZI), the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The symposium convened a multi-sectoral audience to exchange ideas, share innovations, and collectively shape pathways that link education to economic empowerment.
In advancing gender-responsive education in the digital space, FAWEZI commemorated International Girls in ICT Day 2025 at Belvedere Technical Teachers’ College. The event, themed, “Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation,” brought together students, educators, Tertiary Education Service Council (TESC) officials, and industry professionals. A powerful student-led panel exposed real barriers to accessing internships and work-related learning for young women in ICT, while a keynote address from tech leader Tofara Chokera inspired new thinking around digital futures for girls.
Our Menstrual Hygiene Day commemoration in Epworth, hosted in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MWACSMED), with support from the Mastercard Foundation, served as another important reminder that access to menstrual products and education is fundamental to ensuring girls’ school retention and dignity. Through a community roadshow, we distributed sanitary pads and raised awareness on ending stigma around menstruation, reinforcing the message that no girl should miss school because of menstruation.
As we conclude this quarter, I extend my sincere gratitude to all our technical and financial partners, the FAWE Africa network, Government Ministries, Civil Society partners, and the dedicated FAWEZI Secretariat team. Your commitment, trust, and solidarity remain the driving force behind our impact. Together, we are shaping first-class futures for Zimbabwe’s girls and young women.
With renewed commitment, Lydia Madyirapanze Executive Director, FAWEZI
Menard