The Graça Machel Trust has announced plans to launch a pan-African initiative that would increase the power of women to transform the continent economically and socially.

The Trust will convene the first-ever Women Advancing Africa (WAA) Forum in 2017 to highlight the critical role that women play in shaping Africa’s development.

The WAA Forum will take place next year in Dar es Salaam, and will be attended by at least 250 of Africa’s most influential women leaders, the continent’s rising stars and committed global champions.

Last week, the Trust held a roundtable meeting of African women leaders from various sectors in South Africa, to try to identify priorities and help shape the agenda for the 2017 forum.

Mrs Machel hosted the meeting and shared her vision for Women Advancing Africa and invited participants to share their stories and develop targeted goals for the initiative moving forward.

“Africa’s continued journey towards full economic and social prosperity will only be achieved when women take the lead in setting the continent’s development agenda and have equal opportunities to participate at all levels in society,” said Mrs Machel.

“Now is the time to shape a collective agenda for the economic advancement of African women,” she added.

At the last week’s meeting, more than 40 African women leaders worked together to identify priorities and outline key focus areas for the 2017 Forum.

Under the overarching theme of driving social and economic transformation, WAA will focus on three core pillars in 2017: promoting financial inclusion, increasing market access and driving social change.

The Trust has selected APCO Worldwide, the largest women-owned communications firm in the world, to be the convening partner for the Women Advancing Africa initiative.

Working closely with the Graça Machel Trust, APCO will leverage its global network and communications expertise to bring the initiative to life at the inaugural meeting.

Initial support for the WAA initiative has also been provided by founding sponsor, The Intel Foundation.

Through the “She Will Connect Program,” Intel will also establish a dedicated online platform to connect a pan-African community of women leaders. Additional support has been provided by UPS Foundation and the UN Foundation.