MMEG TALKS: THE RISE OF AI: CAN WE USE IT WISELY TO FURTHER SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

You can watch the recording of this event on our YouTube channel.

Once in the realm of science fiction, today Artificial Intelligence can help its users gain insight on what drives economic development. In a quest for poverty reduction, AI can analyze vast amounts of data and help model more accurate forecasts to identify what drives and sustains economic growth and sustainability.

The three panelists of the upcoming MMEG Talks, experts in the use of this bourgeoning science, will discuss:

- How AI advances the progress of development in their fields;

- What advances AI holds for the future;

- Where AI has most successfully improved plans and projects;

- Who can study AI; and,

- How they can learn it in developing countries.

MMEG and Our Partners: Together We Do Great Things!

Our grantees regularly tell us they couldn’t have completed their education without the MMEG grant—whether they used it to pay tuition, conduct research, or cover daycare bills. MMEG offers one of the few education grants that has no restrictions on how the funds are used, nor an upper age limit.

 We value our partnership with our grantees, but MMEG could not award all the grants we do were it not for a number of important partnerships with other organizations.

 MMEG’s first partnership ever, since our formation in 1981 and continuing to this day, was with what is now called World Bank Family Network. WBFN is our physical and administrative home within the World Bank. World Bank families and staff were the first donors to MMEG and remain our primary source of individual donations—and volunteers—as well as supporting our annual fundraiser, the MMEG International Arts & Crafts Market.

 Almost as long-lived is our partnership with the BankFund Credit Union. MMEG’s funds were deposited with BankFund early on, and to this day the credit union serves us not only in a professional capacity, facilitating all our transactions with MMEG grantees, but also in a very personal way via its dedicated staff volunteers and by collecting and exchanging foreign currency donations for MMEG. For many years, BankFund has also provided a generous donation towards one grant each in MMEG’s US-Canada and Trinity Washington University programs.

We were thrilled to receive a generous donation last month from the international consulting firm Ernst & Young (EY), which describes its purpose as “building a better working world.”  The donation from EY will be allocated to fund one grant in our US-Canada program and two grants in our Trinity Washington University program

For the past several years, MMEG has benefited from agreements with South Africa’s Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town, and University of Pretoria. Recognizing MMEG’s rigorous selection process, these universities have agreed to contribute 50% of the cost of grants issued to selected grantees from their schools.

 Most recently, MMEG has signed an agreement with 1% for the Planet, which certifies nonprofits that contribute to vital strategies for our planet and future generations. 1% for the Planet has designated MMEG as an organization to which businesses can donate 1 percent of their revenue in support of a more sustainable future.

On March 6, MMEG will participate in the International Women's Day Agora, an event hosted by Yas Media featuring international female vendors and inspirational stories. We welcome this opportunity to talk about the exceptional women MMEG has supported.

We celebrate the women we support, and we are grateful to our partners who help us do so.

MMEG Talks: Is the legal system fair to all?/ ¿El sistema jurídico es justo para todos?

MMEG Talks: Is the legal system fair to all?

By Lindsey Chang

A fair legal system is crucial for social justice and safeguarding the rights of the most vulnerable sectors. However, in Latin America (as well as in many countries worldwide), significant challenges persist in implementing regulatory frameworks that ensure true equality, especially for women and children.

 At a recent MMEG Talk, three legal experts and MMEG grantees—Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista (Peru), María de Lourdes Velasco Dominguez (Mexico), and Beatriz Ramírez (Peru)—discussed the main challenges and strategies for making justice accessible to all.

 Three key voices

These experts play a key role in creating fair legal systems. They discussed the challenges of ensuring justice for all, drawing on their experiences in advocating for legislative change, conducting research, and engaging in activism to transform conditions for women and children in Latin America.

Key Problems with Unjust Laws in Latin America 

The most critical challenges of unequal legislation in Latin America include indirect discrimination, where laws that seem fair harm specific groups. Although there has been some progress in gender equality, the implementation of statutes remains weak and fragmented. One example is the lack of comprehensive care policies, which significantly affect women, perpetuating economic and social inequalities. In addition, the rise of governments with anti-rights stances has led to institutional setbacks, such as the elimination of ministries dedicated to gender equality and the prohibition of inclusive language in countries like Argentina and El Salvador. These changes directly hinder gender equality and the protection of women's and children's rights.

Consequences of Setbacks on Justice, Gender Equity, and Children’s Rights 

In many countries, weakened institutions and a lack of judicial independence block efforts for gender equality. Corruption and the power of illegal economies push these issues lower on the public agenda. For instance, eliminating programs like childcare and full-time schools in Mexico has made it difficult for working women to find jobs, threatening their families' financial stability. Such setbacks have also allowed damaging laws, like those permitting child marriage, to continue in some places until they were finally overturned.

 Keys to Meaningful Reforms

From their perspective, civil society plays a key role in defending rights and building more equitable policies. The panelists also mentioned that successful experiences include articulating adequate diagnoses to address structural problems, such as fighting against harassment in universities and workplaces. Rather than judicializing all conflicts, grantees emphasized the importance of internal disciplinary mechanisms in educational institutions, companies, and political parties. In addition, strategic alliances between academia, bureaucracy, and social movements have been key to promoting significant reforms, such as the National Care Law in Uruguay. And citizen participation in creating norms has been strengthened through forums and working groups, guaranteeing the inclusion of diverse voices in formulating public policies.

 The work of these MMEG grantees demonstrates that change toward more equitable legal systems is possible when research, activism, and legislative advocacy are combined with an unwavering commitment to social justice. They have identified the barriers perpetuating inequality in the region and pushed for concrete solutions to transform the reality for women and children in Latin America. Their work reminds us that advancing rights and equity needs strong voices and collective action. This drives MMEG to continue supporting women's education and empowering them to build a better world.

MMEG board member Priscilla Linn organizes the MMEG Talks and welcomes suggestions for future topics.

MMEG Talks: ¿El sistema jurídico es justo para todos?

By Lindsey Chang

La equidad en los sistemas jurídicos es fundamental para garantizar la justicia social y la protección de los derechos de los sectores más vulnerables. Sin embargo, en América Latina (así como en muchos países del mundo) persisten desafíos significativos en la implementación de marcos normativos que aseguren una verdadera igualdad, especialmente para mujeres y niños.

 El passado 15 de enero de 2025, en la reciente MMEG Talk, tres expertas en derecho y becarias de MMEG —Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista (Perú), María de Lourdes Velasco Dominguez (México), and Beatriz Ramírez (Perú)—discutieron sobre los principales retos y estrategias para hacer que la justicia sea accesible para todos.

Tres voces

Estas expertas desempeñan un papel clave en la creación de sistemas jurídicos justos. Ellas debatieron sobre los retos que plantea garantizar la justicia para todos, basándose en sus experiencias en la defensa de cambios legislativos, la investigación y el activismo para transformar las condiciones de las mujeres y los niños en América Latina.

Principales problemas de las leyes injustas en América Latina

Los problemas más críticos de la legislación desigual en América Latina incluyen la discriminación indirecta, en la que leyes que parecen justas perjudican a grupos específicos. Aunque ha habido algunos avances en la igualdad de género, la aplicación de las leyes sigue siendo débil y fragmentada. Un ejemplo es la falta de políticas integrales de cuidados, que afectan significativamente a las mujeres, perpetuando las desigualdades económicas y sociales. Además, el ascenso de gobiernos con posturas contrarias a los derechos ha provocado retrocesos institucionales, como la eliminación de ministerios dedicados a la igualdad de género y la prohibición del lenguaje inclusivo en países como Argentina y El Salvador. Estos cambios obstaculizan directamente la igualdad de género y la protección de los derechos de las mujeres y los niños.

Consecuencias de los retrocesos en materia de justicia, igualdad de género y derechos del niño

En muchos países, el debilitamiento de las instituciones y la falta de independencia judicial bloquean los esfuerzos en favor de la igualdad de género. La corrupción y el poder de las economías ilegales restan importancia a estas cuestiones en la agenda pública. Por ejemplo, la eliminación de programas como las guarderías y las escuelas de jornada completa en México ha dificultado que las mujeres trabajadoras encuentren empleo, poniendo en peligro la estabilidad económica de sus familias. Estos contratiempos también han permitido que leyes perjudiciales, como las que permiten el matrimonio infantil, sigan vigentes en algunos lugares hasta que finalmente fueron derogadas.

Claves para reformas significativas

Desde su perpectiva, la sociedad civil desempeña un papel clave en la defensa de los derechos y la construcción de políticas más equitativas. Las panelistas también mencionaron las experiencias exitosas incluyen la articulación de diagnósticos adecuados para abordar problemas estructurales, como la lucha contra el acoso en universidades y lugares de trabajo. En lugar de judicializar todos los conflictos, los beneficiarios destacaron la importancia de los mecanismos disciplinarios internos en las instituciones educativas, las empresas y los partidos políticos. Además, las alianzas estratégicas entre el mundo académico, la burocracia y los movimientos sociales han sido clave para promover reformas significativas, como la Ley Nacional de Cuidados en Uruguay. Y la participación ciudadana en la creación de normas se ha fortalecido a través de foros y grupos de trabajo, garantizando la inclusión de diversas voces en la formulación de políticas públicas.

El trabajo de nuestras becarias demuestra que el cambio hacia sistemas jurídicos más equitativos es posible cuando la investigación, el activismo y la incidencia legislativa se combinan con un compromiso inquebrantable por la justicia social. Ellas no solo han identificado barreras que perpetúan la desigualdad en la región, sino que también han impulsado soluciones concretas para transformar la realidad de mujeres y niños en América Latina. La labor de estas líderes nos recuerda que el progreso en derechos y equidad necesita voces decididas y acción conjunta. Esto motiva a MMEG a continuar apoyando la educación de las mujeres y empoderándolas para construir un mundo mejor.

En su rol de miembro del consejo de MMEG, Priscilla Linn se encarga de organizar las charlas y acepta propuestas para futuros temas.

Watch the recording / Vea la grabación de la mesa redonda aquí

Heartfelt thanks to MMEG’S South Africa Program Selection Committee!

The South Africa Selection Committee had another very successful cycle in 2025. Two hundred and five applicants entered Round 1 of the review process and 12 of the 13 applicants recommended to the Board were awarded grants. Grantees ranged from 25 to 54 years old, studying in a variety of disciplines, including gender studies, medicine, immunology, health, neuroscience, linguistics, television studies, medical anthropology, engineering, nutrition, and law.

 The South Africa Program Selection Committee’s commitment to enhancing and supporting the success of women studying at South African universities is truly remarkable. The diversity of skills, experience, and expertise of Selection Committee members is paralleled in the diversity of disciplines among grantees. The time, rigor, and meticulous attention to detail and to the guidance provided by the Program Advisory Committee is deeply appreciated. That members of the selection committee have lived and work across the globe, in a variety of professions, has enriched the selection process and committee members’ ability to identify exceptional women from developing countries who are studying while working to improve the lives of women and children.

We thank these exceptional volunteers, whose dedication to MMEG promotes a better world through our exceptional grantees.

Próxima charla del MMEG / Upcoming MMEG TALKS

¿Es el sistema jurídico justo para todos? ¿Qué repercusiones tiene un marco jurídico no equitativo en la justicia social, especialmente para las mujeres y los niños?

Tres becarias del MMEG y expertas jurídicas -Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista (de Perú), María de Lourdes Velasco (de México) y Beatriz Ramírez (de Perú)- debatirán sobre cómo implementar sistemas jurídicos equitativos y hacer que la justicia sea accesible para todos.

 Empieza bien el nuevo año y únete a nosotros para escuchar, aprender y ofrecer tu perspectiva sobre este importante tema.

Un enlace al evento en línea (que se llevará a cabo en español) aparecerá aquí poco antes de que comience: mmeg.org/events

Is the legal system fair to all? What impact does an inequitable legal framework have on social justice, especially for women and children?

Three MMEG grantees and legal experts—Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista (from Peru), María de Lourdes Velasco (from México), and Beatriz Ramírez (from Peru)— will discuss how to implement equitable legal systems and make justice accessible to all.

Start the new year right, and join us to listen, learn, and offer your perspective on this important issue.

A link to the online event (which will be conducted in Spanish) will appear here shortly before it starts: mmeg.org/events

MMEG Talks: Making Education and Literacy Accessible to All

This talk took place on October 23, 2024

Watch talk recording here

By Lindsey Chang

Literacy is more than just reading and writing; it's a powerful tool that can transform lives and societies. At a recent MMEG Talk, three former grantees discussed the critical role of literacy in addressing global challenges.

Denise Zinn (1996 grantee), Rakhat Zholdoshalieva (2012 grantee), and Anna Molasiwa (2006 grantee) shared insights into the complex issues surrounding literacy, highlighting the need for community engagement, political commitment, and inclusive teaching. Their perspectives shed light on how literacy can empower individuals, strengthen communities, and drive sustainable development.

Speaker Insights
Denise Zinn, former Deputy Vice Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at Nelson Mandela University, highlighted South Africa’s literacy crisis. Despite democratic progress, 55.5% of the population lives in poverty, and only two in ten children can read for meaning by age ten. Denise pointed to a lack of political will, with no national reading strategy update since 2008. In contrast, she referenced Cuba’s successful 1960s literacy campaign, which mobilized communities to boost literacy. As solutions, she suggested establishing “living libraries” in schools, increased teacher training, and dedicated literacy coaches, noting that sustainable progress depends on both political commitment and funding.

Rakhat Zholdoshalieva, leader of the Quality Learning Ecosystems Program at UNESCO, discussed literacy from a global perspective. Connecting literacy to SDG 4, she highlighted the urgency of lifelong learning, as 750 million adults lack basic skills, with women disproportionately affected. Rakhat called for literacy to be seen as a continuum, necessary for both employment and civic engagement. She recommended partnerships between public and private sectors and emphasized the need for literacy-friendly community spaces, stressing that political focus should extend beyond children to support youth and adult literacy as well.

Though technical issues limited her live participation, Anna Molasiwa, retired associate professor of language and literacy education at the University of Botswana, contributed insights on inclusive teaching. She pointed out that standardized methods often overlook diverse learning needs, leaving many children behind. Anna emphasized the importance of tailored teaching and parental involvement, suggesting that family engagement enhances literacy outcomes and builds a supportive learning environment for children.

Key Takeaways

The speakers collectively emphasized four key areas that can drive literacy advancements globally:

1. Political Will and Funding: Real, long-term solutions for literacy require strong political support and sustained financial investment.

2. Community and Parental Engagement: Localized, community-driven approaches are more effective in addressing specific literacy challenges, particularly in underserved areas.

3. Inclusive and Adaptive Teaching: Standardized teaching methods often fall short of addressing diverse learning needs; an inclusive approach to teaching can better support all students.

4. Lifelong Literacy and Global Goals: Literacy is not merely about reading and writing – it includes the lifelong learning skills crucial for active participation in today’s rapidly changing world.

Literacy as a Pathway to Empowerment

The MMEG Talks highlighted the urgent need for a more inclusive, politically supported approach to literacy. Literacy is a pathway to empowerment, economic opportunity, and social cohesion. Each speaker’s insights underscored that achieving literacy for all is not just about providing resources but also about fostering an environment that prioritizes education, adapts to diverse needs, and engages communities at every level.

Investing in literacy and lifelong learning builds the foundation for resilient, informed, and empowered communities. As the speakers affirmed, when individuals gain literacy, they unlock the potential to create positive change not only for themselves but for generations to come. Through collective, sustained efforts that bridge policy, community, and family support, literacy can become a powerful force for equity and transformation worldwide.

MMEG Talks are organized by MMEG board member Priscilla Linn, who welcomes suggestions for future MMEG Talks topics.

MMEG TALKS: MMEG Grantees Tackle Climate Change and Food Security

This talk took place on June 12, 2024 at The World Bank MC building

Watch talk recording here

By Lindsey Chang

On June 12, 2024, Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG) hosted a panel discussion at the World Bank on the impact of climate change on food security. This event highlighted the groundbreaking work of three MMEG grantees: Easther Chigumira (2013), from Zimbabwe, Lilian Elekwachi (2020), from Nigeria, and Isabel Madzorera (2005), from Zimbabwe. These remarkable women shared their research and personal experiences, emphasizing the critical role of education and innovation in addressing the global food security challenges posed by climate change.

Holger Kray, an agricultural economist with extensive expertise in agricultural policy and climate-smart practices, set the stage for a compelling discussion. He introduced the panelists, three outstanding MMEG grantees whose work exemplifies the power of education and innovation.

Discussion Highlights: Innovation, Resilience, and Policy

The panel explored several vital topics, illustrating the importance of innovative solutions and resilience in the face of climate change. Key areas of discussion included:

Innovation in food systems: Isabel Madzorera, a nutritional epidemiologist, discussed the broken state of food systems, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. She emphasized the need for technical expertise and funding to bridge the gap between climate data and nutritional outcomes. Isabel's research sheds light on how climate change affects food production and nutritional quality, highlighting the importance of innovative approaches to improve food security.

Resilient technologies: Lilian Elekwachi, a researcher and sustainable aquaculturist, shared her journey of developing a hybrid fish smoking technology. This innovation addresses health hazards, environmental degradation, and inefficiency associated with traditional fish smoking methods. By significantly reducing the smoking process and enhancing food safety, Lilian's work exemplifies the resilience needed to adapt to climate change's impact on food systems.

Policy and agricultural transformation: Easther Chigumira, a geographer and policy advisor, presented an overview of Zimbabwe's climate challenges, focusing on how frequent droughts and extreme weather events affect food security and economic growth. She highlighted the success of digital climate advisory services in reaching thousands of farmers and boosting their yields. Easther stressed the importance of partnerships and knowledge sharing to scale effective solutions, demonstrating the vital role of policy in agricultural transformation.

Closing Remarks

In his closing remarks, Anup Jagwani, Senior Global Sector Manager for Agribusiness and Forestry at the IFC, reflected on the theme of resilience, sharing personal anecdotes and highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing agrifood sector challenges. Anup praised MMEG for supporting champions in their fields and reaffirmed the commitment of the World Bank and IFC to scaling up successful agricultural technologies.

The event underscored the transformative impact of MMEG grantees, showcasing how these exceptional women are driving change and creating a more resilient and food-secure future. The discussion concluded with optimism and determination to continue the vital work of addressing climate change and its effects on food security.

MMEG Talks are organized by MMEG board member Priscilla Linn, who welcomes suggestions for future MMEG Talks topics.

Watch the whole Talk here: 

MMEG TALKS: Impact of Climate Change on Food Security

Climate change poses a significant threat to global food security, affecting agricultural productivity, food availability, and access to nutritious food.

MMEG grantees Easther Chigumira, Lilian Elekwachi, and Isabel Madzorera joined with IFC and World Bank experts at World Bank HQ on June 12, 2024, to discuss the impact of climate change on food security.

Congratulations to MMEG's US-Canada Program Selection Committee

Thanks to MMEG’s US-Canada Program Selection Committee

 On April 11, 2024, MMEG’s US-Canada Selection Committee presented to the organization’s Board of Directors the eight exceptional women who best represent the ideals of Margaret McNamara, selected from this year’s large number of applicants. The Board of Directors thanks the committee members for their work and congratulates them on another successful selection process.

 The US-Canada Selection Committee is composed of 15 volunteers, with 12 different nationalities and varied professional backgrounds. Through their joint efforts, they accomplished the difficult task of selecting and presenting the candidates whose proposed career path best achieves MMEG’s mission of improving the lives of women and children in their communities.

 This year’s US-Canada grantees are citizens of seven different countries and are currently pursing PhD or master’s degrees in the fields of agriculture, communications, education policy, mathematics, microbiology, public health, and public administration.

 These exceptional women have proven their commitment to positively impact their communities by working in favor of those who are most vulnerable. MMEG is truly impressed by their ability to improve the conditions of those in need through such diverse fields of study. It affirms the notion that women are great promoters of positive change in the world.