"We are creating a scenario where women are over-mentored but underfunded. Because they get into programmes, get inspired, gain new ideas, yet there is no money to fund those ideas." Said Andia Chakava. As Managing Partner at Afrishela, she spends much of her time building bridges between African women entrepreneurs and global partners. At a fireside chat hosted by Afropolitan, in partnership with Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) and The Asili Initiative Africa, she helped shape a powerful conversation on the future of Africa-Canada relations.

The meeting brought together philanthropists, investors, diaspora leaders and advocates to ask a simple question: what does genuine solidarity between Africa and Canada look like in practice? Mrs Graça Machel set the tone by reframing solidarity as mutual responsibility rather than charity, reminding the room, "I will not be whole if you are not whole."

Building on this, Andia spoke about how capital must follow that vision. She shared how Afrishela and the Graça Machel Trust are mobilising investment into women-led and impact-driven enterprises and called on institutions like MEDA and The Asili Initiative to engage African partners as co-creators, not just beneficiaries. Real solidarity, she argued, is measured by who holds power, who sets the agenda and who shares in the long-term value created.

In a world where Africa is still too often framed as a recipient of aid, Andia's message was a clear invitation to do things differently: design financing models rooted in trust, shared accountability and respect for African expertise. Watch Andia share her reflections from the fireside chat: https://youtu.be/It1iolW1aeo