THE WLER PROJECT SPARKS NEW HOPE FOR WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN TANZANIA
November 2025: From 23 to 27 October, 2025, the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) conducted a series of endline field visits for the Women’s Leadership and Economic Rights (WLER) project in Mtwara, Lindi, Pwani, and Dar es Salaam. The information collected during these visits contributes to the overall assessment on the progress, achievements, and impact of the WLER project.
The WLER project, led by TGNP with support from UN Women and Finland, is expanding women’s leadership and economic rights across four regions in Tanzania. Since 2023, community networks and trained local officials have been creating safe spaces for dialogue, advocacy, and gender-responsive governance.
The evaluation process examined the ways in which the project has strengthened women and girls’ participation in leadership and improved their economic rights—at both community and local government levels. Community members involved in the project shared their individual and collective success stories and help to identify best practices, which will be used to inform future programming and policy advocacy.
EMPOWERING WOMEN, DRIVING CHANGE
“The WLER project has become a beacon of hope for many women in Tanzania. The success of this project proves that social change is possible when communities work together to dismantle gender barriers and build a foundation of equality, justice, and inclusive development.” —Ms. Mariam Oushoudada, the WLER Project Coordinator, TGNP.
As part of the project, Gender Grassroots Transformative Networks (GGTNs) were formed in 19 locations, adding to TGNPs existing network of 98 Knowledge Centres. These networks are designed to drive feminist movement building and advance the gender equality and women empowerment agenda.
Using TGNP’s participatory action research model the members of each GGTNs identified the most important challenges facing their communities, conducted a gender analyses, and collaborated with local authorities to implement solutions. Their advocacy led to tangible achievements including:
- Community-funded construction of a public toilet at the Mtua Dispensary.
- A gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) process was adopted in Mtua Ward that resulted in 5 gender-focused development proposals for the 2025/26 fiscal year, including the construction of a Maternal and Child Health Unit, gender-responsive school infrastructure, and investment in a village tractor project that will ease women’s agricultural workload.
- The Nachingwea District Council allocated over TZS 500 million in interest-free loans for women, youth, and people with disabilities. They also made notable infrastructure upgrades, such as inclusive sanitation facilities and accessible school buildings.
- GRB was strengthened in many districts through the support to the Opportunites and Obstacles to Development (O&OD) committees. As a result, some significant achievements were achieved:
- Kisarawe allocated TZS 13 million for a dispensary with maternal health services.
- Vigwaza Ward engaged in a GRB process.
- Mtua Ward developed gender-inclusive revenue plans that include a community-agreed upon cashew levy and carbon trading projections.
- Mchichiri and Chuno saw an increase in women’s representation in local leadership positions.
As a result of the GGTN’s organising and community mobilisation process, there are now more women in leadership roles at village, ward, and street levels. The milestones illustrated in the graphic below highlight the transformative impact of gender-responsive governance, community-led action, and feminist movement building. The increased visibility and leadership of women signal a positive shift toward inclusive and equitable local development.
Despite this progress, many women still face challenges in land ownership, access to financial loans, technology training, and full participation in public life. Unpaid care work continues to limit women’s ability to engage meaningfully in community decision-making processes.
“The WLER project aims to transform discriminatory social norms by promoting gender equality and economic empowerment at the grassroots level”—Ms. Rehema Mwiki, Community Development Officer for the Vigwaza ward, Chalinze district, in the Pwani region.
VOICES OF TRANSFORMATION
“Before the TGNP trainings, many women believed leadership was only for men and were afraid to speak in meetings. Through animation, mentorship, and leadership dialogues, we gained courage to lead and contest for positions. Three members from the GGTNs even vied for parliamentary seats this year.”— Vivian Ugulumu, Chairperson, Miburani GGTN.
“In my community, leadership was seen as a man’s role. Through the mentorship and governance trainings, I gained the confidence to stand for a village council position—and I was elected. Now I participate actively in decision-making and encourage other women to believe in themselves.”— Mariam Said Swala, Vigwaza GGTN .
“Before the project, none of our ten villages had a woman chairperson. Cultural practices and early marriage discouraged women from speaking in public. But with TGNP’s support, women gained confidence and started contributing to budgeting and planning for education, health, and livelihoods.”— Tatu Bakari Mpogo, Chairperson, Vigwaza.
“In schools, we formed gender clubs to teach boys and girls about equality and shared responsibilities. We now have disability-friendly toilets and a sanitary room for girls, which helps them manage menstruation with dignity.” -— Salma A. Gonga, Chairperson of the Kilungule GGTN in Temeke Dar es Salaam.
CHALLENGES
Despite many of the successes, the field assessments revealed the challenges that women continue to face as they strive for empowerment and participation in leadership:
- Land and property ownership: Patriarchal norms and traditional practices limit women’s access and rights to land. Awareness of legal rights remains low among both men and women.
- Gender-based violence: While reporting and awareness have improved, many cases are still settled in private, denying survivors of physical and sexual violence justice and support.
- Political participation: The structures and processes of political parties favor men, thus limiting opportunities for women to run for leadership positions.
- Weak coordination: Gaps persist between local governments and community gender networks, delaying responses to reported cases.
- Cultural resistance: Deep-rooted social attitudes—especially among older generations and among religious communities—continue to impede progress.
- Sustainability concerns: Maintaining the momentum and the resources that support the GGTNs and school clubs is difficult once the project closes.
WAY FORWARD
The following recommendations emerged from the field visits and when put into action will strengthen women’s leadership, participation, and economic rights:
1. Policy and Governance
- Advocate for reforms in political party policies and structures to ensure fair nomination and equal representation of women.
- Institutionalize Grassroots Gender Networks (GGNTs) within local government systems for sustainability.
- Mainstream gender-responsive budgeting at the local level to ensure equitable resource allocation.
- Strengthen law enforcement to protect women’s land rights and provide justice for survivors of physical and sexual violence.
2. Community Empowerment and Capacity Building
- Continue leadership and legal literacy training for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
- Expand mentorship programmes linking established women leaders with emerging grassroots leaders.
- Intensify community awareness campaigns to challenge harmful gender norms.
- Support women aspiring to political positions with training on campaigning, public speaking, and advocacy.
3. Education and Social Services
- Strengthen school gender clubs and integrate gender equality and the prevention of GBV into school programmes.
- Ensure schools have disability-friendly facilities
- Ensure schools have clean and safe spaces for menstrual hygiene management.
- Build stronger partnerships among schools, parents, and community structures to report and address GBV.
4. Economic Empowerment
- Increase access to revolving funds and micro-credit for women entrepreneurs.
- Promote legal literacy on women’s property rights and strengthen linkages with state institutions.
- Support value-addition and market access for women-led enterprises.
CONCLUSION
The information gathered during the endline field visits confirms that the women and men who participated in the WLER project have made significant strides in promoting gender equality in their communities. From increased confidence in leadership to improved community services and gender-responsive budgeting, the positive impact on the lives of the women invovled is evident. As TGNP and its partners continue their advocacy, the voices and resilience of women like Vivian, Mariam, and Tatu serve as powerful reminders that when women lead, communities thrive.
