May 2026: On 28 and 29 April 2026, TGNP convened the annual RWCC reflection meeting in Babati, Manyara. More than 50 people attended the gathering and brought with them reflections and recommendations for the final year of the project. Central to the dialogue was a deep dive into the three pillars of the project: agroecology, women’s leadership, and the eradication of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
The Rural Women’s Cultivation of Change (RWCC) Project is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) through Seed Change. This meeting brought together representatives from Knowledge Centres (KCs) in Mamire and Muray, government officials from Mbulu and Babati District Councils, and members of the TGNP technical team.
Voices from the Field: Impact and Change
Local leaders and community members shared powerful testimonies regarding the project’s influence on gender dynamics in the Manyara region.
January R. Bikuba the Babati District Community Development Officer shared his reflections on the relevance of the project:
“There is a visible difference between wards reached by the RWCC project and those that are not. Women are now standing up, speaking out, and making decisions. Men have also shifted their perspectives, valuing women’s contributions. However, our work continues; we must build women’s confidence to challenge patriarchal systems in competitive elections.”
Catherine Umbe is a Chairperson from Mamire and she shared her observations of a cultural revolution taking place around female genital mutilation (FGM):
“The community is waking up. Today, young men are increasingly unwilling to marry girls who have undergone FGM. This is a clear indicator that these harmful practices are finally declining.”
Joyce Eliasi is a Knowledge Centre member and she emphasized the role religious institutions play in making changes in her community:
“If religious leaders declare FGM a sin, no one will do it because everyone protects their faith. This is the key to ending it completely.”
Inspector Kepha Makungu in the Mamire Ward shared that he was convinced to adopt agroecology practices on his own farm. He also reminded participants that …“criminals do not come from heaven; as parents and as a community we must raise our children correctly to end violence.”
Thomas Simbeye, a social welfare officer from Mbulu Town Council, reminded participants to try to secure travel documents, such as passports, because being able to take part in regional and international learning exchanges is one way to contribute to the global effort to address GBV and achieve gender equality.
The consensus during the reflection sessions was clear: the seeds of change have been sown in Babati and Mbulu. Community members, KCs, government officials, and the TGNP team have built a strong network for collaboration. The focus for this next year will be to scale the successes and ensure every woman in Manyara has the opportunity to lead and the power to live free from violence.
Critical Reflections and Challenges
The participants identified several urgent and important areas that they are committed to addressing:
- The Delay in Reporting Cases: Information regarding SGBV, particularly rape, often reaches authorities too late, sometimes only surfacing during village meetings long after the incident. The recommendation is to continue raising awareness to ensure people understand how important it is to report cases of sexual violence.
- Corruption: The police often facilitate bribes to resolve cases of sexual violence. While some police officers demonstrate a commitment to upholding the law, the participants want to ensure people understand how to report demands for money from police officers to police leadership.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
This clear set of priorities came out of the discussions:
- Data-Driven Advocacy: KCs were urged to maintain baseline statistics to measure the impact of their lobbying and advocacy efforts, particularly in leadership and SGBV.
- Scientific Validation: Conduct formal research on indigenous seeds to provide scientific evidence of their benefits, making it easier to advocate for them at a national level.
- Early Election Preparation: KCs are asked to start mobilising candidates because the work to get women into leadership roles for the 2029/30 elections starts now.
- Sustainability over Dependency: The project is a catalyst for change. The true impact lies in continuing the work long after the funding cycle ends.
- Financial Innovation: Promote access to the 10% government loan facility to fund agroecology ventures initiated by women, youth, and people with disabilities. For example, Magreth Baso from Mamire shared a vision for an Indigenous Food Hotel to tap into the local tourism market.
And Joyce Elias from Mamire expressed the need for machines help add value to agroecology products by transforming raw yields into high-quality, branded organic goods for the wider market. “We need the machinery to add value to our organic products. Processing our crops locally will allow us to move up the value chain, ensuring that the wealth generated from our land stays within our communities.”
By blending agroecology, economic justice, and leadership opportunities the RWCC project continues to prove that rural women can transform their communities.
