Tanzania signs $104 million deal with World Bank to empower women

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has signed two financing agreements with the World Bank to support the ‘Pamoja Project,’ an initiative aimed at advancing gender equality.

The agreements include a $4 million grant and a $100 million concessional loan, which will fund efforts to promote economic opportunities for women and enhance services for preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV).

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the minister for Finance, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba, said the project aligns with Tanzania’s Third National Five-Year Development Plan (2021/22–2025/26) and the Draft Development Vision 2050.

"Under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, gender equality is a central priority. The Pamoja Project is a testament to our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5, and to achieving inclusive growth that leaves no one behind," Dr Nchemba said.

According to Dr Nchemba, the Pamoja project is expected to directly benefit approximately 319,850 women, with an additional 399,000 indirect beneficiaries, including household members.

"Advancing gender equality is not just a women's issue. It is fundamental to building a democratic, just, and prosperous nation. Closing gender gaps significantly boosts economic productivity and fosters resilience," he said.

The World Bank Country Director for Tanzania, Mr Nathan Belete said that Tanzanian women continue to face significant challenges in accessing economic opportunities.

Citing an example he said the share of employed women has decreased from 79 percent in 2004–05 to 73 percent in 2015–16.

“There is also a 20–30 percent gender gap in agricultural productivity, and female entrepreneurs’ sales are 46 percent lower than those of their male counterparts. Furthermore, there is limited access to quality childcare,” he said.

He said there has been some decline over time, GBV remains prevalent in certain regions, and help-seeking behaviour among survivors is still low.

The minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dorothy Gwajima, said women are a crucial group in any society and must not be left behind in social and economic development," said Minister Gwajima.

"Ending gender-based violence and promoting gender equality is a key agenda for Tanzania’s Sixth Phase Government, as evidenced by commitments made under the Generation Equality Forum and the National Action Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children.

Minister Gwajima also noted that Tanzania had recently launched the National Gender Policy and Women’s Development Strategy (2023), which prioritizes women’s economic empowerment.

The Pamoja Project will support the implementation of this policy by focusing on women’s economic empowerment and the prevention and response to GBV.

The Pamoja Project consists of four main components: enhancing economic opportunities for women, strengthening services for preventing and addressing GBV, promoting innovation, partnerships, and managing project monitoring and evaluation.