UN pledges stronger support for gender equality, women's leadership in Tanzania

Arusha. The United Nations has pledged to deepen its partnership with the Tanzanian government to advance gender equality and increase women's representation in leadership and decision-making.

The UN commended Tanzania for its significant progress in gender equality, particularly the achievement of having a female President for the past three years and improving women's representation in leadership across government and society.

Those are observations shared during a three-day workshop taking place in Arusha from Friday, January 24, 2025, to Sunday, January 26, this year.

During the conference focusing on empowering women in leadership, UN Women Country Director, Ms Hodan Addou, lauded Tanzania’s achievements, describing the country as a global leader in promoting gender equality.

She highlighted the country’s strides in increasing women’s participation in political, social, economic, and development decision-making processes.

“These achievements not only contribute to sustainable development but also set a powerful example for other nations in Africa and beyond, showing that women have a rightful place in all spheres of society,” she said.

Ms Addou emphasised Tanzania’s progress in political representation, noting that women now make up 37 percent of the Members of Parliament, exceeding the global average.

She also pointed out and commended the ongoing efforts to ensure even greater female participation in local and national politics.

“In addition to having a female President, the ruling party has made history by nominating a woman as its presidential candidate for the upcoming elections. These are the strides we are celebrating here,” she added.

The workshop, supported by UN Women and the Government of Finland, was part of the "Women’s Leadership and Economic Rights at Local Levels" project.

During the event, Ms Bernadette Killian explained that the project aims to increase women’s representation in decision-making bodies across various sectors.

The training, provided by experts from the University of Dar es Salaam and coordinated by the Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), will involve 630 women across seven regions of Tanzania.

“Our goal is to equip women with the confidence to grab opportunities, speak publicly, advocate for development issues, and actively participate in community development,” said Ms Killian who facilitated the event.

She said programme participants include local government leaders, such as councillors and chairpersons, women from community-based economic groups, and savings associations.

The Community Development Officer for the Arusha Region, Ms Blandina Nkindi, shared that the training involves 90 women from Monduli, Karatu, and Arusha City.

“We want women to grab every opportunity before them without being constrained by gender. This training aims to ensure that aspiring female leaders—whether successful or unsuccessful in previous attempts—gain the tools and confidence to excel in any field, not just special seats,” said Ms Nkindi.

This initiative highlights a broader commitment to empowering women and promoting their inclusion in leadership roles, reinforcing the belief that women can thrive in any sphere of influence.