ANIKE FOUNDATION HELPS GENDER WIN URGENT ACTION FUND GRANT FOR “WOMEN IN MARKET PLACES” PROJECT

Introduction

Gender equality and the empowerment of women are crucial for sustainable development and the overall well-being of societies. In recent years, significant efforts have been made to address the challenges faced by women, particularly in developing regions. One such initiative is the Women in Market Places project. With the help of Anike Foundation, GENDER received a grant from Urgent Action Fund–Africa to implement Women in Market Places, a project dedicated to helping women gain access to marketplaces and conduct businesses safely.

Who is Gender?

Girls Empowerment Network for Development in Rural (GENDER) is a nonprofit and non-governmental organization in Tanzania. Established in 2018, GENDER works to empower rural women and be an ally in the pursuit of their rights.

The Project

Women in Market Places aimed to enable women’s access to marketplaces and raise awareness against gender-based challenges that limit women’s participation and economic opportunities in the region of Mtwara, Tanzania. To accomplish this goal, this project addressed the educational, economic, and social aspects of the problem. Women in Market Places was implemented through a multi-stakeholder approach, involving local government authorities, civil society organizations, and community members.

Project Activities

This project involved dialogue roundtables with all stakeholders to discuss the project’s main challenges, such as affordable rent in marketplaces for businesswomen who were formerly only allowed to do business along roadsides and in high-risk areas because they were not given access to market buildings. GENDER conducted entrepreneurship capacity-building sessions for 200 businesswomen in Mtwara and organized small groups to foster their pursuits. They also launched social media campaigns with Twitter hashtags. #WanawakeMasokoni (Women in Marketplaces) and #WanawakeWathubutu (Daring Women) and distributed educational comic booklets and radio dramas.

Challenges

The research conducted by GENDER revealed a lack of information among rural women because of the heavily male-led marketplaces. Involving women in leadership roles will ensure that they understand their rights in relation to their entrepreneurial enterprises. The research also revealed a lack of reading and writing knowledge which can be a hindrance to women’s pursuit of financial independence. Additionally, the local government could improve its communication channels to effectively involve rural women and get feedback on future projects to provide more support as these women work hard on their businesses. The lack of electricity also affects communication throughout the region.

Outcomes

The project yielded significant positive outcomes for the community, including the government providing access to women in marketplaces where customers can easily patronize their businesses. Involvement in leadership positions for businesswomen in markets has improved. Rural women have also developed digital skills that they can use to sell their products through WhatsApp. Moreover, GENDER’s efforts in Mtwara through this project benefited businesswomen beyond the region. The organization established “Women Gala” to help increase sales for women’s businesses on weekends and the district decided to continue to work with small businesswomen to find solutions to their challenges.

Summary

Rural women who own small businesses in Mtwara and everywhere deserve a place to safely do their work and sell their products. With the support of Anike Foundation and a grant from Urgent Action Fund-Africa, GENDER was able to show the impact that targeted involvement can have in empowering women to pursue their rights to do business in marketplaces.