By Alfred Zacharia
In a move set to redefine how African financial systems view gender and enterprise, Tanzania is hosting the Gender in Finance Forum on May 6, 2025 in Dar es Salaam, a bold step reflecting the country’s emerging status as a continental leader in women’s entrepreneurship.
With women making up 54 percent of Tanzania’s entrepreneurial landscape and an impressive 80 percent female labor force participation rate, the country is already charting a course few others have managed.
Yet, beneath these headline-grabbing numbers lies a persistent challenge: a TZS 3.9 trillion (USD 1.7 billion) financing gap for women-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The forum aims not only to highlight this disparity but to mobilize action, transforming barriers into business opportunities.
“This isn’t just a forum—it’s a turning point,” said Musa Lubango, Country Director for MEDA Tanzania, adding that “By embedding gender lens investing into financial systems, we’re not only unlocking capital for women—we’re strengthening the entire economy.”
Hosted by MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) and Supivaa Advisory Group Ltd., and powered by key collaborators like the National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC) and the Tanzania Bankers Association (TBA), the forum is part of the Feminist Entrepreneurs Growing Green Economies (FEGGE) initiative, a partnership between the Governments of Canada and Tanzania.
Participants—including banks, policymakers, and global investors will explore how gender lens investing (GLI) can shift mindsets and market dynamics.
Financial institutions trained under the FEGGE project will showcase real progress: from developing gender-responsive products to embedding equity-driven policies into their business models.
The timing could not be more strategic. As Tanzania scales up its ambition to foster inclusive agri-food systems, the forum will focus on unlocking capital for women-led enterprises in this sector, often overlooked yet vital for climate resilience, food security, and job creation.
Global GLI champions and Tanzanian stakeholders alike will engage in peer-learning sessions, discuss financing barriers, and build alliances that extend beyond national borders. With customized coaching and capacity building already underway, many institutions are expected to make public commitments toward long-term inclusive finance.
The forum also underscores Tanzania’s increasing influence on the global stage.
Through the FEGGE project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, MEDA is directly supporting over 22,500 women entrepreneurs, 310 feminist SMEs, and multiple business incubators—anchoring local innovation in global development goals.
