In a strategic move to promote gender inclusivity and build local capacity in infrastructure development, the government has urged women contractors to demonstrate competence, discipline, and adherence to timelines in the implementation of a flagship road project in Songwe Region.
Fifteen women-led construction companies have been contracted to build a 20-kilometre tarmac road along the Ruanda–Idiwili stretch, a project described by the Ministry of Works as a test case for scaling up women’s involvement in major public works.
Speaking during the opening of the 5th National Women Contractors Conference in Dar es Salaam on August 7, 2025, the Director of Roads at the Ministry of Works, Engineer Alois Matei, underscored that successful execution of this pilot project would pave the way for broader participation of women in large-scale infrastructure initiatives.
“The success or failure of this project will influence policy direction and future access to government-funded projects for women contractors,” Eng. Matei said, standing in for the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Engineer Aisha Amour.
The government’s move comes as part of a broader policy shift to empower local contractors, with the Ministry of Works recently increasing the ceiling for domestic project awards to TSh 50 billion. Analysts interpret this as a deliberate effort to ensure Tanzanian firms—particularly those led by women—have a stronger footing in the national development agenda.
Eng. Matei emphasized that the broadened project scope was not merely symbolic but a real opportunity for capable local firms to graduate into higher-value contracts.
He urged contractors to uphold transparency, technical precision, and financial discipline.
From the agency’s perspective, TANROADS Director of Road Maintenance, Eng. Dr. Christina Kayoza, noted that capacity building for local contractors—especially women—remains a central element of the agency’s operations.
She reiterated TANROADS’ readiness to support women-led firms “shoulder to shoulder” in project execution, but cautioned that accountability and results would be key to future engagement.
The focus on results is not new but is taking on renewed urgency amid increasing pressure on public institutions to deliver infrastructure projects that meet value-for-money criteria.
Data shared during the conference indicated steady gains in the past five years, with women-owned firms now competitively winning road construction contracts across categories V to VII.
Many have also benefited from labour-based contracts facilitated by TARURA and TANROADS.
According to Eng. Judith Odunga, President of the Tanzania Women Contractors Association (TWCA), one of the most impactful policy interventions has been the ring-fencing of specific road projects exclusively for women contractors.
“This has helped level the playing field and fostered healthy competition within the group,” she explained.
Established to build capacity, advocate for opportunity, and provide a unified voice, TWCA has positioned itself as a critical actor in the professional development of women contractors in Tanzania’s male-dominated construction industry.
However, policy experts argue that for such initiatives to be sustainable, women contractors must continue to demonstrate not only technical proficiency but also business acumen in managing resources, staff, and complex timelines.
The Ruanda–Idiwili project, therefore, is more than just another infrastructure upgrade—it is a litmus test for inclusive growth and a case study in how targeted empowerment initiatives can translate into long-term sectoral transformation.