The government has intensified efforts to widen economic opportunities for women by improving access to financial support and strengthening entrepreneurship skills, as part of a broader strategy to boost inclusive growth.
Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Maryprisca Mahundi, told Parliament in Dodoma on May 6, 2026 that authorities are implementing targeted measures to ensure more women benefit from development financing initiatives.
She said the government is focusing on increasing awareness and accessibility of the Women Development Fund (WDF), a key facility that provides affordable loans to women entrepreneurs.
Efforts include working with financial institutions and development partners to deliver entrepreneurship and business management training through regional forums.
Mahundi noted that the government will continue collaborating with the Ministry of Finance Tanzania, the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG) and the National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC) to equip women, youth and people with disabilities with skills and access to affordable credit.
She said the current approach prioritises strengthening existing financial mechanisms rather than introducing new funds, with the aim of improving efficiency and impact.
The Women Development Fund remains central in providing low-interest loans to support small businesses run by women.
Mahundi also revealed that, in partnership with the World Bank, the government is in the final stages of rolling out loans under the PAMOJA project.
The initiative is expected to expand access to finance and unlock more economic opportunities for women across the country.
The government believes that sustained collaboration with the private sector and development partners will play a critical role in building women’s economic capacity and enabling them to contribute more significantly to national development.
