JICA empowers women to earn income through recycled products

By Carlos Claudio, Dar es Salaam

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is helping women in Tanzania generate income by transforming recycled materials and locally available resources into marketable products, as part of efforts to promote entrepreneurship and environmental conservation.

The initiative was showcased during the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), popularly known as Sabasaba, as part of activities marking 60 years of JICA Volunteer services in Tanzania.

At the exhibition, women supported through JICA-backed projects displayed a variety of handmade products, including liquid soap, yarn-braided hair accessories and earrings crafted from recycled plastic bottle caps, demonstrating how waste materials can be converted into income-generating products.

JICA said the programme is designed to equip women with practical business skills while encouraging the recycling of plastic waste to protect the environment.

Community Development Officer at Iringa District Council, Aisha Lugendo, said the women underwent entrepreneurship training that enabled them to use yarn, needles and discarded plastic materials to produce items with commercial value.

According to Lugendo, more than 20 women participated in the initial training programme, with 10 continuing to produce and sell the items as a source of income.

“The women have acquired skills to transform readily available and discarded materials into products that can be sold, helping them improve their livelihoods while contributing to environmental conservation,” she said.

She said although the products have started attracting customers, securing reliable and sustainable markets remains the biggest challenge facing the women entrepreneurs.

Lugendo noted that participating in this year’s Sabasaba exhibition offers the women an opportunity to promote their products, reach new customers and explore wider market opportunities.

She added that beyond improving household incomes, the initiative is also helping to raise public awareness about the value of plastic recycling and the role of women-led entrepreneurship in sustainable community development.