Tanzania Women's Leadership Summit

Theme: Women-driven Economy to Power Nation Building

Women represent a significant untapped resource for Tanzania's economic development. While they
comprise over 50% of the population, their full potential remains largely unrealized due to various social
and economic barriers. Investing in women's empowerment is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic
economic necessity.

 Economic contribution: Studies by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund estimate
that closing the gender gap in labor force participation could add $2.5 trillion to global GDP by
2025. In Tanzania, a 10% increase in female labor force participation could boost GDP by 3%.
 Untapped talent pool: Women represent a vast pool of talent and skills currently underutilized.
Tanzania faces a skills gap in various sectors, and women's participation could significantly
address this issue.
 Entrepreneurship: Women are increasingly driving entrepreneurial activity globally. In
Tanzania, 43% of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are owned by women,
contributing significantly to job creation and economic growth.
 Improved health and education: Investing in women's education and health leads to better
outcomes for their families and communities. Educated mothers are more likely to have
healthier children and invest in their education, creating a virtuous cycle of development.

Addressing the Gap

The Tanzania Women's Leadership Summit aims to bridge the gap between women's potential and their
actual contribution to the economy. By bringing together key stakeholders from various sectors, the
summit will foster collaboration and generate concrete strategies to:

 Identify and address barriers: The summit will identify key challenges faced by women in
different sectors, such as access to finance, education, and childcare.
 Develop actionable strategies: Through pre-summit focal group discussions led by sector
experts, the summit will develop national strategies and implementation frameworks for key
areas like healthcare, financial inclusion, and talent development.
 Mobilize resources: The summit will engage stakeholders in securing resources and partnerships
to implement these strategies effectively.
 Promote leadership and mentorship: The summit will provide a platform for women leaders to
share their experiences and inspire others, fostering a culture of mentorship and support.

These disparities not only limit individual opportunities but also hinder national economic growth and
development. Studies by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund estimate that closing the
gender gap in labor force participation could increase GDP by up to 25% in some countries.

Addressing the Challenge: The Tanzania Women's Leadership Summit

The Tanzania Women's Leadership Summit is a premium platform created to engage key stakeholders
from private sector, development partners and policy makers, aimed at finding pathways to accelerating
women inclusion in nation building. Relevant barriers leading to women low -productivity level will be
discussed, ranging from less access to quality education for the girlchild, healthcare system, cultural
norms, poor access to financial solutions tailored for women in the informal sector, and adaptive work
environment to enable women climb corporate leadership ladder. With these roadblocks fully addressed
sustainably will unlock the full potential of Tanzanian women as drivers of economic growth. This 2-day
event will bring together key stakeholders, including:

 Top government officials: The President, Ministers, policymakers, and decision-makers.

 Private sector leaders: CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders.
 Development partners: Representatives from international organizations and NGOs.
 Civil society leaders: Advocates for women's rights and empowerment.

Summit Build-up Activities

Gender-Lens Focal Groups Setup

Led by top sector experts, these groups will brainstorm and develop national strategies and
implementation frameworks for key areas like healthcare, financial inclusion, talent capacity building, and
employability. Each sector focal group will be chaired by a gender-responsive community advocate and
women from different social and economic strata will be represented in each focal group, to ensure that
challenges faced by women across all levels within both urban and rural communities are well
represented and discussed during the focal group brainstorming workshops. In the context of this
summit, there will be 4 focal groups, representing Healthcare, Financial Inclusion, Leadership &
Employability and Vulnerable Communities Inclusion.

Focal Groups Strategy Development Workshops

As part of the summit build-up activities, each focal group will host series of brainstorming workshops to
unravel women inclusion on economic development activities. Gender-lens focus group workshops serve
as a platform for identifying and addressing key barriers hindering women's full participation in economic
activities. These workshops aim to analyze various challenges faced by women, ranging from cultural
norms to lack of access to quality education and financial inclusion. The strategic framework developed
through these workshops offers a comprehensive approach to empower women from diverse
demographics, including those in urban and rural communities. This framework, endorsed by both
government and development partners, ensures collaborative efforts to implement sustainable solutions.

Key Components of Gender-Lens Focus Group Workshops:

Identification of Key Roadblocks:

 Cultural Norms: Explore how societal expectations and cultural beliefs limit women's economic
opportunities.
 Lack of Access to Quality Education: Assess the impact of inadequate educational resources on
women's skills development and employment prospects.
 Inability to Reach Top Management Levels: Examine the systemic barriers preventing women
from advancing to leadership positions in various industries.
 Lack of Financial Inclusion: Investigate the challenges women face in accessing financial services
and resources necessary for entrepreneurship and economic independence.
Brainstorming Sessions:

 Engage participants in interactive discussions to delve deeper into the root causes and effects of
these roadblocks.
 Encourage sharing of personal experiences and insights to gain a comprehensive understanding
of the challenges faced by women in different contexts.
 Facilitate creative problem-solving techniques to generate innovative ideas and potential
solutions.

Development of Strategic Blueprints:

 Collaboratively design actionable strategies tailored to address the identified roadblocks.

 Prioritize interventions based on their potential impact and feasibility, considering the unique
needs of women from urban and rural areas.
 Incorporate multi-dimensional approaches that address both individual and systemic barriers,
including policy advocacy, capacity building, and community empowerment.

Presentation at Main Summit:

 Each focal group presents their strategic blueprint, highlighting key insights, recommendations,
and implementation plans.
 Emphasize the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and inclusive decision-making in
driving meaningful change for women's economic empowerment.
 Showcase the diversity of perspectives and experiences represented within the workshop
participants, fostering a sense of collective ownership and accountability.

Adoption and Co-Implementation:

 Gain endorsement from government agencies and development partners to support the
implementation of the strategic frameworks.
 Establish mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating progress, ensuring transparency and
accountability in the execution of proposed interventions.
 Foster partnerships with local communities, civil society organizations, and private sector
stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise for sustainable impact.
 Experts will analyze existing data and conduct additional research to inform the discussions and
recommendations.

Main Summit

The Tanzania Women Leadership Summit, themed "Women-driven Economy to Power Nation Building,"
is a pivotal gathering aimed at catalyzing women's participation in the economic development of the
nation. By convening key stakeholders from the government, private sector, and development
organizations, the summit provides a dynamic platform for collaborative dialogue and strategic action. At
the heart of the summit's agenda is the exploration of innovative approaches to empower women from
diverse social strata, ensuring their meaningful engagement in key economic activities. Through insightful
discussions, interactive workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions, participants will collectively develop
a women-responsive economic strategy tailored to Tanzania's unique context. By leveraging the
expertise, resources, and networks of stakeholders across sectors, the summit aims to drive inclusive
growth, foster gender equality, and harness the untapped potential of women as drivers of socio-
economic progress.

Summit Agenda:

 Day 1:

1. Opening ceremony to be chaired by the President of Tanzania: The inaugural proceedings of the
Tanzania Women Leadership Summit will be graced by the esteemed presence of the President
of Tanzania, who will preside over the opening ceremony. This symbolic gesture underscores the
government's unwavering commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women
in all spheres of society. The President's presence sets the tone for a momentous event
dedicated to advancing women's rights and economic participation, signaling a unified effort
towards inclusive nation-building.
2. Keynote Speech by Director-General of the World Trade Organization on the role of women in
Nation Building: One of the major highlights of the summit will be the keynote address
delivered by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), focusing on the
indispensable role of women in the process of nation-building. With a wealth of expertise and
global perspective, the Director-General will articulate the transformative potential of women's
empowerment in driving sustainable development and fostering inclusive growth. This keynote
speech serves as a clarion call to action, inspiring stakeholders to prioritize gender-responsive
policies and initiatives that harness the full potential of women as catalysts for progress.
3. Presentation of national strategies and implementation frameworks developed by focal
groups: The summit will feature a crucial session dedicated to showcasing the national strategies
and implementation frameworks meticulously crafted by focal groups. These frameworks
represent a collective effort to address the systemic barriers hindering women's economic
empowerment and outline actionable steps towards gender equality and inclusion. Through
innovative approaches and evidence-based strategies, the presentations will highlight the
diverse perspectives and tailored solutions aimed at unlocking women's full potential in the
socio-economic landscape of Tanzania.
4. Panel discussions on key policies to advance women inclusion in national economic
development: Panel discussions on key policies to advance women's inclusion in national
economic development will bring together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to delve into
critical issues surrounding gender equality and economic empowerment. Topics may include the
importance of gender mainstreaming in policy formulation, strategies for closing the gender pay
gap, enhancing access to education and skills training for women, and creating supportive
frameworks for women entrepreneurs. These discussions will provide a platform for sharing
insights, best practices, and innovative approaches to address systemic barriers and promote
gender-responsive policies. By fostering dialogue and collaboration among diverse stakeholders,
the panels aim to generate actionable recommendations that can drive meaningful change and
accelerate progress towards gender equality and inclusive economic growth in Tanzania
5. Networking opportunities for participants: To consolidate on day 1 discussions, participants will
have ample opportunities for networking and forging meaningful connections. Informal
networking sessions, breakout groups, and interactive activities will facilitate the exchange of
ideas, experiences, and contacts among diverse stakeholders. These networking opportunities
not only enrich the summit experience but also lay the foundation for future collaborations and
 partnerships aimed at driving collective action towards women's empowerment and economic
advancement.

 Day 2:

1. High-level stakeholder dialogue to discuss resource mobilization and collaboration for

implementing the national strategies: A high-level stakeholder dialogue will convene on the
second day of the summit, providing a platform for influential leaders from government, private
sector, and development organizations to strategize on resource mobilization and collaboration
for implementing the national strategies outlined in the summit. This dialogue will focus on
aligning priorities, leveraging resources, and fostering partnerships to scale up efforts and
accelerate progress towards gender equality and women's empowerment in Tanzania.
2. Commitment signing ceremony by key stakeholders: Highpoint of the summit will be the
commitment signing ceremony, where key stakeholders publicly affirm their commitment to
advancing women's capacity and engagement in national development strategies.
Representatives from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector will sign
pledges outlining concrete actions and initiatives to support gender-responsive initiatives to
drive up national GDP. This ceremony not only demonstrates solidarity and collective
responsibility but also galvanizes momentum for sustained action and impact beyond the
summit.
3. Closing remarks and next steps: As the summit draws to a close, participants will gather for
closing remarks that reflect on the insights gained, commitments made, and actions planned
during the event. The closing session will provide an opportunity to celebrate achievements,
acknowledge challenges, and chart the course for next steps in advancing women's economic
empowerment agenda in Tanzania. From policy advocacy and capacity-building initiatives to
innovative partnerships and community-driven interventions, the summit will catalyze a renewed
sense of urgency and purpose towards building a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

Expected Outcomes

 Actionable national strategies and implementation frameworks for key sectors to advance
women's economic engagement.
 Increased awareness and commitment from government, private sector, and development
partners to invest in women's economic participation.
 Enhanced collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders to accelerate progress towards
gender equality and economic growth.

The Tanzania Women's Leadership Summit presents a unique opportunity to unlock the vast potential of
Tanzanian women and propel the nation towards inclusive and sustainable economic development. By
bringing together key stakeholders, fostering collaboration, and developing concrete action plans, this
summit can pave the way for a more prosperous future for all Tanzanians.