RISING WOMAN 2025: Empowerment, leadership, the path to gender equality

Dar es Salaam. The ongoing fight for gender equality and women’s empowerment took centre stage at the fifth edition of The Citizen Rising Woman Initiative, held on Friday, March 7, 2025, in Dar es Salaam.

The event, held at Mlimani City, brought together influential leaders and advocates who shared their insights on women’s leadership, the barriers to gender equality, and the necessary steps to empower women and girls for a more inclusive future.

The managing partner at Impact Leadership Academy Tanzania, Ms Zuhura Muro, shared her perspectives on the critical need for a strong foundation for women aiming for leadership roles.

She emphasized that to make bold leadership strides, women must focus on building courage, expanding their networks, and developing their skills and competencies.

“I believe that before taking a bold step in leadership, one must first establish a solid foundation of networks, courage, and competence. It takes significant effort—not just in educating yourself but also in stepping out of your comfort zone,” said Ms Muro.

She stressed the importance of resilience and dedication, particularly for young girls who aspire to leadership.

The journey, she said, requires sustained effort and the right support structures.

The deputy representative with the UN-Women Tanzania Country Office, Ms Katherine Goffod, raised important concerns about the gap between gender equality policies and their implementation.

Despite the existence of robust frameworks aimed at promoting gender balance, Ms Goffod pointed out that significant obstacles remain in fulfilling gender equality commitments.

“One of the major challenges we face globally is funding. Achieving gender equality requires significant financial investment, both from public and private sectors, to ensure that policy commitments translate into real action,” Ms Goffod remarked.

She urged stakeholders to focus on how political will could be better transformed into tangible programmes that directly benefit women and girls, particularly at the grassroots level.

Ms Goffod also highlighted the persistent cultural and societal norms that hinder gender equality progress.

“How do we change these social systems?” she questioned, advocating for sustained awareness campaigns, community dialogues, and behavioural change initiatives.

She stressed that true gender equality could only be achieved through long-term investment and collaboration.

Echoing this theme, Mixx By Yas Chief Officer, Ms Angelica Pesha, focused on the importance of encouraging young girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

She emphasized how societal perceptions often limit girls' interests, especially in the tech sector.

Ms Pesha encouraged parents to support their daughters' interests, regardless of gender expectations.

“How many of us get concerned when our daughters show interest in playing with cars instead of dolls? Often, we discourage them and redirect them towards dolls. If we change that mindset, we will see more women in tech,” she said.

Ms Pesha called for more intentional support in nurturing young girls to pursue their aspirations and become the next generation of leaders and innovators in the technology space.

Also making a significant contribution to the forum, Ms MMConnect Africa, MMCarborn, Kuza Capital Finance, and XP Energies founder, Ms Mwamvita Makamba, underscored the importance of accessible and affordable financing for women entrepreneurs, particularly young women.

She pointed out that access to finance was critical for young women to escape poverty and succeed in business.

“For young women, access to finance is essential. Without it, they risk remaining in poverty forever,” Ms Makamba said.

She highlighted the challenges women, especially those from marginalized areas, face in accessing financial resources, urging for financial solutions that are quick, easy, affordable, and require minimal bureaucracy.

“Most women are young girls hidden in places with no opportunities. But with entrepreneurship, access to quick, easy, and affordable financing without excessive paperwork can be a game changer. It will accelerate women's inclusion and create a significant impact,” she added.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Accelerate Her Impact,” resonated deeply throughout the forum, underscoring the urgent need to create an environment where women can thrive, lead, and drive meaningful change.

In line with this, a champion for legal justice and community empowerment, advocate Arafa Kikwete, emphasized the need for legal reforms in Tanzania to achieve gender equality.

She specifically addressed the issue of child marriage, noting that the current legal age for marriage for girls is 14, which she believes must be amended to align with the legal definition of adulthood.

“When a girl gets married at such a young age, it is unfair because she doesn’t even get the chance to complete secondary education. Many do not reach Form Four,” Ms Kikwete explained.

She called for greater empowerment of women, highlighting the importance of instilling confidence in them so that they can achieve their goals and realize their full potential.

“It is important to instill confidence in women so they can stand firm and achieve their goals,” she concluded.

The Citizen Rising Woman initiative continues to be a beacon of hope in the journey towards gender equality, empowering women to challenge societal norms, advocate for inclusivity, and champion the rights of those whose voices are often unheard.

The forum reinforced the critical role of women’s leadership in shaping a future that is more inclusive, innovative, and empowering for all.

As Tanzania moves forward on its path toward gender equality, it is clear that through continuous support, collaboration, and commitment, women will continue to rise, challenge societal norms, and play an integral role in the country’s development.