Women at the centre of global event week

Women at the centre of global event week

What you need to know:

  • The week-long events were hosted by the Tanzania Startup Association (TSA), which is conducting workshops, trainings, meetings and debates to help women entrepreneurs succeed as they navigate the waters of entrepreneurship.

Dar es Salaam. Women entrepreneurs in Tanzania were in the focus as Tanzania’s private sector is marking the 12th Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) since Monday.

The week-long events were hosted by the Tanzania Startup Association (TSA), which is conducting workshops, trainings, meetings and debates to help women entrepreneurs succeed as they navigate the waters of entrepreneurship.

TSA chief executive officer Zahoro Muhaji said the association - together with the cohost, Global Entrepreneurship Network Tanzania - would offer training that intends to explore their potentials and to connect with the resources and tools they need to turn their visions and ideas into growing businesses.

“We expect to host women from several regions, specifically those in rural Tanzania and take the helm and discuss any obstacles they face and offer recommendations to supporting stakeholders such as the government,” he said.

“President John Magufuli has promised eight million jobs and a lot of those jobs will come from entrepreneurship. Thus we are here to promote and celebrate entrepreneurship as one of key ways to secure jobs and grow our economy,” he added.

According to the GEW calendar, over the course of the week from November 16 to 22, there will be scheduled events in Mbeya, Mwanza, Dodoma, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kisarawe.

Although the focus is on women entrepreneurs, some events will include children and youth. Muhaji.

The chairperson of the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) Ms Angelina Ngalula who officiated the kick-off of the entrepreneurship week in the country said the foundation would work closely with the TSA in pushing the entrepreneurship and early stage businesses sector forward.

“I am happy for the recognition of women in entrepreneurship and this platform being used to address the challenges that women face,” she said.

GEW is a week-long set of events, activities and competitions each November that inspires millions globally to explore their potential as entrepreneurs.

This year’s events will include people from 80 different countries hosting 40,000 events.