Tanzania’s girls push to be at the heart of Vision 2050

Dar es Salaam. Girls in Tanzania are calling for stronger inclusion in the country’s Vision 2050, urging leaders to prioritise skills development, equal opportunities, and protection from early marriage to unlock their full potential.

Speaking at the launch of the Girl Agenda 2025 Forum on Friday, September 12, 2025, under the theme “Girls and Skills Towards Vision 2050”, young participants highlighted gaps in education, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and leadership, despite national progress.

“There are more than 14.9 million girls in Tanzania. With resources and opportunities, we can become the largest generation of leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers in our nation’s history,” said a Form Four student at Kijitonyama Secondary School, Princess Wilfred, when presenting the girls’ declaration.

Despite government reforms, nearly 3.2 million children aged seven to 17 remain out of school, the majority being girls.

Dropouts are often linked to early marriage or teenage pregnancy. Globally, the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) estimates 244 million children are out of school, nearly half of them girls, while over 11 million are unlikely to return even after the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Tanzania, a digital divide compounds the problem: only 18 percent of women use the internet, while female computer science students constitute just 10 percent.

“Over 90 percent of jobs worldwide require digital skills, yet one in four girls aged 15–19 is neither in school, training, nor employed. Breaking this cycle requires urgent investment,” noted the UNICEF’s Skills4Girls programme.

Civil society voices emphasised systemic barriers, with the Msichana Initiative Director, Consolata Chikoti, saying, “Gender inequality in Tanzania is entrenched. We must move beyond policy and dismantle barriers preventing girls from leadership, digital skills, and employment.”

Ms Jackline Martin, from the Mwanza-based NGO Wote Sawa, added: “The Girl Agenda has, over eight years, connected more than 15,000 girls and young women, giving them sustainable platforms to push for change. Girls are agents of transformation, not just beneficiaries.”

The government has taken steps to strengthen girls’ inclusion. In 2016, the High Court raised the minimum marriage age to 18, though the ruling faced appeals.

Education reforms in 2023 emphasised inclusive schooling and practical skills. The Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups has also partnered with civil society to convene the forum.

A senior ministry official, Ms Sofia Mkama, said: “As we prepare for the 2025 General Election and reflect on 30 years of the Beijing Declaration, Tanzania is committed to ensuring girls’ priorities are central to national development. We aim to improve digital literacy, create safe spaces, and increase leadership opportunities.”

Experts highlight the wider benefits of investing in girls. A gender and development specialist in Dar es Salaam, Dr Asha Nyerere, said: “Educating girls creates ripple effects, families prosper, communities strengthen, and the nation grows.”

The Girl Agenda 2025 Forum urged governments, partners, and communities to remove structural barriers and create opportunities that prepare girls for a changing world.

In her conclusion, Ms Princess Wilfred said: “We are not asking for favours. We are demanding our right to help build the Tanzania we want by 2050.”