The Tanzania Women Fishworkers Association strengthens collaboration with Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to empower women in small-scale fisheries

The Tanzania Women Fishworkers Association (TAWFA), supported by FAO, met with the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Agnes Meena, at Government City, Mtumba, Dodoma. The meeting aimed at strengthening the collaboration between TAWFA and Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MLF) by providing TAWFA leaders with a platform to engage directly with the Permanent Secretary and other senior Ministry officials to discuss strategic issues, share TAWFA’s future, and explore mechanisms for policy support, capacity building, and institutional partnerships. Additionally, during the meeting, TAWFA presented its achievements since its establishment, ongoing challenges and priority actions to further empower women engaged in small-scale fisheries.

During the meeting, TAWFA Chairperson, Ms. Beatrice Mmbaga, presented the Association’s major milestones, including the establishment of five water bodies chapters across the Marine and Coastal Waters, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa, and other small water bodies. These zones have strengthened women’s participation in fisheries governance and improved access to training, working tools, and financial services. More than 2000 women members have benefited from Village Community Banks (VICOBA), through trainings supported by FAO, accessing low-interest loans from their own savings totaling over TZS 160 million to support fish processing, trading, and other livelihood activities.

Ms. Mmbaga also highlighted key challenges faced by the Association, including the lack of a national office, limited capital, shortage of skilled personnel for business proposal development, absence of information technology (IT) infrastructure and a website, and lack of funding for further trainings. 

In response, the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Agness Meena, commended TAWFA’s progress and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the Association. She directly addressed the issues raised by TAWFA members through concrete measures, including:

• Linking TAWFA with financial institutions and banks to improve access to loans and capital.
• Encouraging the establishment of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOS) to enhance financial inclusion.
• Supporting access to working tools, Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) quality certification, national identification documents, and external markets.
• Appointing Dr. Baraka Sekadende, Assistant Director of Fisheries, as TAWFA’s National Chief Advisor to work with members on how best to utilize resources and run the national office.
• Designating Dr. Lilian Ibengwe to lead the development of project proposals to mobilize funding and resources for TAWFA.

FAO, represented by Ms. Prisca Issangya, reiterated its commitment to economically empower women through capacity development, knowledge, and strengthened linkages to financial institutions. She noted that FAO, through the Sida-funded global project Enhancing equitable, climate-resilient and sustainable small-scale fisheries through the SSF Guidelines implementation will continue collaborating with TAWFA and MLF to enhance women’s roles, voice, and benefits in small-scale fisheries.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment among the Ministry, TAWFA, FAO, and development partners to strengthen collaboration and implement agreed actions, to ensure women fish workers gain greater access to opportunities, skills, finance, and markets, contributing to sustainable, resilient, and gender-inclusive fisheries in Tanzania. in Tanzania 

Learn more: 

• Tanzania SSF Guidelines country page
• Enhancing equitable, climate-resilient and sustainable small-scale fisheries through the SSF Guidelines implementation