Under the Mango Tree – Women in community structures across Tanzania are leading change for equal rights and empowerment

On a sunny afternoon in the Vigwaza ward of Tanzania’s Pwani Region, women and men gather under the shade of a mango tree to discuss a pressing challenge – the shortage of maternity beds in their local health facility.

The meeting is led by members of the Vigwaza Grassroots Gender Transformative Network (GGTN), one of 19 networks established across the country under UN Women’s project on Women’s Leadership and Economic Rights at Local Levels (WLER), in collaboration with the Tanzania Gender Networking Program (TGNP) and with support from the Government of Finland.

One of the residents inspired to take action was Ashura Chewa, who first learned about the GGTN in early 2024 from her Community Development Officer. As soon as she heard about its goals, she was eager to get involved.

“Nobody knows the issues our community faces better than we do, because we live them every day. The GGTN provides the opportunity for us to come up with our own solutions and mobilize others to put them into action,” said Chewa.

Shortly after its establishment, Chewa’s GGTN became a strong voice for women in the community. Through engagement with local government leaders, the network successfully advocated for improved maternity services, resulting in the allocation of funds for two new maternity beds at the Vigwaza health centre.

Leveraging the power of community action

The GGTNs established under the WLER project function as community-based platforms where women and men engage in Participatory Action Research to identify challenges hindering the realization of women’s and girls’ rights, co-develop solutions, and undertake collective action to address them.

Beyond advocating for better health services, the Vigwaza GGTN has also played a proactive role in addressing violence against women and girls and in promoting women’s leadership.

“Cases of rape have decreased, more women are economically empowered, and we’re actively encouraging women to take up leadership roles. In last year’s local government elections alone, 20 women we worked with were elected to local government committees, and I was honored to be among them,” says Chewa, who successfully secured a hamlet committee member seat under the special seats provision, a role she has proudly served in for over a year.

The establishment of GGTNs has also fostered a collective voice among women, enabling them to engage effectively with local authorities and demand necessary changes.

“We were trained to advocate for women’s rights and challenge violence and discrimination. What has helped me most is learning how to bring my community together, creating awareness, building unity, and working collectively for change,” said Chewa.

Grassroots Action Drives Women’s Increased Participation in Local Governance

From 2023 to 2024, 417 community members (328 women, 89 men) were trained across the four WLER target regions: Lindi, Dar es Salaam, Pwani, and Mtwara. Equipped with skills in Participatory Action Research, they conducted gender analyses and developed targeted action plans, working in collaboration with their local government leaders.

Bringing together 450 dedicated members from diverse community groups, including village community banking (VICOBA) schemes, women entrepreneurs, women’s economic empowerment initiatives, and male allies, the GGTNs provide a unique, community-driven approach to advancing gender equality and strengthening women’s voice and agency at the local level.

Across the regions where the project was implemented, unprecedented numbers of women pursued and won local government leadership positions. In the 2024 local government elections, 60 GGTN members secured leadership roles at the hamlet, village, and street levels.

In the neighboring village of Gumba in Pwani region, Zena Ali Ufyole stood for election against four candidates and emerged as the Chair for the Mwengele hamlet.

“I never imagined I would be a leader, but UN Women training and conversations with GGTN members gave me the confidence to run. Now, as Hamlet Chair, I am focused on addressing the needs of women and girls in our community, including improving roads and access to safe water,” she said. Ufyole also encouraged other women in her community to contest, and three were elected to village council seats, ensuring women’s voices are represented in decision-making.

Further south, in the Mnyengeli village of Mtwara, Rukia Mohamed made history as the first woman elected as village chairperson since independence, defeating three male opponents by a margin of 50 votes. Seven other women from her village were also elected as Hamlet Chairpersons, giving them direct influence over critical local council decisions on health, education, peace and security, agriculture, water, and other development priorities.

“We are very proud. There have been many changes, people are motivated, and even now, ahead of the national elections this year, more women are contesting for district council seats,” added Nsilu.

Building Lasting Change

From the shade of the mango tree in Vigwaza to village councils across Tanzania, grassroots voices are reshaping what leadership looks like. The GGTNs are not only addressing immediate challenges but also laying the groundwork for transforming how entire communities value women’s rights, gender equality, and inclusive governance.

The Women’s Leadership and Economic Rights (WLER) project, currently implemented in six regions of Tanzania, empowers women and girls to fully participate in decision-making and economic life. By strengthening women’s leadership, advancing gender-responsive policies, and promoting equal access to resources and opportunities, the project tackles structural barriers and drives inclusive, sustainable development.