Generation Equality Commitment Makers in the Spotlight: Igniting change: WiLDAF's bold journey towards gender equality in Tanzania

In Tanzania, WiLDAF leads a powerful movement for gender equality. As a driving force within the global Generation Equality movement, they empower women and girls to rise against gender-based violence and claim their rights. Through advocacy, WiLDAF has influenced the Tanzanian government to prioritize gender and social inclusion, ensuring that women’s empowerment is central to policies, programs, and national budgets. WiLDAF’s impact is profound - reaching beyond the corridors of power into the heart of local communities, where families, societies, and institutions are beginning to embrace and champion gender equality.

Impact at Every Level

For a number of years, WiLDAF, a Pan-African women's rights network in Tanzania, has played an important role in transforming Tanzania’s gender equality landscape through bold advocacy and grassroots initiatives. Their efforts have significantly influenced the government to prioritize gender inclusion in national programs, paving the way for impactful change. As a result, in line with Tanzania’s National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children, WiLDAF  trained local committees to empower women in reporting gender-based violence (GBV) and accessing justice.

Commitment maker under Action Coalition on GBV, Economic Justice and Rights and Feminist Movements and Leadership, WiLDAF has made commitments to the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) focused on amplifying women's voices, advancing gender equality, and promoting women’s empowerment. Under these commitments, WiLDAF is dedicated to creating safe spaces for women and strengthening networks.

To realize their GEF commitments, WiLDAF promotes economic empowerment by offering vocational skills training and startup grants. In 2023 alone, 200 women gained resources to launch small businesses, enhancing their financial resilience and confidence. WiLDAF is also bridging the economic gender gap by empowering women to build better lives and create businesses that stimulate local economies. Notable initiatives like the Jamii Imara Project combine interventions to transform social norms, enhance economic empowerment, and strengthen local institutions. This project focuses on providing alternative income sources for women and out-of-school girls, reducing vulnerability. It also engages male youth, religious, and traditional leaders as champions of change.

Championing Political Reform for Women

"For me, Generation Equality means uniting forces to drive real change. At WiLDAF, we’re not working alone - we're collaborating with women’s rights organizations to ensure that our commitments lead to action. One of our key areas of advocacy is reforming outdated laws like the Marriage Act, which still allows girls under 18 to marry. Through Generation Equality, we're determined to protect the rights of every girl and ensure a brighter, more just future for all", says Anna Kulaya, National Coordinator of WiLDAF in Africa.

The women's rights network also supports GBV survivors through free legal aid, while advocating for policy changes, including the review of outdated laws like the Law of Marriage Act of 1971 and the Customary Declaration Law of 1963. They are pushing for gender parity in leadership, promoting women’s access to land rights, and encouraging customary laws that protect women while challenging those that perpetuate discrimination. WiLDAF also works with political parties to push for gender-responsive policies that increase women's participation, engaging the private sector to support women’s economic empowerment, and promoting a safe and dignified environment for women in the workplace.

But the NGO impact extends beyond education and directly into the political landscape. Through their advocacy, Tanzania became the first African nation to implement legal provisions addressing violence against women during elections - a revolutionary step in ensuring that women in leadership and political campaigns are protected.

As part of their unwavering commitment to gender equality, WiLDAF’s advocacy led the Tanzanian government, through the Ministry of Community and Gender, to establish gender desks in higher learning institutions. These desks provide young women with a safe avenue to report cases of gender-based violence - an extraordinary milestone in the pursuit of equal political participation for women.

"Women in political parties face online and physical violence. We’ve worked hard to make sure that political parties now have gender desks, and that the law protects women in politics," says Anna Kulaya, National Coordinator of WiLDAF in Africa.

Looking Towards the Future

In 2023, WiLDAF reached to 288 young women, including those with disabilities, offering essential life skills training on GBV and sexual and reproductive health rights. Continuing with its mission as a Generation Equality Commitment Maker, in the same year, the NGO unveiled a strategic plan focused on economic justice and rights, aiming to create a supportive legal environment for women and girls in economic activities.

Looking ahead, WiLDAF will continue to lead a transformative movement in Tanzania by advocating for women’s political inclusion, legal reform, economic empowerment, and education. This broad approach not only bridges the gender gap but also empowers women and girls to rescue their futures in the country. WiLDAF is not only transforming the lives of Tanzanian women and girls but also inspiring entire communities to embrace equality and possibility.