IFC and Association of Tanzania Employers Launch Program to Support Increased Participation for Women in the Private Sector

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Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, September 12, 2024 – A new program launched today by IFC and the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) will help women in Tanzania reach their goals in the private sector as leaders, employees, and entrepreneurs across economic sectors including agribusiness, manufacturing, financial services, tourism, mining, and oil and gas.

The Ajira Sawa Program is partnering with at least 20 large Tanzanian companies to help them implement action plans to reduce gender gaps in leadership, employment, and entrepreneurship. Ajira Sawa, which means 'equal employment' in Kiswahili, will promote best practices in recruiting, retaining, and promoting women and will advance women entrepreneurs' access to finance and markets in corporate supply chains.

Companies that have already committed to joining Ajira Sawa include many of the largest banks in Tanzania, along with leaders across the country's most important economic sectors. Collectively, the 20 companies have made 65 commitments to support women in the workforce and in their supply chains.  

Women in Tanzania – and across Africa – continue to face numerous hurdles in the private sector, including challenges accessing financing and markets, and fewer options for leadership roles. Women also often receive less pay for equal work. However, Tanzania's government and large parts of its private sector are introducing policies and practices to eliminate gender gaps, with Ajira Sawa supporting and helping drive those efforts.

Hon. Dorothy Gwajima, Tanzanian Minister of Community Development Gender, Women and Special Groups, said, "The Ajira Sawa program has come at the right time and aligns with government efforts to address gender gaps and promote women's economic empowerment. It will accelerate progress to include more women in the private sector and increase women's access to productive resources."

Suzanne Ndomba-Doran, ATE Chief Executive Officer, said, "This partnership and commitment to advancing gender equality in the private sector is commendable and crucial for fostering sustainable growth and innovation across various sectors."

Martine Valcin, IFC's Country Manager for Tanzania, said, "Women in Tanzania's private sector deserve equal access to opportunities and markets. Ajira Sawa reflects IFC's ongoing—and deepening—commitment to supporting women in Tanzania to become managers and leaders or grow their businesses. The strong commitment of our public and private sector partners in Tanzania will help ensure the success of this program, delivering tangible results to women in business and supporting wider social and economic development."

Ajira Sawa falls under IFC's Anaweza, or "She Can" project, launched in Tanzania in 2023 to enhance women's employment and access to corporate leadership, increase access to financial and non-financial services for women, and boost access of women-led businesses to productive assets and markets in key sectors.

It also aligns with Tanzania's National Gender Policy, Tanzania Development Vision 2025, the National Five-Year Development Plan III (2021/22-2025/26), the Zanzibar Development Vision 2050, and the Tanzania commitments on Generation Equality, which outline steps to enhance human capital with a strong focus on women's empowerment and gender equality.

The full list of companies that have already committed to the Ajira Sawa program include: AtoZ Limited, Bakhresa Group, Bank of Africa (BOA), Bolt, Chemicotex Limited, CRDB Bank, Geita Gold Mine Limited (GGML), Johari Rotana, Kioo Limited, National Bank of Commerce (NBC), NMB Bank, Oryx Energies Sanlam Life Insurance, SilverLands Tanzania, Stanbic Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL), Tanzania Commercial Bank (TCB) Vodacom Tanzania, and Whitesands Hotel.

About IFC

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2024, IFC committed a record $56 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a liveable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

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