By, John Kabambala
Since
2015, the SAWAU organization, under the leadership of Sophia Donard, had been
struggling against gender-based violence and malnutrition in communities
dependent on Lake Victoria with limited strength and few resources, without any
external assistance. The situation was dire for women who were being degraded
to access fish due to shortages caused by climate change. However, their
destiny changed when they met Maria Matui, who connected SAWAU with a gender
and climate change network, providing a new perspective on how women suffer
more due to their dependence on land and water. Through funding and empowerment
from the Women Fund Tanzania Trust (WFT-T) under the leadership of Rose
Marandu, SAWAU has been able to transform its feminist perspective and begin
implementing productive activities. This partnership has served as a catalyst
for building women's capacity to confront environmental challenges while
improving their economic and social status through projects focused on climate
resilience.
These
successes demonstrate that when women are provided with resources and connected
to appropriate networks, they become the true solution to the challenges they
face rather than remaining mere victims. This progress was largely possible due
to the government's stance, through the Vice President's Office, in providing
an enabling environment for women's agendas in climate discussions, which
confirms that collaboration between the government and civil society
organizations can bring about a real revolution.
WFT-T
funding has enabled SAWAU to conduct significant advocacy that resulted in
policy changes at the district level, including the establishment of bylaws to
control sexual corruption (sextortion) faced by women in the blue economy
sector. Due to the decrease of fish in the lake caused by climate change, many
women were being exploited to obtain fish products, but through our movements,
we have submitted official documents to the council of councillors to protect
their dignity. This success is a direct result of training visits and regular
empowerment from WFT-T, which has given us a voice to defend the rights of
marginalized women. We are proud to see the woman's voice being heard and
bringing about legal changes that touch the daily lives of these blue economy
fighters.
Through
strategic funding from WFT-T, SAWAU has been able to expand its partnership
base with international organizations such as the Urgent Action Fund and Global
Green Grants Fund, enabling us to become champions of climate issues. Our
initial group for nutritious sweet potatoes has now attracted significant
investment, and we are in the early stages of establishing a small factory for
processing drought-resistant, Vitamin A-enriched potato flour. These successes
prove that when a woman’s capacity is built, she can be an essential link in
nutritional solutions and climate resilience within her community. We thank
WFT-T for trusting us and giving us a platform to show that true transformation
begins with a woman who is organized, knowledgeable, and capable of connecting
existing resources for the sustainable development of the nation and future
generations.
Sophia
Donard's participation in major international conferences like COP28 in
Azerbaijan has been a prestigious opportunity to amplify the voices of
marginalized women dependent on the blue economy on global platforms.
“Furthermore, negotiation skills training obtained through meetings in Dodoma
has strengthened our ability to influence municipal officials to control
environmental pollution in Lake Victoria. We aim to provide women with these
diplomatic techniques so they can question government contracts and ensure
natural resources are protected for the benefit of the entire community. SAWAU
stands as a model of how feminist movements can integrate environmental
conservation and gender justice. We will continue to collaborate with WFT-T to
ensure that every woman has the capacity to negotiate, influence, and protect
the future of her environment with confidence,” she concluded.
Rose Marandu, the Executive Director of Women Fund Tanzania Trust (WFT-T),
ABOUT
WOMEN FUND TANZANIA TRUST (WFT-T)
Rose
Marandu, the Executive Director of Women Fund Tanzania Trust (WFT-T), leads an
institution established in 2008 with the goal of supporting marginalized
organizations that have solutions to their problems but face a lack of
resources. Under her leadership, the fund aims to consolidate collective power
and ensure financial resources reach those in need in marginalized areas to
bring about real change. Rose emphasized the importance of building collective
power and enhancing women's leadership and professional capacity so they can
analyze issues in depth. In an environment where marginalized women's
organizations receive less than one percent of resources from external donors,
Rose stands as a primary advocate for ensuring justice and equality in
financial access is implemented in practice to liberate women economically and
socially.
In the
fight against climate change, Rose Marandu raises serious points about how this
crisis exacerbates challenges for women, including an increase in child
marriages and early pregnancies due to extreme poverty. She notes that the
language used in climate conversations is often difficult and overly technical,
which makes women and youth unable to understand the risks they face and how to
take action. Through WFT-T, Rose explains that the guide recently launched in
Dodoma—an event organized by GCCTC regarding climate change negotiations—is
being translated into simple language to give women the weapon to fight for
their rights. Her goal is to break the barriers preventing women from
participating fully in environmental solutions, believing that putting a
woman's face at the decision-making table brings about safe changes that
preserve society and future generations.
Rose
Marandu makes a sincere call to leaders and development stakeholders to ensure
that the 2050 National Vision and government budgets incorporate the voices of
marginalized groups, women, and people with disabilities. She reminds Members
of Parliament, councillors, and village leaders that any development-oriented
plans must support those most affected by climate change, such as women losing
income at sea due to coral reef destruction. However, Rose says, “the climate
guide is a weapon for liberating women, and it should be used for mutual
education so the nation moves forward with collective cooperation. Through her
influence, she continues to urge transparency in project implementation and
ensure that every woman gets the opportunity to contribute at the
decision-making table to break all gender and environmental barriers”.
TESTIMONIALS
FROM A SEMINAR PARTICIPANT
“The
seminar held in Dodoma has been an important catalyst in building the capacity
of civil society organizations, particularly for women's groups, youth, and
people with disabilities, so they can participate fully in the climate change
discussion. Mr. Mathias Lyamunda, executive director of the organization
‘FEMAPO,’ has indicated that environmental impacts such as floods, droughts,
and the destruction of natural resources are real and affect every level of
society, from government leadership to the grassroots level. The main goal of
this training is to ensure that these special groups, which are most affected
by natural disasters, gain sufficient understanding and methods to participate
in seeking permanent solutions. Through collective cooperation, the community
is encouraged to initiate productive discussions that will help address these
increasing challenges that affect the livelihoods and economies of citizens
across the country”.
He stated
that the GCCTC network and Women Fund Tanzania (WFT-T) have been a strong
bridge connecting marginalized stakeholders with prestigious training
opportunities and financial resources from various global donors. Through this
partnership, marginalized institutions have been able to build technical and
professional capacity, helping them attract funding from partners like the Global
GreenGrants Fund, Both ENDS, and the Global Alliance for Green and Gender
Action. The presence of WFT-T has helped bridge the resource gap by ensuring
that the voices and needs of women-led organizations reach decision-making
tables. This has been a unique opportunity for marginalized women to gain
modern knowledge and capital that enables them to implement strategic environmental
and entrepreneurship projects, while building inclusive movements that
withstand climate change and bring about gender liberation.
A major
challenge facing this struggle is the scarcity of financial resources,
particularly for marginalized communities that are often forgotten in national
plans. Mr. Lyamunda calls on the government and development partners to
strengthen budget systems, including directing ten percent of municipal loans
to environmental and climate change interventions. It is essential that
existing resources are allocated with solid plans and managed transparently so
they can bring positive results to target recipients in villages. This message
emphasizes that a permanent solution will only be found if every stakeholder
takes responsibility in their role, from the household to the national level,
by ensuring education and funds are used appropriately to protect our environment
for the sake of future generations and the welfare of the entire nation.
ON THE
GOVERNMENT SIDE THROUGH THE VICE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
For her
part, Evansia Shirima, the chief coordinator of the gender and climate change
desk in the Vice President's Office, stated clearly that the government has a
great responsibility to ensure women are not left behind in climate
negotiations. At the launch of the guide in Dodoma, she explained that the
government is committed to creating an enabling environment for women to
participate in policy formulation, national plans, and climate change
mitigation strategies. She mentioned examples of collaboration between the Vice
President's Office and the Ministries of Lands, Law and Constitution, as well
as Fisheries, to ensure that women's issues are prioritized. Evansia emphasized
that the government recognizes women are most affected by drought, floods, and
water scarcity, so they must be at the forefront of decision-making. She added
that an accountability system has been established to track how climate funds
and resources reach women and marginalized communities in the country.
Regarding
the availability of climate change funds, Evansia provided an important
clarification for marginalized women's organizations. She stated that climate
funds from organizations like the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, and Fund
for Responding to Loss and Damage can be accessed using direct access methods
through accredited national institutions, or by collaborating with large
organizations with experience in proposal writing. Evansia urged women to join
women's platforms and networks like Women Fund Tanzania, which provide training
in application writing and empowerment services. She gave the example of calls
for proposals which are found through websites and women's organization
meetings. She emphasized that building collective power is more important than
the grant itself, as collective platforms are what bring the voice and strength
to influence policy and obtain funds. She concluded by saying, "Do not
wait for funds to come to you; go to the networks, learn the procedures, and
unite together so you have one strength".
Ms. Shirima sincerely congratulated the partnership between the Gender and Climate Change Tanzania Coalition (GCCTC), Women Action Towards Economic Development (WATED), and Women Fund Tanzania (WFT) for the significant empowerment from the Global GreenGrants Fund, Both ENDS, and Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action in preparing this important guide. She said the partnership enabled the launch of a tool that, for the first time, discusses climate change in simple Swahili, understandable to rural women and youth without higher education opportunities. Evansia explained that this guide provides real examples from Kilosa and Mtwara, where women succeeded in changing decisions by participating in village meetings and using environmental laws to obtain their rights. She thanked these partners for laying the foundation to change the notion that climate change is only a matter for scientists, but rather a matter for every Tanzanian, especially women and youth living on the frontlines of climate impacts.
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