The Power of Women in Pemba’s Blue Economy

 

How Women in Pemba Are Transforming the Blue Economy Through Courage, Leadership, and Marine Conservation

“I could not even stand in front of people and speak. I was afraid and lacked confidence. Now I can speak and inspire others without fear.”

These words from a participant in the ReSEA Project capture the remarkable transformation many women in Pemba are experiencing as they move from silence and marginalization into leadership, social participation, and economic empowerment. For many years, women in Zanzibar’s coastal communities have played a critical role in sustaining the blue economy without receiving full recognition for their contribution. Through seaweed farming, small-scale fishing, and crab fattening, they have supported their families while also contributing to marine conservation. Despite their immense contribution, however, many women have remained excluded from major social and economic decision-making processes. Through the ReSEA Project, that narrative is now rapidly changing across communities in Pemba.

Along the shores of Pemba Island, women enter shallow waters every day to cultivate seaweed, collect sardines, and farm crabs to support their household incomes. These activities have become an important pillar of the coastal economy while also strengthening resilience against climate change through alternative sources of income. According to Zanzibar’s Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries in 2025, women make up nearly 80 percent of seaweed and sea cucumber farmers in Zanzibar. Despite this significant presence, many women continue to be excluded from key decisions regarding marine resource management and economic opportunities within the sector. As a result, most women remain concentrated in the lowest levels of the value chain while men continue to dominate leadership positions, licensing systems, and capital-intensive activities within the blue economy sector.

                                                       Barriers That Limited Women’s Full Participation.

A policy review conducted by Women Fund Tanzania through the ReSEA Project revealed that women occupy only between 26 and 33 percent of leadership positions within Beach Management Units, Shehia Fisheries Committees, and Blue Economy Entrepreneur groups, even in communities where women form the majority of members. Another needs assessment conducted under the project identified interconnected barriers including low literacy levels, limited access to skills training, heavy unpaid domestic responsibilities, and cultural norms that restrict women from fully participating in coastal economic activities. These challenges have prevented many women from contesting leadership positions or actively engaging in decisions affecting the development of their communities. Consequently, women’s significant contribution to the blue economy has not been matched by their participation in shaping the future of a sector that remains crucial to the development of Zanzibar and Tanzania as a whole.

One woman from Wete explained how traditions and cultural expectations continue to prevent women from participating fully in social and leadership activities. She noted that within their culture, a woman’s role is often perceived as remaining at home to care for the family, while major public responsibilities are viewed as spaces reserved for men. Her statement reflects the lived reality of many women in coastal communities whose voices have long been overshadowed by social systems that grant men greater authority in decision-making processes. In addition, limited education has deepened this exclusion, as many women are unable to read or write, affecting their confidence to apply for leadership opportunities. Hadia Jumbe from Wete explained that deeply rooted patriarchal systems continue to deny many women equal opportunities for social participation and development within their communities.

These realities clearly demonstrate that increasing women’s participation in the blue economy requires more than awareness campaigns alone. It demands deliberate interventions that address the social and economic barriers that have constrained women for generations. In response, Women Fund Tanzania, through the ReSEA Project and in collaboration with different stakeholders, introduced targeted initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s participation in the blue economy while simultaneously addressing structural and social challenges. These interventions included the formation and strengthening of Blue Economy Entrepreneurship groups, entrepreneurship and soft-skills training, leadership development programs, mentorship, gender dialogue sessions, and community awareness campaigns. The project also facilitated inclusive consultations designed to amplify women’s voices and strengthen their participation in social and economic decision-making processes within coastal communities.

Through these interventions, many women have developed greater confidence and self-awareness, enabling them to overcome fear and collectively challenge barriers that had restricted them for many years. In Pemba, the Hapa Kazi women’s group identified illiteracy as one of the major obstacles preventing women from participating effectively in development activities. In response, the women-initiated peer-learning sessions to help one another improve their literacy skills. The group’s leader, Biyamu Mbarouk, explained that they realized lack of education was holding them back, so they decided to learn together. Through these efforts, women who were once silent have become more confident and prouder of their new ability to participate actively in group activities and broader community affairs with greater courage and determination.

The impact of these efforts is now increasingly visible within communities where women are participating more actively in meetings, expressing their opinions publicly, and encouraging others to speak out. One participant explained that before the training, she could not stand before people to speak because she lacked confidence and lived in fear. Today, however, she is able to speak publicly and motivate other women without hesitation. Her testimony demonstrates how training and empowerment initiatives have transformed the lives of many women who once believed they had no ability to contribute to community decision-making. Women are now being given more opportunities to participate in social and development activities. These transformations are not only economic but also psychological, as many women now believe they can become leaders and agents of change within their communities.

Women’s Leadership and the Future of the Blue Economy.

Beyond personal confidence, the project has also improved women’s livelihoods through strengthened entrepreneurship skills. Members of the Almujitahi group reported significant increases in productivity and income after receiving business development training. Leyla Hassan explained that previously they relied on traditional methods and lacked knowledge on how to access broader markets for their products. Through the training, they improved product quality and expanded their markets beyond Pemba, increasing the value of the products they sell. She noted that they can now sell one kilogram of crab for twenty thousand Tanzanian shillings compared to ten thousand previously. This increase in income has helped many women improve the living conditions of their families while demonstrating that investing in women’s capacity can generate substantial economic benefits for entire coastal communities.

These changes have extended beyond economic empowerment into leadership and marine resource governance. One of the project’s major achievements has been the increased participation of women in marine management systems and community decision-making structures. During elections within the Locally Managed Marine Areas Network, women were elected to several key leadership positions including Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Assistant Secretary, and Treasurer. These achievements represent an important step toward more inclusive leadership within marine environmental governance. Many women explained that they were previously afraid to pursue leadership roles, but now they have gained the courage to contest for positions within their communities. These developments demonstrate that when women are provided with knowledge, opportunities, and supportive environments, they possess the capacity to lead and contribute meaningfully to community development processes.

The project has also begun transforming community attitudes toward women’s leadership. A male leader from Mkoani, Pemba admitted that he previously did not believe women could become leaders, but he now supports their participation in decision-making positions. His statement illustrates how awareness-building efforts within communities are gradually changing long-standing gender perceptions. Beyond economic empowerment and leadership development, the project has strengthened environmental conservation and community collaboration through Shehia Fisheries Committees that now actively participate in mangrove restoration, coral reef protection, and the promotion of sustainable seaweed farming practices. These initiatives demonstrate how women can become central actors in marine conservation efforts while simultaneously contributing to sustainable coastal economic development that benefits future generations.

In addition, the project has strengthened collaboration among different stakeholders through the establishment of the Tanga–Pemba Multi-Stakeholders Forum and a dedicated gender task force aimed at improving accountability and gender-responsive learning within the blue economy sector. These achievements highlight the importance of increasing investment in gender-responsive interventions capable of reaching more women in coastal communities. They also demonstrate that sustained dialogue, awareness campaigns, and advocacy efforts remain essential in ensuring that these gains continue to grow and become more sustainable. At the policy level, deliberate government action is necessary to ensure that blue economy value chains become inclusive and responsive to women’s realities. Such policies must address persistent challenges including unfair pricing systems, limited market access, and unequal participation in order to enable women to fully benefit from a sector to which they have contributed significantly for many years.

Overall, the ReSEA Project demonstrates that when women are equipped with skills, confidence, and enabling systems, they can become powerful drivers of economic growth and sustainable marine conservation. The project, which aims to empower women, youth, and marginalized groups to benefit directly from ocean conservation and the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources, is being implemented through collaboration between Mission Inclusion, IUCN Tanzania, and Women Fund Tanzania with support from Global Affairs Canada. The implementation areas include Pangani and Mkinga in Tanga, as well as Mkoani, Chakechake, Wete, and Micheweni in Pemba. The stories of these women from Pemba demonstrate that empowering women is not only a matter of social justice but also a critical foundation for sustainable blue economy development and long-term marine environmental conservation for present and future generations.