In Wingwi, Micheweni women who for decades have lived by
the hand of the sea, relying on seaweed as their primary source of livelihood are
now confronting the stark reality of a changing climate. Yet rather than
despair, they are building new businesses, finding their voices, and proving
that a woman's resilience can take root far beyond the shore.
For many women here, seaweed is not merely a crop. It is
their lifeblood the money that buys food, supports their children, and meets
the daily needs of entire families who depend on them. Some take on this burden
early, they marry soon after completing secondary school and quickly find
themselves raising large families, shouldering heavy domestic responsibilities.
Against this backdrop, the value of every seaweed harvest is measured not only one
roba (sacks), but in the joy of a fed child and the strength of a mother who
continues to stand firm.
Each morning, it is common to see these women heading out to
sea in small dhows, following the tides as they have done for many years. Their
working day typically begins around 8:00 a.m, and they return home at about
1:00 p.m. Their farms lie offshore, in waters that can reach up to two metres
deep at high tide. For a long time, this has been the rhythm of their lives a
rhythm marked by patience and hard work.
But the sea they depend on is no longer the same: Rising water temperatures, shifting seasons, and diseases such as ice-ice are making seaweed farming increasingly difficult and unpredictable. When conditions turn unfavorable, production declines, directly affecting the incomes of women whose families rely on what they earn from the sea. Yet the women of Hapa Kazi Tu refuse to be defeated. For them, adapting to this new reality does not mean simply working harder it means learning new farming techniques, finding innovative ways to add value to seaweed, and building the confidence to take their enterprise into their own hands and shape their own future.
Through
the ReSea Project, Hapa Kazi Tu joined 11 other groups in a seven-month Blue
Economy Enterprise incubation programme. The programme combined technical and
entrepreneurship training with interpersonal skills, confidence building, and
climate risk management and adaptation. The objective was not only to improve
businesses, but also to strengthen the ability of women and young people to
respond to the climate risks affecting their livelihoods. For Hapa Kazi Tu, the
impact of that investment is now visible through their stories.
During a
monitoring visit in May 2027, the women testified on how they adopted improved
seaweed farming practices, including the double-loop planting technique and
more regular monitoring of their farms. The group reported that production
increased from approximately one sack per rope to as many as three roba (sacks)
per rope. As conditions in shallow waters became increasingly challenging, they
also moved one of their farms into deeper water, applying their new knowledge
to adapt their production to changing environmental conditions. Yet knowing
where seaweed can grow better is only useful if farmers can safely reach those
areas.
To support
this transition, the ReSea Project provided the group with a motorized boat,
enabling members to access deeper farming areas that were previously difficult
to reach. The women also received life jackets, protective boots and a
first-aid kit to improve their safety at sea, together with farming ropes and tie-ties
to strengthen production. For Hapa Kazi Tu, the boat is therefore more than a
piece of equipment. It represents the possibility of adapting their livelihood
as the environmental conditions around them change.
At the
same time, the women are working to reduce their dependence on selling raw
seaweed alone. Using their knowledge of value addition, the group now produces
around 15 different products, including seaweed powder, soaps, hair products, Seaweed
pickle, scrab, skin-relief oil, seaweed-based muscle oils and other locally
developed products. This diversification gives the women another way to build
resilience. When raw seaweed production or prices fluctuate, value-added
products offer additional opportunities to generate income from the same
resource.
The ReSea
Project has supported this transition with processing equipment and production
inputs, including soap moulds, as well as a laptop and office equipment to
strengthen record-keeping and business management. The women have also improved
their post-harvest practices. Seaweed that was previously dried directly on the
sand is now dried on raised racks, reducing contamination risks and improving
product quality. However, the transformation of Hapa Kazi Tu goes beyond what
the women produce or how much they harvest.
It can also be heard in their voices: When the ReSea team first engaged with the group, some members were hesitant to speak openly. Some covered their faces with their clothes while talking and were uncomfortable being photographed. Today, those same women participate more confidently in discussions, express their views openly and contribute even in meetings where men are present. As their confidence grew, the way they managed their group also began to change. Decisions that had previously been concentrated among a few leaders became more inclusive. Members started taking greater collective responsibility for their enterprise, agreeing on shared work schedules and strengthening their financial record-keeping. Then, that growing sense of agency led to an outcome no one had planned.
Some women
in the group could not read or write, limiting their ability to participate
fully in record-keeping and business management. Rather than waiting for
someone else to address the problem, the women took action themselves. They
approached local leaders and secured a adult learning sessions, where they
began meeting from Monday to Thursday evenings for peer-led literacy and
numeracy lessons.
"We
realized that to grow our business, we also needed to grow ourselves. Learning
to read and write is helping us understand our records, participate in
decisions and take greater responsibility for our business," said a
member of Hapa Kazi Tu.
The
results have been significant. The number of women members able to read and
write has increased from 3 to 11 out of 26. For these women, literacy is not
simply about being able to read words on a page. It means being better able to
understand business information, keep records and participate independently in
decisions about an enterprise they are helping to build. The knowledge gained
by Hapa Kazi Tu is also beginning to benefit others. The group has shared its
skills in seaweed product development with the Almujitahidi group in Chake
Chake District, which now also purchases processed seaweed flour from Hapa Kazi
Tu for its own value-added products. In this way, women who initially entered
the programme as learners are increasingly becoming trainers, suppliers and
sources of knowledge within their community.
Every morning, the women of Hapa Kazi Tu still make their way towards the sea, just as they have done for years. What has changed is what they carry with them. They now carry new knowledge and better tools. They are adapting their farms as the climate changes and transforming seaweed into 15 different products. Women who once hesitated to speak are contributing to decisions. Women who could not read are now learning skills that can help them manage their own enterprise. And a group that once received knowledge is now passing that knowledge to others. The next chapter of their story will depend on whether this progress can be connected to greater economic opportunity. Quality certification, stronger branding and access to higher-value markets could enable the women to capture more of the value they are already creating.
About the
ReSea Project
The
Regenerative Seascapes for People, Climate and Nature (ReSea) Project works to
improve the physical and socio-economic resilience of coastal communities in
Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Comoros through inclusive
governance of marine and coastal ecosystems, Nature-based Solutions for climate
adaptation, and sustainable blue economy opportunities for women and youth. In
Tanzania, the Project is led by Mission inclusion, the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Women Fund Tanzania-Trust (WFT-T). Today's
milestone is part of Canada's broader commitment to climate adaptation and
inclusive international assistance. Through the Partnering for Climate program,
the Government of Canada supports the ReSea Project's work.
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