The Resources Ownership and Leadership Participation for Women & Girls project is implemented in Mkinga and Tanga District Tanzania. These are coastal areas around the Indian Ocean. According to the traditions of the coastal community in the targeted area, women and girls cannot own resources without consulting or getting permission from a man in their family. They are also not free to participate in different community development projects and when they do, they sometimes meet strong opposition from the men. When it comes to education, priority is given to boys and only a few girls go to school. This is from the perception that girls will soon marry and focus only on their marriage and family life.

From this long term discrimination, women and girls fear and lack confidence in competing and participating in any leadership position within the community and at the village level, therefore, limiting their influence on village development projects. They also have little capacity to compete for any electoral position in within the area.

The main goal of this project is to improve the knowledge of women and girls in the area so that they can actively participate and make decisions in different community development projects. Specifically, the project is creating awareness on the importance of land and financial resources ownership for women, higher education for girls and women taking up leadership positions in the wards, villages and streets.

Within the 12 months of the project lifetime, SEEDO achieved the intended project results as per the original plan. These achievements include: 

• SEEDO conducted training in 4 secondary schools of Kiomoni, Manza, Zingibari and Chongoleani. As a result of this training, 150 girls showed interest to engage in different leadership positions in schools and after school life.   

• A total of 644 students received training on self-awareness through meetings during school assemblies.   
• Together with the schools, SEEDO has set targets for 130 to continue their studies after secondary school. By enrolling for vocational qualification through Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) and Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) or enrolling in either Diploma or Degree programmes.  
• SEEDO formulated an awareness committee team consisting of 48 women and young women and 12 men from 6 villages.  
• Workshop and Seminars conducted by SEEDO on leadership, lifestyle and self-reliance. As a result of the seminars and workshops, five women improved their business documentation, 25 women improved their children upbringing, 43 women were recognized their rights to land ownership and leadership positions for women.  
  

Since the start of the project, the achievement that we are most proud of is the awareness and knowledge women have gained. This increase has resulted in increased knowledge in land ownership, owning productive resources, their increased ability to participate in different economic activities, participate in leadership and improved understanding of dealing with family disputes. The increased accountability of both women and men at the family and community level increased women’s engagement in different leadership positions.  Women will now implement an effective leadership style as they can develop a style that the community will respond to, improve interpersonal and collaborative skills. Due to men’s low level of involvement, we have found that any project aimed at bringing development to women in the community must involve men to get positive results.  Therefore, in the future, SEEDO is planning to conduct a project follow-up meeting to identify the gap and outcome of the project.