Social and Economic Empowerment

In Tanzania, particularly in Kigoma region, women and young women face significant economic barriers due to limited access to financial resources, skills training, and market opportunities. At Clear Vision for Change (CIVISCE), we take a strategic, long-term approach to tackle these challenges by building economic resilience, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting financial inclusion. We believe that social and economic empowerment is key to gender equality and poverty reduction. Our approach focuses on grassroots-driven solutions, community microfinance, capacity-building, mentorship, and advocacy to create sustainable economic opportunities for women, young women, and marginalized groups.

1. Community Microfinance Groups (CMGs) for Financial Inclusion

Goal: Expand women’s access to capital through savings, micro-loans, and investment opportunities to foster entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

1. Establishing Community Microfinance Groups (CMGs): Formerly known as Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), CMGs provide a safe and sustainable platform for women and young women to save, access micro-loans, and start small businesses.
2. Supporting Women Entrepreneurs: CIVISCE mobilizes and trains CMG members to invest in income-generating activities such as: agriculture & agri-business (palm oil, sunflower farming, apiculture, poultry), fishing & fish processing, handicrafts & small trade,  and eco-friendly enterprises (solid waste recycling into briquettes – linked to our climate justice program)
3. Digitalizing Savings Groups & Financial Inclusion: At maturity, CMGs are linked with formal financial institutions and digital platforms, allowing women to secure larger loans, access business training, and integrate into formal economies.

2️. Capacity Building: Equipping Women with Business & Leadership Skills

Goal: Provide technical and financial literacy training to help women and young women scale their businesses and take leadership roles in the economic sector.

1. Entrepreneurship & Business Training: CIVISCE trains women entrepreneurs and CMG members in: financial literacy & budgeting, business management & investment strategies, leadership & governance in community finance, product development, value addition & market linkages.
2. Skills Development for Women in Key Economic Sectors: We empower women in agriculture, fisheries, and trade by enhancing production efficiency, improving product quality, and integrating value addition techniques. This helps women increase their earnings and economic security.
3. Empowering Young Women through Sustainable Livelihoods: CIVISCE also equips young women with: Vocational skills in small-scale manufacturing, and Training in climate-smart businesses, such as converting solid waste into eco-friendly briquettes (see our Climate Justice program)

3️. Coaching & Mentorship for Business Growth

Goal: Connect women and young entrepreneurs with industry experts and role models to provide practical, hands-on business mentorship.

1. One-on-One Coaching: Each participant is paired with a business coach – a professional with expertise in finance, marketing, or enterprise growth – to guide them through key business challenges.
2. Mentorship with Successful Entrepreneurs: Women and young women are matched with successful local entrepreneurs from relevant industries, ensuring knowledge transfer, market access, and confidence-building.
3. Sector-Specific Mentorship: Our mentorship program includes: women farmers mentored by successful agribusiness leaders, young entrepreneurs trained in market expansion and e-commerce, fisherwomen supported with best practices for sustainable fishing & processing

4️. Advocacy for Women’s Financial Rights & Economic Inclusion

Goal: Ensure that women’s economic empowerment is recognized and supported at policy and institutional levels.

1. Policy Advocacy for CMGs & Women Entrepreneurs: CIVISCE advocates for policies that recognize & formalize the role of cmgs in rural economic development, expand women’s access to credit and financial services, and promote gender-sensitive economic policies.
2. Community Awareness & Financial Education: Hosting financial literacy workshops in rural communities, raising awareness through radio, media, and community forums on the benefits of CMGs and women-led enterprises, engaging with government & financial institutions to support rural women’s businesses.

Our Impact & Call for Partnerships

Impact: CIVISCE’s economic empowerment programs have transformed the lives of thousands of women and young women in Kigoma, leading to:

1. 1. Increased financial independence among CMG members
   2. Expanded women-owned businesses in agriculture, fisheries, and trade
   3. Improved financial literacy & economic decision-making among women
   4. Greater access to microfinance & banking services for rural women

Partner with Us to Scale Women’s Economic Empowerment

We invite donors, financial institutions, researchers, and economic development organizations to collaborate with us in expanding CMGs across Kigoma & Tanzania, scaling financial literacy & entrepreneurship training for women, and supporting women-led businesses & sustainable livelihoods. For partnership inquiries, contact us at: partnership@civisce.org