TANZANIA MEDIA WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION-ZANZIBAR

Project Progress Report

Women Empowerment in Zanzibar (WEZA II)

Reporting Period: Jan – June

Submitted to Zanzibar Milele Foundation (MZF)

July, 2017

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Table of Contents List of Graphs ................................................................................................................................................. iii

List of Tables .................................................................................................................................................. iii

1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1

2.0 Progress and Results (Jan-June 2017) ................................................................................................. 2

3.0 Monitoring and Evaluation ............................................................................................................... 18

3.1 Monitoring for Performance and Results ..................................................................................... 18

3.2 Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting ................................................................................. 18

4 Achievement, Challenges and Way Forward ........................................................................................ 20

4.1 Overall achievements.................................................................................................................... 20

4.2 Challenges ..................................................................................................................................... 21

4.3 Lesson learnt ................................................................................................................................. 21

4.4 Way forward ................................................................................................................................. 22

Appendices .................................................................................................................................................... 23

Appendix I: Logframe ................................................................................................................................ 23

Appendix II: Media Monitoring Report ..................................................................................................... 23

Appendix III: Financial Report ................................................................................................................... 23

Appendix IV: Work Plan and Budget for the next six Months .................................................................. 23

Appendix V: Preliminary findings for Value Chain Survey ........................................................................ 23

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List of Graphs

Graph 1: Groups engaged market driven IGAs ............................................................................................... 6

List of Tables

Table 1: Distribution of kits ............................................................................................................................. 2

Table 2: Examples of old groups with high saving and loaning ...................................................................... 3

Table 3: Examples of new groups with high saving and loaning .................................................................... 4

Table 4: Examples of A women with substantial income from market driven IGAs ...................................... 9

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1.0 Introduction

Women Empowerment in Zanzibar (WEZA II) is a three and half year project funded by Mlilele

Zanzibar Foundation and implemented by Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA),

Zanzibar. The overall objective of WEZA II is to contribute to reduced poverty and improved

social justice in Zanzibar and a specific objective to see income increased and social, cultural,

and political barriers to women’s empowerment progressively reduced for 7,000 rural poor

women from eight (8) districts (4 from Pemba and 4 from Unguja). The Unguja districts include

South, Central, North A and North B. For Pemba the districts are Wete, Mkoani, ChakeChake and

Micheweni. WEZA II being a successor of WEZA I project also works in close collaboration with

JOCDO, PESACA and Union for Development in North B, Jumuiya ya Maendeleo ya Kaskazini B

(JUMAKAB)

In this reporting period (Jan – June 2017), the project dwelt mainly with capacity building

sessions of women groups and business committees on economic empowerment culminated by

“Sabasaba festival” participation in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. On the other hand the project also

facilitated the formation of land and Gender Based Violence (GBV) networks to allow women

groups to access land and legal remedies for both Unguja and Pemba. The following sessions

therefore explain more implementation of these activities backed by case studies and anecdotes.

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2.0 Progress and Results (Jan-June 2017)

Outcome 1: At least 350 women’s groups mobilized and successfully implementing Village and

saving and loan scheme.

Output 1.1: New groups are identified and trained in income Generating Activities (IGAs)

Activity 1.1.5: Purchase new start up kits for new and old village saving and loan (VSL) groups

WEZA II purchased 19 start-up kits which include accounting materials and lock-boxes to hold

member savings and distributed them to eight new groups in Unguja and 11 in Pemba. The table

below illustrates the distribution of kits per shehia.

Table 1: Distribution of kits S/N Pemba Shehias No Unguja Shehias No

1 Shumba Vyamboni 1 Matemwe 2

2 Ole 2 Zingwezingwe 1

3 Kiungoni 2 Matetema 1

4 Shengejuu 2 Kijini 1

5 Tumbe Magharibi 2 Kandwi 1

6 Kiuyu Minungwini 1 Mkokotoni 2

7 Mjini Ole 1 - -

Total 11 8

Result

A total of 19 saving and loaning kits were purchased for the newly 19 established groups which

include 285 women.

Overall result

To-date, June 2017 there are 75 new groups comprised of 1,125 members in Unguja and 77

groups (1,155 members) in Pemba.

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Output 1.3 Train and support 7,000 women in 350 groups in Village Saving and Loans

methodology and selection, planning and management of income generating activities

Activity: 1.3.1: Provide support to new CRPs in order to conduct Selection Planning and

Management (SPM), business plan, social insurance and sustainability.

Six meetings were organized for CRPs one each month for Unguja and Pemba in order to share

progress and challenges on saving and loan, lesson learnt and networking. Monitoring and

Evaluation forms; Management Information System (MIS) and information were submitted and

discussed to ascertain project progress.

CRPs in data collection awareness training at PESACA Hiari Yashinda Utumwa group from Matetema North

Office, Tibirinzi Chake Chake Pemba as taken by Unguja in saving and loaning activities as taken by

Project Staff on 6th

June, 2017 Project Staff on 28th

March, 2017.

The following table shows examples of existing groups with high saving and loaning capacity led

by Wema Popote B from Bambi, Central District Unguja which saved 16,620,000 Tsh over a year.

Table 2: Examples of old groups with high saving and loaning

SN Name of

group

Place Shehia Total

value of

share

Amount of

loan

(Credited)

Total

saving

amount

Net

Income/Loss

1.

Wema Popote

B

Unguja Bambi 14,678,000 5,655,000 16,620,000 1,942,000

2. Mkorofi si Unguja Ghana 11,184,000 8,780,000 12,040,000 856,000

4

mwenzetu

3. Tunamuomba

Allah

Pemba Chimba 8,814,000 2,580,000 9,464,000 650,000

4. Tupendane Pemba Kiungoni 7,724,000 1,415,000 8,204,000 480,000

It was also observed that new groups from Unguja and Pemba were able to significantly

increase savings and their loaning capacity led by Fikiri ndio utende from Micheweni with total

value of share of Tsh.3,600,000/-, loan credited of Tsh 700,000/-, total saving of Tsh 4,300,000/-

and net income of Tsh 700,000/-. In Unguja it is Hatutaki Lawama group which leads with total

value of shares of Tsh 1,645,000/-, loans of Tsh 943,000/-, total saving of Tsh 2,072,500 /-and net

income of Tsh 427,500 in Kiongoni, Unguja south. The following table indicates examples of new

groups with high saving capacity.

Table 3: Examples of new groups with high saving and loaning

SN Name of

group

Place Shehia Total value

of share

(Tsh)

Amount of

loan

(Credited)

Total

saving

amount

Net

Income/Loss

1. Fikiri ndio

utende

Pemba Micheweni 3,600,000 700,000 4,300,000 700,000

2. Allah

Tuwezeshe

Pemba Mfikiwa 1,012,000 855,000 1,402,000 390,000

3. Hatutaki

Lawama

Unguja Kiongoni 1,645,000 943,000 2,072,500 427,500

4. Mnyone

Mpeni

Unguja Cheju 1,907,000 258,500 2,297,400 390,400

Results:

• A total of Tsh. 244,601,708 were saved during the reporting period; Tsh. 123,800,534

from old groups and Tsh. 120,801,174 from new groups for Unguja and Pemba.

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Overall results

• A total of Tsh. 605,254,271 were saved since the commencement of the project Tsh.

257,882,996 from Pemba and Tsh. 347,371,275 from Unguja.

• The saving capacity increased from Tsh. 360,652,562.60 by Dec, 2016 to Tsh 605,254,271

by June 2017.

Outcome 2.0: 7,000 women and girls in Unguja and Pemba are achieving increased income and

equitable access to ownership and control of productive assets.

Output 2.1 Support given to 350 group’s members to develop market driven IGAs including

advice on saving, branding, packaging and value addition.

Activity 2.1.4: Conduct skilled training to the identified income generating activities

Activity 2.1.4 (i): A series of 16 TOT trainings that involved 395 producers (195 from Unguja and

200 from Pemba) have been conducted from 30th

December 2016 to 14th

April 2017. The trainings

were facilitated by a range of actors such as Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA), Nia Safi

Women Organisation, Ukweli Nia Safi group from Bweleo and Department of Livestock under the

Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Livestock and Fisheries aimed to impart skills to

producers. There are 165 groups composed of 3,330 women engaged in market driven

activates; 51 soap producers, 60 handcrafts, 44 vegetables and 11 poultry as illustrated in the

graph 1 below.

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Graph 1: Groups engaged market driven IGAs

Results

• A total of 395 women from 99 groups have been trained on market driven IGAs which

passed the knowledge to 112 groups constituting 1,058 women producers.

• Four soap producers’ groups, two from Bambi, one from Tunduni and one from

Mitakawani their products were approved by Zanzibar Bureau of Standards (ZBS) after

passing through various stages such as Government Chief Chemist registration and

business licence. This means the quality and standard of their products have reached the

satisfactory level.

Overall results

• The number of groups engaged in market driven products increased from 125 to 165 that

comprised of 2,595 to 3,330 women.

Activity 2.2.1: Conduct training for business committees

Two days training facilitated by a business expert from the Ministry of Trade, Industries and

Markets to 20 business committees’ members was conducted on 6th

and 7th

May 2017 in Unguja

7

and 23rd

and 24th

May 2017 in Pemba. The training was on leadership, business management and

entrepreneurship and their roles and responsibility in the groups.

Business Committees training on 24

th May 2017 in Pemba

Also 15 business committee members from North and South Unguja region participated in

permaculture training facilitated by the Practical Permaculture Institute Zanzibar (PPIZ) at

Shakani West Unguja. Worth mentioning was the fact that members feet their own bill for study

fees of 10,000 /-per head. The office only facilitated their transport.

Vegetable and poultry business committee

members in permaculture training at PPIZ.

Picture taken by staff on 08th

July, 2017

Due the business committees’ support, some groups were able to rise beyond others in

terms of selling and products. The top two for Unguja are Tumeridhika from Chutama and

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Tumuombe Mola from Cheju both engaged in soap making. The former earned 90,000/= and

the later 85,000/-. The Pemba top two were Umoja ni Nguvu group from Mvumoni engaged

in okra production collected 280,000/= in a month and Subira Yavuta Kheri group from Kiuyu

Minungwini engaged in handcraft earned up to 400,000=/.

Semeni Vuai Makame is one of successful VSL member from Mkataleni village

who engaged in vegetable production and imparted the knowledge to other

VSL groups in her Shehia.

She produces maize, okra and eggplant in two and half acre and she harvested

two sacks of okra after two days earning TZS 30,000 each which makes a total

income of Tsh. 90,000 per week for okra only. Ms. Semeni also leases her

maize farm for amount ranging from TZS 130,000 to 200,000 bases on the

amount and quality of production.

She intends to use the profit so as to possess her own land and expand her

businesses and for family needs. In the picture below is Semeni in her maize

farm as taken on 28th

March, 2017 by the Project staff.

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Okra farm by Umoja ni Nguvu A group from

Mvumoni South Pemba

In some groups there are also individual business which amounted to high profit of Tsh.

1,950,000 as described by table 4 below.

Table 4: Examples of A women with substantial income from market driven IGAs

SN Name of A

member

Name of A group Shehia Place Type of

IGAs

Amount earned

(TSH) per

month

1. Mwajuma S. Juma Hiari yashinda utumwa Matetema Unguja Poultry 1,200,000

2. Rukia Joseph Hakuna Mkamilifu Ndijani Mseweni Unguja Vegetable 400,000

3. Maryam Kh. Issa Allah tuwezeshe Mfikiwa Pemba Soap 100,000

4. Ruwaida O.

Hamad

Kichaa Adui Micheweni Pemba Vegetable 250,000

Result

• 20 Centres related to market driven IGAs have been established. For example handcraft

has six centers which are Cheju and Nganani for Unguja and Kiuyu Minungwini, Kendwa,

Mvumoni and Kiungoni for Pemba. The centres are expected to increase a number of

producers, quality of their products and also encourage creativity.

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Zeyana seif salum is a 30 year old woman based in Bambi village, Central district. Zeyana joined Wema

popote VSL group in 2008 to save and be able to acquire some loans. During that time she would save

Tzs.1500/- per week that is a total of Tsh.6000/- per month. In 2016 TAMWA got funds from Milele

Foundation to implement WEZA II project. WEZA II came with new ideas of boasting existing Income

Generating Activities (IGAs) of existing Groups and recruiting new groups. Luckily Zeyana’s group Wema

popote VSL group was recruited to join WEZA II. During WEZA I Zeyana was producing soap locally for

home consumption and small scale selling. Under WEZA II, Zeyana was elected to be one of the seven

members of Business committee persons in Soap Making group in Bambi village, Central district. Zeyana

together with her team got training on how to produce quality and quantity soap from Umoja wa

Wazalishaji Wadogo Wadogo, Zanzibar. Zeyana was producing 70 pieces of bath and laundary soap

earning Tzs. 70,000/- per month. Today Zeyana is producing 1000 pieces of bath (500 pieces) and Laundry

(500 pieces) of soap earning Tzs.500,000/- per month, and saving Tsh.10,000/- per month in the VSL

group. She has named her soaps under the trade name “ZAMI ASILI, Zanzibar”, one of producers who

passed the quality and standard threshold. In July 2017 Zeyana was selected to participate in the Trade

Fair known as “Sabasaba” which takes place every year on 7th

July in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Zeyana

went with 400 pieces of bath soap made out of clove oil, thermal oil (Mkaratusi) and lemon grass oil

(Mchaichai) each piece of soap sold at Tsh.1, 500/- to the Trade Fair “Sabasaba”. She sold all her pieces of

soap at the Trade fair “Sabasaba” earning 600,000/-and also got an order of 500 pieces from

organizations, shops and individials in Da es Salaam and up county. In the picture below is Zeyana in

Sabasaba exhibition as taken on 03rd

July, 2017 by the Project staff.

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Activity 2.1.4 (ii): Sabasaba festival

In this reporting period, five producers (three from Unguja and two from Pemba) were

supported to participate in the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) commonly

“SabaSaba” Day which is held annually on 7th

July at the Mwalimu J. K.Nyerere Trade Fair

Grounds. This increased opportunity for old and new producers of soap, handcrafts and dry

vegetables to measure the quality of their products.

Results

In total, women producers were able to sell products worth 1,534,000 Tsh. (962,000 from

Unguja and 572,000 from Pemba) out of the total 2,805,000. A great success made by soap

producer Ms. Zeyana Seif Salim from Bambi who sold all of the products whose pictures are

shown below here.

Willingness for women to access market was shown as women were able to share the cost of the

trade fair of which they paid for their own meals and accommodation.

Packed soap pieces and some purses made by WEZA II

producers which were sold at sabasaba exhibition

• Producers were given order from various customers from Dar es Salaam and up-

countries; for personal use and selling. Some 500 soap pieces were ordered in that tune.

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Ministry of Empowerment, Elders, Youth, Labour, Women and Children of Zanzibar took

the contact of the handcraft producer promising to contract her for 350 pieces in their

upcoming event if the quality satisfies the economic market standard. The shop owner at

Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam also booked for 300 pieces of handcraft.

• A healthy business relationship and networking have been established between women

and various stakeholders including Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO).

• WEZA II producers managed to exhibit relatively quality products which enabled them to

pass the Ministry of Industry and region’s standard. For example in Unguja South only

five producers were selected and three of them were from WEZA II.

• For Pemba the process was more cumbersome should it not have been for WEZA II staff

who facilitated their luggage shipment, none of the producers could have attended the

festival. This is because there was no formal transport of luggage organized by the

Ministry of trade as it was the case for Unguja.

Activity 2.1.6. The project managed to purchase six handcraft sewing machines that cost Tsh

5,100,000/- to be distributed in six handcraft centers, four in Pemba and two in Unguja.

Newspaper cutting from Tanzania Daima showing TAMWA Zanzibar Director

Handing over the handcraft sewing machine to business committee member from Minungwini

Pemba at TAMWA Offices Tunguu, Zanzibar on 11th

July, 2017

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Result

• The handcraft machines are expected improve the quantity and quality of the handcraft

products. Earlier, producers were using sewing machines which were not meant for

heavy sewing but rather soft sewing mainly clothes.

Overall result

• To date 165 VSL groups comprised of 3,330 women are engaged currently in market

driven IGAs activities whereby 1,020 soap producers, 1,200 handcraft, 880 vegetables

and 220 poultry.

Activity 2.1.5: Conduct semi-annual meeting with business committee to discuss the

achievements and challenges with producers.

A discussion meeting with business committee took place on 20th

June, 2017 for Unguja and 5th

July, 2017 for Pemba that aimed at sharing the experience on production and access to market.

It was learnt that business committees worked with 1,058 women producers 837 in Unguja and

221 in Pemba to look for potential markets in addition to knowledge on quality and quantity.

Handcraft committees especially of Unguja linked 390 producers to 11 market ventures such as

tourism shops, hotels, exhibition and festivals in Paje, Michamvi, Stone Town, Forodhani

exhibition, Sunday market at Kisonge, ZIFF, Sauti ya Busara, Mr. Kahawa shop at Paje, Kitete

Hotel from Paje and Lamadrugada Hotel from Makunduchi.

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Results

• Currently 720 producers access market places like Pongwe Pwani, Chwaka, Marumbi,

Uroa, Paje, Michamvi, Stone Town, Forodhani, Sabasaba, Sunday market at Kisonge, ZIFF,

Sauti ya Busara and Makunduchi for their products.

• Business committees were able to link 19 groups with Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) such

as NMB and UMI bank for opening account and accessing loans. Five VSL groups from

Bambi and three from Ghana opened the accounts at NMB Bank. Two groups from Bambi,

Mtende and Nganani each opened the accounts and took loan of Tsh. Total amount

13,600,000 from UMI Bank.

Overall result

• A total of 15 market ventures were secured by the business committees

The soap committee in the Central district has supported soap producers in

producing quality soap and to meet the market demand. The total of 11 VSL

groups comprising 330 soap producers across central District in Bambi, Uzini,

Tunduni, Mitakawani and Donge have been supported.

The committee succeeded to link four VSL groups to Zanzibar Board of

Standard (ZBS), include one from Mitakawani and Tunduni and two from

Bambi. Recently the committee developed special packaging boxes, barcode

and trademark name ZAMI ASILI which is used among all soap producers across

Central District. Recently the Bambi groups managed to get trade barcode. This

means their products met the Zanzibar standard and ready for completion of

any sort.

The soap committee was also supported by WEZA II Project to attend

International Trade Fair (DITF) commonly known as Sabasaba in Dar es Salaam.

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Activity 2.1.6: Conduct a simple survey for value addition

A survey on value addition was conducted to find out what value can be added to improve on

the quality of the product and meet the market demand. Basically producers suggested to

produce cosmetic and cleaning products, guest soap and vegetable and fruits which do not

produced in Zanzibar, processed/preserved fruits and vegetable. The key preliminary findings

attached as appendix IV.

Output 2.2 Support given to 350 group’s members to advocate for women’s inheritance rights

including land and other productive assets.

Activity 2.2.3: Link women to the related institutions to claim their rights such as land

occupancy.

Two women’s land networks (North District Unguja and South district of Pemba) that were

established during this reporting period has conducted awareness meeting on women’s land

rights in different shehias. As a result 64 women expressed their complaints including land

grabbing and lack of registration knowledge. Particularly Pemba suffers more from inheritance

related problems where by women in most cases do not inherit at all leaving their shares to be

used by their male relatives for years. The reasons for disinheritance are both patriarchy setting

and also witchcraft fears. A woman from Kiungoni North Pemba (whose name is withheld) is a

case in time. The lady refused to inherent from the wealth of her deceased husband citing

witchcrafts threats from relatives of her co-wife.

Gender Based Violence (GBV) network was also formed particularly for Pemba where this

structure was not found before and awareness campaigns were launched in 10 shehias.

TAMWA has also continued to make follow up of GBV cases in various areas and media visits

were organized when necessary. There is an example of Jambiani incident whereas five children

were raped by a man. The case is in court and it was expected to be ruled on 28th June, 2017 but

since it was a public holyday the verdict was postponed to 24th

July, 2017.

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Result

• In North Unguja, land committee has been established within the district office to

collaborate with women’s network to tackle on women’s land issues. While in Pemba,

women’s land network has been established at regional level.

• To date about 20 women (10 from each Unguja and 10 from Pemba) have been linked to

Land Commissions.

• At least, follow up was made for 18 cases in both Unguja and Pemba to ensure access to

legal remedies and fair trial.

Overall results

• To date 61 women with land issues were linked to appropriate land authorities of which

five have got their ownership documents.

• Total of 26 GBV incidences were reported to appropriate institutions of which eight cases

has been decided by the court.

Expected outcome 3.0: 350 women groups including girls are collectively engaged with media,

networks to challenge barriers and practices that are detrimental to women’s economic rights.

Output 3.1: 20 Media outlets produced stories, features and programmes on women economic

status that address women issues

Activity 3.2.2: Prepare programs and articles that address women social, political and economic

challenges and pathways

Activity 3.2.2 (i) To facilitate the project interventions TAMWA worked closely with media

houses from Zanzibar and Mainland that used their platform to highlight the women’s

empowerment interventions as well as revealing the evil of GBV practices in society. The

strategic media advocacy that effect the process has been conducted including press release,

regular stories; features and programs produced. Some cuttings are as attached below.

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Result

• A total of 27 stories were made, 14 feature articles, 13 stories and three radio programs

have been published and aired in different newspapers and radio stations.

Activity 3.2.2 (i) Media Visit: Media were invited to TAMWA assess what transpired during the

six month period of WEZA II implementation which was also attended by VSL group members,

four from those who attended Sabasaba and one from poultry who did well in her area. A total

of 20 journalists from 15 different media houses attended the meeting which was held on 10th

July, 2017. Journalists got the opportunity to interact with the women and understood their

progress and challenges. Particularly journalists raised the quality concern as not all of the

products were not bought in Dar es Salaam.

Results:

• Women expressed themselves and used the forum to advertise for their products.

• Total of 17 stories were covered about the event, eight from mainstream newspapers,

seven mainstream electronic media and two from social media.

Overall results

• A total of three radio programs one TV documentary have been broadcasted by ZBC TV

and radio and Hits FM Radio.

• A total of 80 stories and 39 articles were published in print media.

• 500 brochures were produced about a road map of the project and in the early stage

were disseminated in the launching of the project as detailed above herein.

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3.0 Monitoring and Evaluation

3.1 Monitoring for Performance and Results

Performance monitoring systems such as Management Information System (MIS) and web based

database system are in full operation to track project progress, challenges, lesson learned and

significant changes.

Field visits were also conducted by the project team. The visits have shown satisfactory abilities

in saving, loans and market driven IGAs as demonstrated by groups explained above such as

Wema Popote from Unguja and Tunamuomba Allah from Pemba.

However, it was realized that some shehias like Mkataleni, Matemwe Kusini, Zingwezingwe and

KiongweKidogo in Unguja and Chimba Utaani, Kendwa in Pemba lagged behind in saving and

loaning. Also during the groups’ visits, groups like Tustahamiliane from Mkataleni apart from

having unstable saving and loaning schemes/habit were not engaged in any market driven IGAs.

The CRP in this group also failed to visit and supported the groups. This made the monitoring

team to take measures by replacing the CRP to handle the situation. In Matemwe, six groups

feared to take loan from their groups. The monitoring team successfully encouraged them to

take loans for expansion of their businesses.

3.2 Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting

Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting which is composed of various members from Milele

Zanzibar Foundation, Ministry of Trade Industries and Market, Ministry of Empowerment, Elders,

Youth, Labour, Women and Children, TAHA, Zanzibar Tourism Investors (ZATI), Director of Public

Prosecutor (DPP) and Land authority from both Unguja and Pemba, met on 11th July, 2017 with

the exception of ZATI Director. The meeting received narrative progress report of six months

and suggested ways to improve on the project. Among other things members reiterated the

creativity issue among the VSL producers in their products such as handbags and packaging.

Members further suggested the office to supporting producers to attain business lessons in

order to enjoy the market within and beyond Zanzibar. Members also wanted to see the level of

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which the project helped to increase income of the women members and last but not least

called for more awareness creation on women land rights.

Results

• Members added value to the project in terms of report writing and project

implementation

• Project also learnt more some products which fall under the portfolios of PAC members

with the example of Karume training for entrepreneurs run by the Ministry of

Empowerment, Elders, Youth, Labour, Women and Children.

• A joint effort was suggested between WEZA II and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and

Market to enable a smooth shipment of products for Pemba entrepreneurs of which

according to the later is problematic every year and this time in point, the Pemba

producers could have been left behind.

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4 Achievement, Challenges and Way Forward

4.1 Overall achievements

• A total saving of Tsh 605,254,271 has been met by VSL groups since the establishment

of the project for Unguja and Pemba.

• Currently, there are 152 new groups (75 from Unguja and 77 from Pemba)

comprised of approximately 2,280 members and 125 existing groups (75 from Unguja

and 50 from Pemba) with approximately 3,700 members and they are all involved in

saving and loaning.

• About 3,330 producers in eight districts are engaged in market driven products such

as soap making, handcraft, poultry and vegetables and they have been able to reach

11 new markets.

• 19 women groups have been able to access loans worth 13,600,000 from MFIs of

which according to WEZA II baseline data, there were no such a move before due to

high interest, lack of exposure, collateral and business insecurity.

• Awareness on land has been created and around 64 women were able to demand

their rights.

• Readiness of women to improve their products have been shown by their willingness

to contribute to sabasaba festival and permaculture training.

• Mainstream media have covered project issues on economic and gender inequalities

making a total of 119 (80 stories and 39 articles) which were published by the print

media. In addition some five radio programs and TV documentary were aired.

YouTube, TAMWA website and Facebook were also used to publicize the project

information.

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4.2 Challenges

• Patriarchy setting, witchcraft fears and low awareness on land ownership especially in

Pemba undermine the pace for women access and control over land.

• Lack of business site denies and/or threats producers control over their business

especially when controversies happen. E.g. land conflicts led to destruction of group

farm at Matetema in Unguja and Ole Uwandani in Pemba.

• Heavy rainfall experienced in nearly three months from March, 2017 affected the

implementation and hindered women from effectively engaging in to market driven

IGAs especially among handcraft producers and farmers.

• The quality and quantity of producers is still not high as tested in the Sabasaba

festival. Much as they sold and gained contacts and exposure, they sold almost only

half of their products except for the soap.

• There are still some groups which have exhibited low saving capacity 43 VSL groups

(12 from Unguja and 31 from Pemba).

• Trivial judgment has been given to perpetrators of VAC and GBV due to limited

jurisdiction of the lower courts such as District and Regional Courts which were

accorded only five and seven years imprisonment term respectively. The reviewing

proceedings from the perpetrators side also do not involve the injured parts of which

when winning, the perpetrator is left scout free and therefore frustrate the latter’s

side. This prompts dissatisfaction of the injured parties and in a long run mob justice.

• A combination of high registration fees for land title deeds and bureaucracy still

hamper women from accessing and owning land.

4.3 Lesson learnt

• Engaging business committees effectively through capacity building events on their roles

and responsibilities to VSL women lead to improve IGAs quality and increased market

opportunities.

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4.4 Way forward

• Increase market opportunities for women groups such as attending/organizing festivals

and accessing shops, hotels and mainstream markets.

• Support producers with production facilities; such as soap machine and processing

machines.

• To improve IGAs through value chain trainings, branding and packaging.

• Increase sensitization on land rights and link women to land authorities.

• Increase GBV interventions and make follow up of cases.

• Boost business committees’ capacity in executing their roles and responsibilities.

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Appendices

Appendix I: Logframe

Appendix II: Media Monitoring Report

Appendix III: Financial Report

Appendix IV: Work Plan and Budget for the next six Months

Appendix V: Preliminary findings for Value Chain Survey

Income Generating Activity (IGAs) Recommended results for value addition

Soap Produce cosmetic and cleaning products other than soap

Improve product packaging and branding

Produce small size bath soap to capture markets in hotels

Increase knowledge and skill in soap production

Handcraft Produce by using handcraft machines

Producer different varieties of handcraft product such as

hats, wallet, decoration products for home use and hotels.

Decorating their products by using materials such as beads,

clothes (vitenge) etc.

Increase knowledge and skills in handcraft products

Vegetable Increase knowledge and skills in product processing.

Produce vegetable and fruits with scarcity or don’t

produced in Zanzibar such as cornflower, apples, cabbage

and beetroot

Increase knowledge and skill in production techniques

Good preservation of product such that they don’t lose the

qualities when delivering to customers.

Use both organic and inorganic fertilizer and pesticides in

production

Poultry

There is the need of diversifying poultry activities, they

need to engage also in keeping natural chicken.

Increase the knowledge on the best practice of chicken

keeping.

Good preservation of egg through plastic trays.