ESP collaborates with govt to empower women, girls

ARUSHA: EFFORTS to empower women and girls in Tanzania have gained momentum with more organisations coming forward to join hands with the government to push the initiative.

And, in the latest move, the Empowerment through Skills Programme (ESP) is working closely with the government to strengthen alternative pathways to education, employment, self-employment, and entrepreneurship for women and adolescent girls across the country.

The initiative was revealed by the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Country Representative and ESP Senior Technical Advisor, Dr Alice Mumbi during a media briefing in Arusha over the weekend.

Dr Mumbi said that the ESP programme has successfully removed significant barriers for young women to participate in skills training by equipping daycare centres at partner Folk Development Colleges (FDCs).

The goal is to make quality education accessible to a broader range of women, including adolescent and young girls.

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“ESP is a gender equality programme where women, girls, and youth are prioritised in the implementation of its activities. Through this programme, we are continuing to strengthen alternative pathways to education, employment, self-employment, and entrepreneurship for women and adolescent girls,” Dr Mumbi said.

She credited the success of the programme to the strong collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology through the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DTVET), as well as other partner ministries, including the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG), the Prime Minister’s Office – Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities and the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups.

Dr Mumbi also noted that ESP’s participation in the national commemoration of International Women’s Day in 2025 reaffirms the programme’s commitment to advancing gender equality by equipping women and girls with the skills needed to thrive economically.

In addition to its educational initiatives, ESP has improved the learning and administrative environments at its 24 partner FDCs and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs).

The programme has also developed national safeguarding guidelines to protect young women and men from sexual-based violence in FDCs, Vocational Education and Training Institutes, and Teachers’ Colleges in Tanzania.