How goats are giving Simanjiro women greater economic independence

FOR many women, economic independence begins with something small a livelihood they can own, manage and grow.

In Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, that opportunity is taking the form of goats.

For years, women in many communities have faced economic challenges that have limited their ability to contribute to household needs and participate fully in decisions affecting their families’ development.

Limited access to income-generating opportunities can leave women dependent on other household members, even when they carry much of the responsibility for caring for children and managing family needs.

But in parts of Simanjiro, that situation is beginning to change.

Through a livestock empowerment programme, women are being given an opportunity to build their own economic base through goat farming.

The initiative, implemented by Nasaru Organisation, has empowered 90 women’s groups in three villages with goats and training aimed at helping them manage the projects and generate income.

The idea is straightforward: provide women with productive assets, equip them with the knowledge to manage those assets and create an opportunity for the livestock to grow into a sustainable source of income.

Nasaru Organisation Director Anna Shinini says each woman participating in the programme received 10 goats, which they rear and fatten before selling them or, in some cases, exchanging them for calves to sustain and expand their projects.

The objective goes beyond simply giving women livestock.

“When women have their own projects, their lives change and you see a mother buying iron sheets, another buying a chair, so it also helps them tobe recognised as having a contribution to the family,” Shinini said.

That contribution can have a wider effect on household decision-making.

When women generate income or own productive assets, they can play a more active role in meeting family needs and making decisions about household priorities.

For some beneficiaries, income from livestock farming is already helping to pay for food, clothing and other necessities.

Others are using earnings to improve their homes. Yet, perhaps just as important as the money generated is the confidence that comes with having an economic activity of one’s own.

According to Shinini, the programme has encouraged women to participate more actively in their families’ economic activities and strengthened their confidence.

In this sense, the goats represent Providing livestock alone, however, does not guarantee a successful enterprise.

Animals need proper feeding more than livestock: they are an entry point into economic participation and greater self-reliance.

Building skills alongside assets Providing livestock alone, however, does not guarantee a successful enterprise.

Animals need proper feeding, care, disease management and appropriate husbandry if they are to become productive assets.

Recognising this, Nasaru Organisation has combined livestock distribution with training designed to strengthen women’s capacity to manage their projects.

The training covers livestock management as well as broader issues including family economics, reproductive health, marriage and self-awareness.

The approach recognises that economic empowerment is closely connected to knowledge, confidence and the ability to make informed decisions.

Goat farming also offers benefits beyond eventual sales.

Shinini said women can obtain milk for children and household use while retaining the animals as assets that can generate income.

This combination of immediate household benefits and longer-term economic value gives livestock farming particular importance in communities where pastoralism is central to livelihoods.

From economic empowerment to protection Nasaru Organisation’s work extends beyond women’s economic empowerment.

Established in 2023, the organisation focuses on supporting communities, girls and women, particularly through economic empowerment and education on family and life-related matters.

Child protection and the prevention of violence are also part of its work.

Shinini said the organisation has received support from the Government, particularly on issues related to gender-based violence and is seeking continued cooperation to address challenges facing communities.

The organisation has also worked to protect girls from harmful practices and improve access to education.

According to Shinini, six girls at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation have been rescued, while five children have been supported to access education.

These interventions demonstrate how economic empowerment, education and protection can intersect.

Strengthening women’s economic position can contribute to stronger families, while protecting children and keeping them in school can help create better prospects for the next generation.

Water as another foundation for development The organisation’s community work has also extended to one of the most basic requirements for human development: access to water.

Nasaru Organisation has drilled three wells in Emboreet, Loiborsoit and Loiborsiret villages in Simanjiro to improve access to water for residents.

Shinini said reliable access to water can improve quality of life while allowing communities to devote time and energy to other productive and development activities.

The organisation is continuing efforts to add more wells in other areas, with the aim of reducing water access challenges among residents.

The next step: dairy farming The organisation is now preparing to add another dimension to its women’s empowerment programme through a dairy cattle demonstration farm.

Shinini added that, the project is expected to begin with two cows, which will serve as practical learning tools for women.

Participants will learn about appropriate animal feeding and fodder, husbandry and milking, as well as how milk production can be managed as an income-generating activity.

The ambition is eventually to establish a dedicated centre where women can learn livestock management, produce milk and engage in other activities, including vegetable production.

“We want them to learn so that as time goes on, we can have a proper area as a centre where we keep the cows and establish a vegetable section, enabling women to come there, learn and do business,” Shinini said.

Starting with two cows is therefore intended to create practical knowledge that can later be replicated by women within their own households and communities.

The expansion of these initiatives has depended partly on support from different partners. Shinini says Georgina Lorencz supported the goat project, while St Dominic Catholic Church in the United States has also supported the organisation’s activities.

Professor Joseph Mbele, who taught at the University of Minnesota in the United States for about 35 years, is another supporter whom Shinini credits with helping the organisation implement various projects.

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Despite these partnerships, funding remains the organisation’s biggest challenge.

Shinini said the scale of community needs is high, while available resources limit the organisation’s ability to extend its programmes to more women and children.

She is therefore calling for greater support from the private sector and donors to expand initiatives covering economic empowerment, education, water and child protection, particularly in pastoralist communities.

The appeal is rooted in a broader argument: investment in women’s livelihoods can produce benefits that extend beyond individual beneficiaries.

When a woman can earn an income, she can contribute more directly to household needs. When she acquires skills, she can make better use of productive assets.

When children are protected and educated, families gain stronger prospects for the future.

And when communities gain access to water, time and energy can be redirected towards productive activities.

For the women of Simanjiro, the journey towards greater economic independence may begin with ten goats, but the potential reaches much further.

The real measure of the programme will ultimately be whether these initial assets can grow into sustainable enterprises, stronger household incomes and greater opportunities for women and children.

With continued support from the Government, private sector and development partners, initiatives such as these could reach more communities and give more women the opportunity to become active participants in their families’ economic futures.

In Simanjiro, the lesson is increasingly clear: when women are given productive assets, knowledge and opportunity, even a small herd can become the foundation for a bigger future.