Institutional gender mainstreaming and strengthening of gender-lens investing activities in Tanzania

Context

The economic reforms of the 1990s highlighted the lack of long-term funding as it was not offered by any of the commercial and financial institutions operating in Tanzania at the time. The Government of Tanzania therefore re-designated TIB as a Development Finance Institution (DFI) in 2005 to provide affordable development financing for an inclusive, diversified, vibrant and competitive national economy. The bank has completed the process of transformation into a DFI with an engagement focus centred primarily on infrastructure, industrialization, oil gas, mining, agriculture, tourism, and the services (Health and Education) sector.

The collaboration results will feed into the review of the five-year plan 2021-2025 and allow incorporating gender aspects in the planning process.

Objective

The ICR Facility is providing tailor-made technical assistance to TIB to strengthen its internal gender operations and client-facing gender-lens investing activities, ultimately to better serve women-led MSMEs with improved access to finance.

Results

Upon completion of this intervention, TIB has:

Conducted an institutional gender assessment
Developed a gender policy, gender strategy, and action plan 
Amended the existing M&E framework to become gender-responsive
Better overview of international funding opportunities
Equipped staff members with capacity building on the revised M&E system

"The new gender strategy has significantly strenghtened TIB's engagement with women-led enterprises, particularly in agribusiness and SMEs. This has contributed to job creation and improved household income stability, allowing women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses and increase economic participation."

Hellen Mwasalwiba

Manager of TIB's Portfolio Management Department

Read the interview of Hellen Mwasalwiba, Manager of TIB’s Portfolio Management Department, to learn how TIB’s gender strategy is creating lasting impact, and how innovative approaches are unlocking new opportunities for women across Tanzania.

This intervention took place under ICR Facility project, co-funded by the European Union (EU), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the British Council. The ICR Facility was implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (German Development Cooperation, GIZ), the British Council, Expertise France, and Stichting Nederlandse Ontwikkelingsorganisatie (Netherlands Development Organisation, SNV).