Women Directors Forum Reflection & Mentorship Program
WILDAF Tanzania successfully convened the Women Leaders Dialogue and Women Directors Forum Reflection, bringing together former and current women leaders, feminist advocates, mentors, mentees, civil society organizations, and development partners to reflect on the progress of Tanzania’s women’s rights movement and shape its future.
The event marked the official launch of the third cohort of the WAWA Mentorship Programme, reaffirming WILDAF Tanzania’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of women leaders through structured mentorship, knowledge sharing, and intergenerational collaboration.
Throughout the dialogue, participants reflected on the remarkable achievements of Tanzania’s women’s movement, including legal and policy reforms, expanded access to justice, gender-responsive budgeting, women’s land rights, and increased participation of women in leadership. Veteran feminist leaders shared valuable experiences and lessons that inspired emerging advocates to continue advancing gender equality, human rights, and social justice.
The discussions also examined the evolving advocacy landscape, highlighting emerging issues such as shrinking civic space, climate change, digital rights, misinformation, economic empowerment, mental health, and constitutional reform. Participants emphasized the importance of evidence-based advocacy, stronger coalitions, strategic media engagement, and sustained solidarity to effectively respond to these challenges.
Working in thematic groups, participants developed practical action plans covering children’s rights, access to justice, governance, women’s political participation, climate action, economic empowerment, and social and economic rights. The forum concluded with key resolutions aimed at strengthening collaboration, promoting inclusive leadership, revitalizing coalition-building, supporting women-led organizations, and advancing legal and policy reforms.
The dialogue reaffirmed that mentorship remains a powerful tool for preserving institutional knowledge, strengthening leadership, and ensuring the sustainability of Tanzania’s women’s rights movement. Participants renewed their collective commitment to building a democratic, inclusive, and gender-equitable Tanzania where the rights of all women and girls are respected, protected, and fulfilled.