ZANZIBAR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FUND (ZEEF) - Tanzania

Quick information guide

Why women empowerment?

Compared to men, Tanzanian women are subjected to various setbacks that affect their ability to conduct development activities perfectly.

Limited access to social justice
Limited access to social services such as education, health and water
Low participation in economic development
Gender based violence incidences such as sexual harassment and domestic violence
Limited access to financial services

Women empowerment actors have put in place women empowerment programmes that include soft and hard skills:

Digital literacy
Financial inclusion
Livelihood skills
Human rights and civil society
Environmental stewardship
Micro enterprise
Women’s health

Women empowerment programmes in Tanzania

Women economic empowerment in Tanzania is vital as more than 50.56% of the population is made of women who are responsible for daily food security and other social economic activities.

It is critical to empower women economically for national economy to grow at a desired pace. Women are often deprived of means of production and this leads to a generalised development issue for the whole country.

Different development actors have taken cognizance of this issue and have set up empowerment programmes.

National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC)

supports women to access justice in the formal court

Private Agricultural Sector Support (PASS) Trust

PASS empowers business women the agricultural sector

ZANZIBAR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FUND (ZEEF)

TITLE	ZANZIBAR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FUND (ZEEF)
SUMMARY	Zanzibar Economic Empowerment Fund (ZEEF) is dedicated institution under the Ministry of Labour Empowerment Elders Women and Children with mandate to give loans to youth and women entrepreneurs Zanzibar.
ABOUT ZEEF	Since its establishment, ZEEF extended its services to all eleven districts of Unguja and Pemba. To date ZEEF managed to disburse more than 600 loans with cumulative value of TZS 1 billion. In 2014/2015, for instance, loans worth TZS 879 million have been disbursed to 9236 beneficiaries in Zanzibar. Most of their loans are directed to women entrepreneurs and youth
Service Provided by ZEEF	Loans: ZEEF strives to provide loans to grassroots entrepreneurs in Zanzibar. The loans enable small entrepreneurs to finance their investment opportunities in agriculture and non-farm small-scale enterprises, livestock keeping, petty trade, retail and wholesale trade and small-scale manufacturing industries. Training:ZEEF provide business training and technical assistance to women clients according to the type of business they are engaged in. These together with the right size of the loan enhance their productivity in whatever stage of value chain they are in. Legal Aid: ZEEF also provide legal aid services to women entrepreneurs.
Eligibility criteria	The applicant must be recognized and certified by credit officers in their respective areas. The applicant should be a member of a registered group of five to seven people. The applicant must be of good health and age of between 18 to 60 years.
Public events	ZEEF organize trade exhibitions conducting annually. They also facilitate women entrepreneurs to attend international exhibitions.
Contacts	P. O. Box 3850 Mwanakwerekwe Urban West Region Zanzibar Tel: +255 24 2231830