TABWA’s CEO, Ms Noreen Mawalla.
By Sukhdev Chhatbar
The Tanzania Business Women Association (TABWA) is spearheading change by uniting women and youth entrepreneurs from both formal and informal sectors. Since 2019, it has implemented impactful programmes such as the Clean Cooking Marathon, mentorships and financial literacy workshops to foster inclusive economic growth. Working with government ministries, banks and development partners, TABWA bridges policy with grassroots empowerment. It champions gender equality by enhancing women’s business leadership and access to opportunities, says TABWA’s CEO, Ms. Noreen Mawala, in this Exclusive Interview with The Arusha News’ Journalist/Researcher SUKHDEV CHHATBAR. Read on…
Q: What is TABWA and what inspired its formation?
A: The Tanzania Business Women Association (TABWA) is a multisectoral organisation that unites sectoral businesswomen and youth associations, companies and groups into a single platform to advocate, lobby and network for the prosperity of women and youth entrepreneurs in Tanzania. It was established and registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee in February 2019 to address the need for a single voice that champions women’s and youth-led enterprises in sectors such as trade, agriculture and energy.
Q: Who can join TABWA and how inclusive is it for women and the informal sector?
A: TABWA is open to all businesswomen and youth across Tanzania, whether operating in the informal or formal sector. Our organisation provides a national platform with a strong focus on micro, small and medium enterprises, recognising that women in these segments form the backbone of Tanzania’s economy.
“The public and business community can support TABWA by participating in mentorship programmes, sponsoring events, offering market access opportunities and investing in women-led businesses.”
Q: What are some key initiatives or programmes TABWA has implemented to support women entrepreneurs?
A: TABWA has rolled out several programmes, including capacity-building workshops on financial literacy and business formalisation, mentorship schemes, market linkage initiatives and national trade fairs. A flagship programme is the Clean Cooking Marathon, which promotes awareness of the health, environmental and economic benefits of clean cooking. This campaign engages women entrepreneurs, policy actors and the private sector to encourage the adoption of safe and sustainable energy technologies, thereby improving women’s health and reducing environmental degradation.
Q: Can you elaborate more on the Clean Cooking Marathon project?
A: The Clean Cooking Marathon Project is a campaign by TABWA aimed at raising awareness of clean cooking energy. It promotes the adoption of clean cooking technologies to improve health, reduce deforestation and empower communities economically. This initiative was inspired by the alarming statistic that over 33,000 people in Tanzania—especially women and children—die annually due to the effects of using biomass for cooking.
environmental sustainability by using clean energy to cook at her residence.
The marathon symbolises energy, movement and unity, creating a platform to educate and engage communities on the benefits of clean energy solutions. This campaign is also to support efforts of President Samia Suluhu Hassan who has made clean cooking a central part of Tanzania’s energy agenda, both nationally and on the continental stage. In 2024, she launched the 10-year National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy (2024–2034), aiming to transition 80% of households away from charcoal and firewood to safer, cleaner alternatives by 2034.
Internationally, she co-chaired the landmark Summit on Clean Cooking in Paris, advocating for increased funding—urging a $2.1 billion replenishment of the African Development Fund—and mobilising over $2.1 billion. Under her leadership, Tanzania was recognised at the recent SADC energy ministers’ meeting as the leading force in promoting clean cooking in Africa, praised for its public awareness efforts, policy reforms, innovation in pro-gender roles and LPG distribution and an exemplary host of the recent Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit.
Q: How does TABWA collaborate with stakeholders such as the government, financial institutions and development partners?
A: TABWA works closely with government ministries—including Industry and Trade, Agriculture, Energy and Gender—to align its programmes with national development goals. It also partners with financial institutions to improve women’s access to credit and collaborates with development partners to bring innovative solutions to grassroots economic growth.
Q: In what ways does TABWA contribute to gender equality in Tanzania’s economy?
A: TABWA empowers women to participate actively in economic activities by providing them with tools, resources and platforms to grow their businesses. By advocating for gender-sensitive policies and promoting women’s leadership in business, TABWA helps bridge the gender gap in Tanzania’s economy.
Q: How can members of the public or business community support TABWA’s mission?
A: The public and business community can support TABWA by participating in its programmes, sponsoring events, offering market access opportunities and investing in women-led enterprises. These actions amplify the impact of TABWA’s initiatives and foster a more inclusive business environment.
Q: What are TABWA’s future plans and its vision for the next five years?
A: Over the next five years, TABWA aims to expand its presence across all Tanzanian regions, strengthen its partnerships and play a lead role in driving economic transformation for Tanzania’s socio-economic development.
