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Tanzania, World Bank ink 247bn/- deal
DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA and World Bank (WB) have signed a landmark 104 million US dollar (about 247bn/-) agreement aimed at advancing gender equality and promoting inclusive sustainable development in the country.
The funds will facilitate implementation of the country’s gender equality initiative dubbed “Pamoja Project” which can be translated as “Together Project” poised to benefit directly over 310,000 women by supporting them financially to tap various economic opportunities.
The agreement was signed yesterday in Dar es Salaam by the Minister for Finance, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba and the World Bank’s Country Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe Mr Nathan Belete.
Speaking shortly after inking the agreement, Dr Nchemba explained that 4.0 million US dollar (about 9.49bn/-) from the total package is aid and the remaining 100 million US dollar (237bn/-) will be a concessional loan.
“The Pamoja Project reflects Tanzania’s commitment to continuing creating a just and inclusive economy. This project intends to unlock more economic opportunities for women while bringing closer to them supportive services for preventing Gender Based Violence (GBV),” Dr Nchemba said.
“Enhancing gender equality is the foundation of any democratic country. Gender equality improves economic production to all people,” More significantly, he said under the project, women in groups will be equipped with business skills, connected with markets and more doors for them to access soft loans through formal means.
He said the project is expected to benefit directly 319,850 women and others 319,000 indirectly. Dr Nchemba said the financial support has come at the time when the government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan is implementing the Third National Five year Development Plan 2021/2022-2025/2026 which underlines gender equality as the centre of transformation.
Also, Dr Nchemba hinted that the Pamoja Project has been aligned to the first draft of the National Development Vision 2050.
He noted that the project will accelerate Tanzania’s efforts towards implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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He expressed gratitude to the World Bank for providing the funds to Tanzania saying such financial support highlights the enduring healthier cooperation among the two parties.
For his part, World Bank’s Country Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe Mr Belete commended the government of Tanzania for signing the multibillion shilling agreement for empowering women saying it is worth-emulating by other countries.
“We know from the data that Tanzania women continue to face significant obstacles of range of indicators relating to accessing economic opportunities. For example there is limited access to quality child care,” Mr Belete said.
Nevertheless, he said GBV remains the area of concern in the country. In that regard, Mr Belete said he was optimistic that the Pamoja Project will tackle the persisting setbacks to gender equality by empowering women economically while strengthening their role in building climate resilient community.
In another development, he said the project will identify innovations that can buttress gender equality and quality child care.
“We look forward to quickly implementing the project and realising the results and benefits that many of the targeted groups are expecting,” Mr Belete said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr Dorothy Gwajima said the government will ensure the funds are spent effectively to bring desired outcomes.
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