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Launch of EU funded Project Women Leaders-Power of Change

Friday 2 June 2017, Dar es Salaam: Today, Head of Economic and Governance Sector of the European Union to Tanzania and the East African Community (EAC), Olivier Coupleux together with the retired Speaker Honorable Anne Makinda, HSF Director of Institute for International Cooperation, Dr. Susanne Luther, and heads of partner organizations have launched the project: Women Leaders - Power of change.

For a total budget of 694,460 EUR, the project is co-funded by HSF and by the EU, with a contribution of EUR 600,000 (approximately TZS 1.45 Billion) from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF).

During her speech, the guest of honour, the rtired Speaker Hon. Anne Makinda said that 'The Foundation has been complementing the government’s effort towards improvement of women’s political empowerment at all levels of decision making. The empowerment continued even after acquiring those positions. I take this opportunity to congratulate HSF’.

Women Leaders - Power of Change project– is designed to enable women to participate to a greater extent in political processes in preparation of the 2019 and 2020 elections. It will be implemented by the Hanns Seidel Foundation in close collaboration with the Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), the Center for Good Governance and development (CGG&ED) and Women Fund Tanzania (WFT).

Speaking during the launch, the Hanns Seidel Foundation Director of Institute for International Cooperation, Dr. Susanne Luther said that “Gender equality in Tanzania is yet to be fully achieved, particularly in the area of political participation: Women constitute the majority of political parties’ members, yet they hardly occupy any leading positions in political parties. In decision making bodies women are underrepresented as well, particularly on the local level and on the national level the ratio of female MPs constitutes 36.4% due to special seats reserved for women. Yet out of the 264 directly elected MPs only 26 are women”

The EU Head of Economic and Governance Sector , Olivier Coupleux also stated that ' Little by little, politicians do realise the potential of women contribution in politics, but of course also in the economy, in research and any other fields vital to society. Women are not only voters; they have specific needs, sometimes very original and innovative ideas, which, if given space and means, can meaningfully, contribute to the development of our societies.

Civil societies like HSS have always been a major focus of attention and recipient of EU aid in Tanzania. The EU Delegation interacts regularly with a variety of civil society actors.