A stronger association to support women contractors in Tanzania

In Tanzania, where the construction sector plays a key role in national development, women remain underrepresented. The Tanzania Women Contractors Association (TWCA) is working to change this. In collaboration with PUM, the organisation is strengthening its internal structure and direction, laying the foundation to better serve its members.

The Tanzania Women Contractors Association (TWCA) unites women contractors across the country, with products varying from labour based till high tech building, security services and ICT. Driven by a clear mission, TWCA wants to facilitate their members’ success by bringing them together, sharing knowledge and pooling resources. The association identifies training needs, connects members to business opportunities and advocates for their interests with government and sector stakeholders. In doing so, it works towards a more equitable and inclusive construction industry, driven by the passion and ambition of the women it aims to inspire.

At the same time, the organisation faces practical challenges that limit its impact. Limited financial resources, fragmented communication and an unclear value proposition for members makes it difficult to grow into a strong, self-sustaining association. In 2023, PUM expert Aukje Smet drafted a report with a clear mission, vision and strategy, including recommendations on how to implement these.

From plans to practical implementation

Together with PUM expert Dorine Heldring, TWCA now worked on making the existing plans actionable and relevant in practice. As Dorine explains: “There was already a strong foundation in place. The key was to translate this into concrete actions and involve members more actively in the process. What really stood out to me is the energy within this group. These are highly entrepreneurial, capable women who have built their own businesses and show strong solidarity in supporting other women to do the same.”

Through meetings with the board, and members across different regions, insights were gathered on the current situation and the main bottlenecks. These were interesting and clarifying and resulted in the following findings which are needed for the organisation: more transparent communication with members, a stronger financial base and more benefits for the members.  Member committees were created to discuss possible solutions. Based on two brainstorm sessions about these insights, practical steps were formulated which TWCA can start implementing immediately. These include improving internal communication, structuring information flows, and strengthening member engagement. Taskforces and committees are being activated to take ownership of specific themes, to distribute responsibilities and increase involvement. At the same time, concrete actions are being introduced to strengthen sustainability, such as improving membership administration and encouraging active participation from paying members.

A stronger organisation as a basis for growth

By focusing on its internal organisation, TWCA is building a more solid and professional foundation. This makes it better positioned to represent all women contractors, attract partners, sponsors and facilitate lobbying in order to organise impactful events for women in the construction chain and represent the interests of women contractors more effectively.

With clearer structures and stronger member engagement and financial support, the association can gradually expand its services. As a result, TWCA is better equipped to support members in growing their businesses and accessing opportunities in the construction sector.