Explore publications.

The aim of this study is to examine threats related to informal fish vending business among urban-based women and to propose strategies for overcoming the threats. Specifically, the study ascertains the threats associated with the fishing business and strategies for coping and the capacity to cope. Based on the multi-layered social resilience framework, this study used a qualitative design and a sample size of 30 participants obtained both randomly and purposively. The findings revealed that threats experienced by the vendors include stigma, fish scarcity, higher fish prices, inadequate business capital, various forms of gender-related violence such as sexual harassment, lack of legal status, and various forms of crime including robbery, theft, and pickpocketing. Findings further indicated that vendors managed to develop both reactive and proactive strategies for coping with the threats. Reactive strategies include joining small self-helping groups popularly known as Village Community Banking (VICOBA) and soliciting family and relative support against insecurity threats. Proactive strategies include securing business financing from credible institutions, business diversification and adopting new kinds of business, business registration and licensing, searching for and participating in education and capacity-building programs, as well as business advocacy. It is recommended that government support, provision of education, and access to credit, should be considered in supporting women fish vendors to cope with the threats in their fishing business activities.

For generations, women in Tanzania have been undermined economically despite efforts from the government, educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations. Besides all of them, the growth of digital communication is emerging, inseparable from transforming women’s empowerment economically, politically, and socially. However, how social media has empowered women financially as an aspect of economic empowerment remains understudied in Tanzania. This study assesses the role of social media in the digital economy to realize its contribution to women’s financial empowerment. Specifically, the study assesses the financial activities of women’s support groups through social media, examines how social media offer economic opportunities to women’s support groups and identify the challenges associated with social media women’s support groups. This study is qualitatively designed and employs in-depth interviews with leaders of women’s support groups in the city of Dodoma. The findings highlight the benefits of WhatsApp social media as a platform for digital economic practices, specifically in enhancing the performance of financial activities. The results also revealed a lack of binding principles among women’s support groups, making them fragile and affecting their growth and sustainability. The study recommends establishing government regulations that bind members who decide to help each other through social media sites. This practice ensures the sustainability of women’s financial groups and avoids online fraud thus, promote women’s financial empowerment and participation in the digital economy in Tanzania.