Gender and Economic Growth in Tanzania: Creating Opportunities for Women (Directions in Development) (Directions in Development)

While Tanzania has been at the forefront of creating a positive legal framework and political context for gender equality, certain legal, regulatory, and administrative barriers still hinder women's full participation in private sector development. This report analyzes these barriers and makes recommendations for needed change, to ensure women's full contribution to private sector development and economic growth in Tanzania. Building on intensive stakeholder consultations and the findings of numerous studies, notably the MKURABITA diagnostic and the 2003/4 Investment Climate Assessments for Tanzania and Zanzibar, this report examines these gender-related barriers to growth and investment. It highlights legal and administrative constraints that have a disproportionately negative effect on female-headed businesses, and makes recommendations for needed reforms. Addressing these issues would not only help unlock the full economic potential of women, but would help improve the environment for all businesses in Tanzania. While Tanzania's economic growth has been strong, this report finds that if the country were to bring female secondary schooling and female total years of schooling to the same level as now enjoyed by males, this could produce up to an additional annual percentage point of growth - a valuable contribution to achieving the 6-8 percent annual growth targets of the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP or MKUKUTA). "Kenyan women are making a large - although frequently invisible - contribution to the country's economy, particularly in the agricultural and informal business sectors. But women face more severe legal, regulatory, and administrative barriers to starting and running businesses than do their male counterparts. Gender and Economic Growth in Kenya examines the barriers that are preventing women from contributing fully to the Kenyan economy and makes recommendations for addressing these barriers. Addressing these constraints will not only help women make a full economic contribution, but will also improve their livelihoods and those of their families and help create a more enabling environment for all Kenyan businesses, regardless of the gender of their founders."--Jacket The World Bank Group recognizes the critical importance of women's contribution to shared economic growth, especially in Africa. Women's important contribution to economic activity in Tanzania is well recognized: In the 2006 World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap report Tanzania was ranked number 1 globally, out of 115 countries, in terms of women's economic participation. This paper includes the following headings: gender and economic growth in Tanzania; starting and closing a business; access to land and site development; access to finance; operating a business -- taxation, infrastructure, and access to day care; labor laws -- how they affect women; access to commercial justice; access to international trade; and the way forward Executive summary Matrix of recommendations Gender and economic growth in Tanzania Starting and closing a business Access to land and site development Access to finance Operating a business, taxation, infrastructure and access to daycare Labor laws Access to commercial justice Access to international trade The way forward.