WORF and TİKA Officially Inaugurate the Economic Women Empowerment through Circular Economy Activities Project

The Women in Recycling Foundation (WORF), in partnership with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), officially inaugurated the Economic Women Empowerment through Circular Economy Activities Project in Dar es Salaam.

The project represents an important milestone in our commitment to supporting women from underserved communities to participate meaningfully in the circular economy. It responds to the interconnected challenges of poverty, limited employment opportunities, unsafe informal waste work and environmental degradation by equipping women with practical skills, productive resources and pathways to sustainable income.

The inauguration was officiated by Hon. Dr. Selemani Saidi Jafo, Minister of Industry and Trade, together with TİKA President Serkan Kayalar, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye and other senior representatives from government and TİKA. The event also brought together development partners, women waste workers, young people, community leaders and other stakeholders committed to advancing inclusive economic and environmental development.

The participation of senior government and diplomatic representatives demonstrated growing recognition of the role that women-led circular economy initiatives can play in creating green jobs, reducing waste and strengthening community resilience.

Through the project, participating women receive practical training in waste collection, sorting, recycling, occupational health and safety, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and product development. The training is designed around the participants’ local realities, existing livelihood activities and the types of waste materials available within their communities.

The project also promotes a group-based enterprise model. Participating women are organized into groups through which they can share responsibilities, knowledge, equipment and market opportunities. This approach reduces the cost and risk of starting individual enterprises while strengthening cooperation, collective ownership and long-term sustainability.

TİKA’s support has enabled WORF to strengthen the infrastructure and resources required for practical training and production. The project provides women with a dedicated space where they can learn, collaborate and transform recyclable materials into valuable products. This helps participants move beyond receiving theoretical training and begin applying their knowledge to real production and income-generating activities.

In addition to technical skills, the women are supported to understand product costing, pricing, savings, record-keeping, branding, customer engagement and business management. These skills are essential in helping them develop viable enterprises, manage income responsibly and improve their economic independence.

The inauguration also provided an opportunity for participants to demonstrate their skills and showcase products developed through recycling and value-addition activities. It showed how materials commonly discarded as waste can be transformed into useful products while creating dignified livelihood opportunities for women.

This project builds on the partnership established between WORF and TİKA through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in September 2024. The official inauguration marked the transition from partnership planning to practical implementation and strengthened the shared commitment of both organizations to women’s empowerment and environmental sustainability.

For WORF, the project is not only about recycling waste. It is about recognizing women as workers, entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders within the circular economy. By combining technical training, entrepreneurship, productive resources and market connections, we aim to support women to improve their incomes, strengthen their confidence and contribute to cleaner and more resilient communities.

The partnership with TİKA demonstrates how government institutions, development partners and grassroots organizations can work together to create inclusive and locally relevant solutions. Through this initiative, we are building a model that can be strengthened, sustained and expanded to reach more women and communities across Tanzania.