Participants in the youth-focused peacebuilding through volunteerism workshop conducted at the Tanzania Public Service College
Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Tanzania is strengthening peacebuilding and community development through initiatives focused on women’s participation in decision-making and youth volunteerism; two critical foundations for sustainable peace, social cohesion, and all-encompassing development.
In December 2025, GPF Tanzania in partnership with Equality for Growth (EFG) Tanzania, initiated preparations for an assessment and workshop aimed at strengthening the presence of women market traders in decision-making at family, community, and market levels. The initiative aligns with Tanzania’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Action Plan and responds to the realities faced by women operating within informal economic spaces.
Women’s participation in decision-making is a core pillar of comprehensive peacebuilding. When women are meaningfully involved in decisions that affect their families, livelihoods, and communities, governance processes become more responsive, household and community-level tensions are reduced, and social cohesion is strengthened. Through this initiative, GPF Tanzania sought to better understand barriers and enabling factors affecting women market traders’ participation while strengthening their capacity to engage constructively with market leadership and community structures.
Participants in the youth-focused peacebuilding through volunteerism workshop conducted at the Tanzania Public Service College
Preparatory activities included structured coordination between GPF Tanzania and EFG through virtual engagements, phone consultations, and in-person discussions. These efforts resulted in a jointly developed concept note, preliminary work-plan, and draft workshop agenda. Clear roles and responsibilities were established, with GPF Tanzania providing coordination and peacebuilding oversight and EFG leading grassroots engagement and technical support on women’s economic empowerment. This groundwork supports the upcoming Women in Decision-Making Workshop scheduled to take place in early 2026, in Dar es Salaam.
In parallel, GPF Tanzania advanced youth-focused peacebuilding through a volunteerism workshop conducted at the Tanzania Public Service College (TPSC), Mtwara Campus, as part of the institution’s 25th anniversary celebrations. The activity engaged over 300 students from diverse academic disciplines and promoted volunteerism as a pathway to peace, civic responsibility, and national development.
Youth volunteerism plays a preventive role in peacebuilding by fostering civic engagement, social responsibility, and positive participation before conflict emerges. The workshop highlighted how volunteering contributes to community development, builds leadership and life skills, strengthens social trust, and supports peaceful coexistence. Particular attention was given to encouraging young women to view volunteerism as a platform for leadership and service within their communities.
Participants in the youth-focused peacebuilding through volunteerism workshop conducted at the Tanzania Public Service College
The workshop was implemented alongside sports activities, exhibitions, and a community marathon, creating interactive learning environments that reinforced peacebuilding messages through practical engagement. This approach strengthened youth motivation to serve, enhanced civic awareness, and reinforced collaboration between civil society organizations, educational institutions, and local government authorities.
Key lessons from this work highlight the importance of early engagement with women’s groups to support meaningful participation and the effectiveness of experiential, action-based approaches, such as volunteerism and sports, in strengthening women and youth engagement in peacebuilding. Looking ahead, GPF Tanzania will implement the planned assessment and workshop on women’s engagement in decision-making and conduct a youth-led climate action initiative involving tree planting in Mtwara. Together, these efforts will continue to strengthen local leadership, civic engagement, and community-driven peacebuilding across Tanzania.
These initiatives in Tanzania reflect GPF’s broader commitment to comprehensive peacebuilding that integrates women’s leadership, youth engagement, and community-driven development. To learn more about GPF’s work in promoting women’s leadership and youth engagement in peacebuilding, visit our programs on Women and Families in Peacebuilding and Youth Leadership Development.
