The Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups in Tanzania has reported that Sh422.9 billion has been disbursed to 82,699 women through special lending windows created within commercial banks.The announcement was made on June 1, 2026, during the presentation of the ministry’s budget for the 2026/27 financial year.

These special windows are designed to improve women’s access to formal financial services by offering tailored credit products, often combined with financial training to support women entrepreneurs and borrowers in managing loans effectively.

According to the ministry, the initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen financial inclusion for women and encourage their participation in the formal banking system.In addition to the women-focused lending programmes, commercial banks in Tanzania also issued Sh1.8 trillion in loans to small businesses between July 2025 and April 2026, with women-owned businesses accounting for 24.6 percent of that total lending.

The government has encouraged more women to take advantage of these formal credit systems instead of relying on informal lenders, which are often considered expensive and risky.Despite these efforts, data shows that men still dominate borrowing from formal financial institutions.For example, Bank of Tanzania statistics covering 2018 to 2022 indicate that out of loans totalling Sh50.3 trillion issued through banks to individuals, the majority of beneficiaries were men.Mobile financial services also played a significant role, disbursing about Sh602 billion and reaching over 3.5 million people, with men again forming the larger share of borrowers.

The report highlights ongoing gender gaps in access to formal credit, even as targeted initiatives for women continue to expand within the banking sector.