Let's Stand and Protect the Rights of Women in Chato District, Geita Region - Tanzania

This activity is addressing climate change and women’s rights through a project called Watatu Fish Farm, which uses available resources (fish) and enables women to focus their efforts on fish farming to increase their income instead of cutting down trees for charcoal.

Fast facts

Ten fishponds have been set up in Lake Victoria with about 200 fish each. Three to five women operate each pond;
About 50 women have directly benefitted from the Watatu Fish Farm Project.

The problem

Chato, Tanzania, is experiencing an increase in wildfires, harmful fishing and waste management around Lake Victoria and men and women are cutting down trees to sell charcoal as sources of energy.

The solution

Fish farming is a sustainable way to address environmental issues and climate change. This activity is engaging women who sell charcoal in fish farming. This has a direct impact on greenhouse gas emissions because charcoal produces harmful carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gases when burned inside a home. Fish farming is fighting poverty by ensuring ownership, efficiency, and sustainability of development projects.

Helping the planet

This activity intends to mitigate the impact of climate change by shifting economic activities that have adverse impacts like charcoal burning to more sustainable solutions, like fish farming.

Helping people

This activity aims to build up the economic status and capacity of the entire Chato community with knowledge and awareness of relevant environmental laws that will help sustain the Watatu Fish Farm. Several land laws in Tanzania require committee involvement for land dispute resolutions. Women are being enrolled in environmental law training and when women are trained on land matters, they are able to effectively form part of a governing committee and can directly participate in village land councils.

Scaling Up

Chato, located next to Lake Victoria, is lush with swamps, which are perfect for fishponds. These ponds can be built at little cost, which is attracting more people to this project. The project has attracted attention from both the private sector and the government decision. The local government is promising to encourage women groups and other income generating groups to construct more ponds in the area. This activity plans to scale up into other towns.