Insights from CSO Week 2025: Women and Youth at the Center of Democratization
The panel, “Democratization: Youth and Women in Decision-Making Towards 2030,” co-hosted by ActionAid Tanzania, Tanzania Bora Initiative (TBI), Restless Development Tanzania, and Agenda ya Vijana during Tanzania’s CSO Week in June, focused on youth leadership and democratic engagement. Through data-driven analysis, including examination of 2020 voter turnout trends, the discussion explored the foundational aspects of democratic awareness and national development. The conversation also addressed strategies to enhance meaningful youth participation in governance while identifying and overcoming barriers such as restricted access to decision-making processes.
Arif Fazel of ActionAid Tanzania opened the session with a striking statistic: 8 million young people were eligible to vote in 2020, with an additional 4 million expected to join the electorate in 2025. However, he emphasized that voting is just the beginning of civic engagement. He argued that youth influence is growing and that young people must actively participate in leadership and decision-making, including at the village assembly level. “Young people must go beyond the ballot box,” Fazel asserted. “They should run for leadership, influence policy, and claim their place in decision-making spaces.”
Despite their significant numbers, women and youth continue to face systemic obstacles in attaining meaningful leadership roles. Panelists identified nepotism, limited access to resources, and exclusion from influential platforms as persistent challenges. Many young participants highlighted the lack of civic and leadership skills as a major barrier to their involvement in governance. Ismail Biro from Tanzania Bora Initiative urged youth to take initiative, declaring, “Don’t wait to be chosen, step up and show up.” He stressed the importance of events like CSO Week in building networks, increasing visibility, and developing leadership skills, reinforcing that action and agency are the keys to driving change.
An inspiring example came from Edson, a young village chairperson, who shared his journey of contesting and winning the 2020 election despite having no financial resources or political backing. He credited his success to the strong relationships he had built within his community, proving that grassroots support can overcome traditional barriers. Edson encouraged fellow youth to cultivate trust within their communities and boldly pursue leadership roles in the 2025 elections, demonstrating that active civic engagement is both possible and impactful.
Looking ahead, Ocheck Msuva of Agenda ya Vijana introduced the forthcoming Youth Manifesto, developed in collaboration with TBI and other civil society partners. Centered on the theme “Achieving Together,” the manifesto addresses critical issues affecting Tanzanian youth, including leadership and political engagement, employment and economic empowerment, health and mental well-being, and climate action. Ocheck emphasized that the manifesto is not just a document but a call to action, urging young people to engage in shaping national policies and development plans. It will be presented to political parties ahead of the 2025 elections to ensure youth priorities are integrated into broader agendas.
In conclusion, the discussions at CSO Week 2025 reaffirmed a fundamental truth: true democratization cannot be achieved without the full and active participation of women and youth. Their leadership is not merely necessary but transformative, capable of driving sustainable development and realizing Tanzania’s Vision 2050. The session underscored that young people must be recognized as powerful agents of change, and their inclusion in governance is essential for building a more equitable and prosperous future.