University of Dar es Salaam partnering for progress:Supporting women-led businesses in supply chains

At the IFC Global Trade Partners Meeting in Lisbon, Joy Macknight, Transaction Banking and Payments Editor at Trade Treasury Payments (TTP), spoke with Neema Mori, Associate Professor at the University of Dar es Salaam, about the changing landscape of global supply chains and what it means for women-led businesses.

Mori shared that women-owned businesses are becoming the driving force behind many regional economies. “In the areas where we work, like Tanzania, Burundi, and DR Congo, more than half of the businesses are run by women,” she explained. These women lead companies can be found across all sectors of the economy from mining to tourism to manufacturing.

There are a few key shifts shaping the market today.  The first is regionalisation, moving away from relying on a few big markets to focusing on suppliers within the region. Another is technology, which allows women-owned businesses to reach customers far beyond their immediate location. A third is sustainability, with buyers looking for suppliers who care about the environment and treat people well.  Lastly, buyers are now focusing on the overall quality and reliability of suppliers rather than just price. 

Adapting to these shifts is often best done through the power of partnerships. “We work closely with organisations like IFC and banks such as JP Morgan to support women suppliers,” Mori said, “especially around cash management.” 

But financial institutions alone cannot address the full set of barriers. Access to finance is often intertwined with how businesses receive payments, manage cash, and connect to customers, particularly in markets where digital and mobile infrastructure plays a central role.

“We aim to strengthen partnerships with mobile network operators, commonly known as MNOs, and technology providers, recognising that technology is a key driver of progress,” Mori said. “This is especially important in the three countries where we operate. We already collaborate extensively with MNOs in our transactions and partnerships. Additionally, through our corporate social investment initiative, the CRDB Bank Foundation, we work closely with numerous international development partners to expand our reach to women-owned suppliers. Finally, we see great value in partnering directly with women’s groups themselves to connect with and support more women entrepreneurs.”

By building these partnerships, the hope is that more women-owned businesses will be able to thrive and play a bigger role in growing their economies.