KINARA: Empowering Young Women Leaders with Real-World Skills
Bridging the Leadership Gap: Empowering the Next Generation of Women Leaders
Despite representing over 50% of the population, women hold less than 30% of leadership roles in many sectors. In line with national development priorities, KINARA — “beacon” in Kiswahili — aims to change this by providing mentorship, coaching, and networking opportunities to develop leadership capabilities from early on in young women’s careers.
About KINARA – Inspiring Change
Co-developed by young women, the program is designed to create a pipeline of emerging female leaders equipped to grow and thrive across key sectors that historically lack women in leadership roles. Implemented by the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation in partnership with Impact Leadership Academy, KINARA employs a cross-sectoral and collaborative model using both physical and virtual delivery formats.
Program Content Overview
- Competence, Confidence, and Courage for Leadership Success
- Women in Leadership: Myths, Stereotypes, and Comparative Advantage
- Stakeholder Management and Impactful Networking
- Resource Management for Leadership Success
Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Presence
- Empowerment through Self-Awareness
- Introduction to Project Management
- Leadership Landscape in Tanzania
- Strategy and Conceptual Skills
- Financial Management and Leadership & Ethics
- Expected Outcomes
What Participants and Society Gain
- Young women equipped with 21st-century leadership skills, tools, and resources
- A strengthened culture of mentorship in institutions
- Strategic partnerships that promote leadership development
- Increased representation of young women in decision-making spaces
Kinara Cohort 1 Fellows
Latest News
Women in Leadership – Reflections on KINARA’S Second Session in Purpose-Driven Innovation
Once again, our KINARA Leadership Program brought together the dynamic young women, on 3rd September 2025, for a second session to delve deeper into women’s leadership, advocacy, and innovation. The session focused on equipping participants with the mindset and skills...
Women Empowerment-Highlights from KINARA’s First Session on Women Self-Discovery and Leadership Essentials
Only 27.9% of the women in Tanzania hold managerial positions, while men occupy about 71.8%, across all sectors. Despite the country’s commitment to advancing gender equality and women empowerment, this persisting skill gap serves as a prompting urgency to facilitate...
Empowering Young Women Leaders: The KINARA Program Launch
Women and youth make up a significant portion of Tanzania’s workforce, yet they face major challenges in accessing formal employment, securing decent wages, and overcoming social and economic barriers. The KINARA Young Women Leaders Mentorship Program...