Breaking barriers for young women entrepreneurs

Young women entrepreneurs Tanzania face multiple barriers, from limited access to education to restrictive gender norms. Panda Digital, created by Her Initiative, is helping them overcome these challenges by providing digital skills, mentorship, and business resources.

For many young women, entrepreneurship is not just a career choice—it is a pathway out of poverty. Yet without access to skills, resources, and support networks, that pathway often feels out of reach.

Her Initiative: changing the narrative for girls and young women

Her Initiative is a grassroots, women-led organization based in Tanzania that is working to change this reality. Founded with the goal of reframing the value of girls and challenging deeply rooted social norms, Her Initiative supports young women to build financial resilience, confidence, and long-term independence.

At the heart of their work is a bold vision: to nurture a generation of economically independent young women who can transform their own lives and drive positive change in their communities—using technology as a powerful tool for inclusion and access.

Panda Digital: technology as a tool for economic freedom

In 2020, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, Her Initiative launched Panda Digital, a groundbreaking learning platform designed specifically for young women entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35.

Panda Digital is the first Swahili hybrid e-learning platform of its kind. It operates through both a website and an AI-powered SMS system, allowing women to access training even without an internet connection. This innovation is crucial in a context where digital exclusion remains a major barrier for women in rural and low-income areas.

The platform equips young women with practical business knowledge, digital skills, and entrepreneurial tools to start and grow their own ventures. Beyond technical learning, Panda Digital also offers mentorship, interactive content, and ongoing resources that accompany women at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.

More than a training platform, Panda Digital is a space of possibility—where women from marginalized backgrounds gain the confidence, skills, and support needed to pursue their ambitions and achieve financial independence.

Measurable impact, real transformation

Since its launch, Panda Digital has delivered powerful results:

• Over 3,000 young women have accessed skills development through the platform

• More than 1,000 women have joined Panda SMS, strengthening peer support and community

• Over 2,000 women entrepreneurs have adopted digital tools to improve their businesses

• 10 million women have been reached through online awareness campaigns

As one participant explains:

“The digital marketing course on Panda Digital increased my knowledge and skills in identifying and targeting my online customers. I can now create online ads for my products and services for a clearly defined audience.”
— Rukia Hamisi, Panda Digital entrepreneur

The role of Women First International Fund

Panda Digital would not exist without the early and sustained support of Women First International Fund. In November 2019, Her Initiative received its first-ever grant from the Fund—marking the beginning of a six-year partnership that proved transformational.

This initial funding allowed Her Initiative to establish a physical office, formalize its operations, and evolve from an informal collective into a recognized organization with long-term vision and stability.

As founder and Executive Director Lydia Charles Moyo recalls:

“Women First International was the first fund to believe in our dream. At the time, we had no office and no formal structure—just an idea and a lot of determination.”

Beyond financial support, the partnership strengthened Her Initiative’s organizational capacity, enabling them to build systems, professionalize their work, and clearly measure and communicate their impact. Between 2019 and 2023, the organization grew from a USD 10,000 annual budget to USD 100,000, alongside the development of a strong six-person team and sustainable internal processes.

Most importantly, the relationship was rooted in trust and mutual respect.

“We feel like we’re in a partnership, not a top-down funding relationship,” says Lydia.

A future shaped by young women

Through Panda Digital, Her Initiative is proving that when young women have access to the right tools, technology, and support, they can build thriving businesses, break cycles of poverty, and redefine what is possible for the next generation.

Their work is not only transforming individual lives—it is reshaping the economic and social future of communities across Tanzania.