Pastoral Women’s Council (PWC) is an Indigenous women-led organization working with pastoralist communities across northern Tanzania. Founded by Maasai women nearly three decades ago, PWC grew from a simple conviction: women should have the voice, resources and opportunity to shape the decisions that affect their lives, families and communities. Today, PWC works alongside thousands of women and girls across northern Tanzania to expand educational opportunity, strengthen women’s economic independence, advance rights and leadership, and build greater resilience to climate change.
PWC’s work begins with listening. Programs and priorities are shaped through sustained relationships with women, girls, families, traditional leaders and communities. This deep local knowledge enables PWC to address complex challenges in ways that respect pastoralist culture while supporting communities as they navigate profound social, economic and environmental change. PWC is not an outside organization bringing solutions into communities. It is part of the communities it serves.
When women have greater access to education, economic resources, land, leadership and decision-making, the impact extends far beyond one individual. Girls stay in school. Families gain more secure livelihoods. Women participate in decisions about land and community resources. Communities become better equipped to respond to drought, climate change and economic uncertainty. PWC works across these interconnected issues because meaningful change rarely happens in isolation.
Supporting women and girls to access quality education and skills development.
Creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and greater economic independence.
Strengthening women's leadership, voice and participation in community decisions and policy.
A just and inclusive society where Indigenous pastoralist and agro-pastoralist women and girls thrive. Justice is not a thing you can postpone.
PWC’s mission is to empower Indigenous pastoralist and agro-pastoralist women and girls to access, claim and enjoy their social, economic, civic, and cultural rights.
Commitment, Courage, Solidarity, Integrity, Justice, Accountability, Generosity, and Do No Harm. These values are lived commitments shaped by decades of working alongside Indigenous pastoralist and agro-pastoralist women and their communities.
Five pastoralist districts in Northern Tanzania, Southern Kenya, and Kenya–Tanzania border towns.
Our work is guided by our values and a long-term vision for strong, resilient pastoralist communities where women and girls can thrive.
We build on Indigenous knowledge and the lived experience of pastoralist women.
We believe in the power of women leading change in their own communities.
We support locally led solutions that are sustainable and built to last. Is this conversation helpful so far?
