Value Chain Development and Women Empowerment in Tanzania: A case of onion Value Chain in Northern Tanzania

While value chain is increasingly adopted as a pro-poor approach to empower women, its impact on women participating in agricultural value chains can’t be generalized. Mixed method approach using sequential exploratory design was used to explore women perception and participation in onion value chain on their empowerment. Index scales were constructed to measure women empowerment and ordinal logistic regression was used to measure determinant of women empowerment. Women related empowerment to achievement in their lives in social and economic contexts and majority were categorized into medium empowerment. The determinants of their empowerment were marital status, income, education, land ownership, credit and participation in onion value chain development activities. Women participating in value chain development activities were more likely to be empowered than their counterparts. Men’s attitude and reluctantancy to accept changes suggested by women and control over income accrued from their activities are among the barrier for women empowerment. The study recommends for use of gender sensitive approaches in designing and implementing development programmes on women empowerment. Men and informal/tribal leaders should be involved in women empowerment initiatives in order to change their mindset towards women empowerment.