Dar es Salaam, March 18 -- “When women have access to resources, they can break free from poverty and contribute to the development of the entire community.”

ZANZIBAR: The morning sun barely peeks over the horizon when Fatuma Seif Juma begins her day in the lush green hills of Pemba Island, Zanzibar, in Tanzania. Her weathered hands expertly milk her two dairy cows – beloved animals that represent far more than just livestock. For this 47-year-old mother of four, they symbolise her triumph over generations of cultural barriers and her familys escape from poverty.

“There was a time when I couldnt even dream of owning anything,” Fatuma says, her eyes distant as she recalls darker days. Like many women in her ...