The New Leaders in Bee-Commerce

With hives dotting the land across northern Tanzania, the  Women's Beekeeping Initiative  from African People & Wildlife is a bright spot of empowerment, reaching nearly 2,000 women since its start in 2013. Beyond honey production, it catalyzes the growth of environmentally friendly businesses, offering rural women financial independence and a voice in their communities.

These women are not merely beekeepers, challenging societal norms and expectations; they are stewards of critical habitats, shaping a future where economic prosperity aligns with the sustainable use of natural resources.

The Women’s Beekeeping Initiative has grown steadily over the last decade. At the end of 2023, membership had grown to 1,994 beekeepers. More than 498 of them have represented their women's groups in training on beekeeping techniques, marketing, entrepreneurship, and/or product development. While honey production can vary year to year, especially during prolonged drought, income from beekeeping adds a layer of security and wellbeing for pastoralist families. As of 2023, more than 21 tons of crude honey have been harvested.

Ongoing monitoring and evaluation by the women and our team at APW measure the program’s activities and impact. One example is the map below, which shows the zone of pollination influence by the program's beehives. Based on our estimation, beehives hung across the landscape facilitate pollination of native plants in over 2,100 km ²  (810 mi ² ) of grasslands.

Strategically positioned beehives play a dual role in supporting women beekeepers and enhancing pollination of native plant species. The central dots indicate the most concentrated pollination zone, closest to the hives. The yellow extends outward to a 5-kilometer distance, marked by fading hues the further you move from the hive, reflecting the typical foraging range of bees. In regions where this pollination zone intersects with community rangelands, depicted in dark green, we expect regenerative benefits from beekeeping, especially in areas impacted by factors like intensive grazing.

Beyond metrics like hive counts and honey yield, the impact of the program extends far into the lives of its participants.

• Women involved in the initiative highlight the sense of female camaraderie, especially in a patriarchal society, as well as the heightened social inclusion and sense of purpose they have experienced since joining.

• Beekeepers frequently note a significant shift in their autonomy and empowerment. They speak of reduced reliance on their husbands and a newfound grasp of their rights, including the ability to generate personal income and own property like livestock and land.

• Many also express a growing aspiration for their children, particularly daughters, to receive education.

As their businesses grow, the women’s groups support one another through mentorship and knowledge sharing. Along the way, APW’s beekeeping team provides expertise in hive management, harvesting, marketplace literacy, product development, and distribution. Groups are also eligible for enhancement grants to build on their successes with newer or better equipment.

This multi-phased approach to training offers continual opportunities for women to strengthen their businesses and identify ways to expand their offerings for additional revenue. In 2022, women’s groups began making and selling honey-based skincare, lip balms, soaps, lotions, and candles.

The Women’s Beekeeping Initiative is a transformative journey that turns women into entrepreneurs and, eventually, mentors themselves – and that's where our Queen Bees step in. Inspired by the success of APW’s  Warriors for Wildlife program , the new Queen Bee program identified and now supports 21 outstanding women in participating villages.

As women step into roles as entrepreneurs and mentors, we witness the power of investing in female leadership. Holistic conservation initiatives like Women’s Beekeeping improve the wellbeing of women and their communities, accelerating progress towards gender equality and environmental resilience.

Join us in looking forward to a green future on the wings of Mama Asali beekeepers and their Queen Bees!

“Most of the women here don’t have a voice in the decisions taking place at home because they are financially dependent on their husbands. But if a woman has her own source of income, she can take care of things in the family that are important to her... Many men in the community don’t see the value in sending daughters to school, but women understand the importance. So if we have our own source of income, we can make sure that our daughters get an education."

The Women's Beekeeping Initiative wouldn't be possible without the partnership of more than 100 women's groups across Northern Tanzania. We offer our thanks for their investments in the program and for serving as conservation-minded leaders in their communities. This program is also made possible by: