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Credits Caption: Seaweed farming is a vital livelihood for thousands of coastal families across Zanzibar and plays a growing role in the islands’ blue economy. Photo: UN Tanzania

Published on March 6, 2026

Women Leading Zanzibar’s Seaweed Transformation

At low tide along Zanzibar’s coast, the ocean floor becomes a workplace. Women walk through the shallow turquoise waters, tending long lines of seaweed tied to wooden stakes beneath the surface. For thousands of families, these underwater farms are not just a source of income. They are a pathway to education, stability, and opportunity.

Caption: Women make up more than 80 per cent of Zanzibar’s seaweed farmers, sustaining households and strengthening local economies. Photo: UN Tanzania

Seaweed farming has quietly become one of Zanzibar’s most important economic activities. Today, more than 23,000 farmers cultivate seaweed across the islands, and more than 80 per cent of them are women. Through their work, women farmers sustain households, support local economies, and contribute to the growth of Zanzibar’s blue economy.

Yet despite its importance, the sector faces persistent challenges. Farmers often struggle to access affordable finance, improve production techniques, or expand their businesses. Post-harvest losses remain high, infrastructure is limited, and most seaweed is exported with little value added locally.

Watch the video to meet some of the women leading Zanzibar’s seaweed transformation.

“Because of seaweed, our children are able to go to school. Because of seaweed, we can build our own houses. Seaweed farming is what we call the ‘saviour of the weak’.” — A seaweed farmer featured in the video.

To address these challenges, the United Nations, in partnership with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, has launched the joint programme ‘Transforming Seaweed Farming through Integrated Financial Solutions for Enhanced Food Systems in Zanzibar’, supported by the Joint SDG Fund, and implemented by FAO, UNDP, IFAD, and WFP in partnership with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and under the leadership of Susan Ngongi Namondo, UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania.

The programme aims to transform seaweed farming from a subsistence activity into a dynamic and sustainable economic sector. By strengthening financial access, farmer cooperatives, and market systems, the initiative helps farmers scale their production and connect to expanding markets.

Caption: A joint programme supported by the UN Joint SDG Fund is helping transform Zanzibar’s seaweed sector through better access to finance, stronger cooperatives and improved market opportunities. Photo: UN Tanzania

Launched in August 2025, the programme focuses on Northern Unguja and Pemba regions and targets 15,000 farming households, most of them led by women and youth. By 2028, it aims to increase farmers’ incomes by an average of 40 per cent while strengthening the resilience of coastal communities.

A key focus of the initiative is expanding access to financial services tailored to the realities of seaweed farmers. This includes credit guarantee schemes with local banks, micro-insurance solutions, and financing models designed to support cooperative-led businesses. At least 70 per cent of farmers are expected to gain access to affordable finance.

At the same time, the programme supports stronger cooperatives, entrepreneurship training, and improved post-harvest infrastructure. Investments in quality assurance systems and value addition aim to reduce post-harvest losses, improve productivity, and help Zanzibar capture greater value from the growing global seaweed market.

Ahead of International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women seaweed farmers of Zanzibar. Their work sustains families, strengthens coastal communities, and supports the development of a more inclusive blue economy.

Note:

All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds, and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.