Description

Dr. Victoria Kisyombe is a leader who has used innovation, initiative, and determination to empower women in Tanzania to become economically self-sufficient. Given womenÍs lack of collateral and resulting lack of access to capital, Victoria began pioneering micro-leasing as a solution. Pioneering micro-leasing model as an alternative way to financing women has generated praise beyond Tanzania, and efforts are under way to expand the model to other countries in the region.

Victoria has been a true innovator and pioneer in an important area, helping improve the livelihoods of thousands of impoverished women in her country, truly making a world of difference. She was profiled by the World Bank in 2007 _ ñDoing Business in Africaî.

The International Alliance for Women honored Victoria in 2009 as WINNER OF THE PRESTIGEOUS TIAW WORLD OF DIFFERENCE 100 AWARDS in the ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT category. This is in recognition of her outstanding contribution in making ñall the difference in the worldî to the economic empowerment of women. TIAW is an International umbrella organization based in Canada whose mission is economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs locally, regionally or worldwide.

World Economic Forum/Schwab Foundation honored Victoria with African Region Award of Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 in recognition of visionary, pragmatic and courageous contributions that significantly improve the state of the world. She is now a permanent Schwab Fellow and also a Member of the Global Agenda Council on New Growth Models.

In 2011, Victoria received an award of ñWomen of determination 2011î in recognition of her support on development of SMEs in her country during 50 years of independence of Tanzania.

Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton honored Victoria with a very prestigious Award on Economic Empowerment in Washington D.C. in recognition of her efforts to empower women in her country and for being a role model and a global leader in the economic empowerment sector. Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the Founder of Vital Voices.

Victoria Kisyombe is a Pioneer Member of the World Entrepreneurship Forum (Lyon, France); an Associate Member of Women Global Banking Alliance (USA); Eastern and Coastal Diocesan Council Member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT); Council Member of United Evangelical Mission (UEM, Germany), Chairperson of UEMÍs Foundation Board (Germany), Chairperson of UEMÍs Investment Trust; Council Member of Tumaini Makumira Univeristy, Chairperson of Coalition of Advancement of Women in Agriculture in Tanzania (CAWAT) which is supported by Land O Lakes, USA.