Tanzania, March 19 -- As the world marks International Women's Day, conversations about gender equality often focus on the barriers women continue to face in leadership.

In Tanzania, the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation (JMKF) is taking a long-term approach to closing that gap by investing in women before they reach positions of power.

JMKF is nurturing a new generation of female leaders through its Young Women Leaders Mentorship Programme, an initiative designed to support emerging professionals aged between 25 and 35 as they navigate the early stages of their careers.

The programme reflects a simple belief that leadership development should begin long before someone enters the boardroom.

In an exclusive interview with The Citizen, J...