This desk review intended to carry out gender analysis in selected Tanzanian policies on girl
empowerment using equity- equality approach. Specific objectives were to identify policies on
girl empowerment, to explore areas in status quo that were still relevant, outdated and missing.
The study employed documentary review to get secondary data. Policies reviewed include the
national education policy (2009), national water policy (2002), national health policy (2007) and
national population policy (2006). The study found that on equity basis, girls were highly
considered in water resources management, reduction of workload among girls, adequate
maternal health and non-formal education. In addition, equity weaknesses include failure to
define the marriage age for a girl, having few programs to address reproductive health among
girls and existence of traditions affecting implementation of policies. Similarly, equality weakness
observed include having many illiterate women as compared to men. This study recommends
that the government should ensure that special programs on women should be strengthened and
culture should be analysed during redesigning of policies to bridge the equity- equality policy
paralysis.