The US government has invested US$12mn to support Tanzanian youth in starting, operating, and financing agricultural businesses on the mainland and in Zanzibar
The announcement was made by US Ambassador to Tanzania, Michael A Battle and the USAID/Tanzania mission director V, Kate Somvongsiri, at launch events for the Feed the Future (FtF) – Private Sector Strengthening Activity (PSSA) held on 5 May in Zanzibar and Dodoma.
In addition to helping youth in Tanzania get business loans, teaching them important business skills, and helping them find customers, PSSA is also working to ensure fair and equitable administration of the government’s business regulations to support young entrepreneurs.
Targeting Tanzania’s SAGCOT regions of Iringa, Mbeya, Morogoro, and the Unguja and Pemba regions of Zanzibar, PSSA will award grants on an open, competitive basis to private sector associations, organisations, and lead firms working to improve the business enabling environment and expand economic opportunities for youth. Overall, PSSA aims to reach 30,000 youth, enhance business support services for 6,000 youth-led enterprises, offer financial services to more than 3,000 young people, and establish ten new policies to stimulate economic opportunities for youth and facilitate expansion into new markets.
During the 11 May launch of PSSA in Dodoma, Somvongsiri said, “Feed the Future Tanzania Private Sector Strengthening Activity prioritises investing in youth. By working together with private sector associations and aligning with the Ministry of Agriculture’s Building a Better Tomorrow, we can support the implementation of policies that help youth overcome barriers to their economic empowerment. PSSA can only achieve its goals in partnership with the Tanzanian government and private sector partners across the country.”
