Feed the Future Tanzania Advancing Youth Monthly Report: May 2021

The program focuses on increasing entrepreneurship and workforce readiness skills among young people, with a particular emphasis on the agribusiness sector. In May 2021, AY grantees selected a total of 539 youth (294 females and 245 males) in Iringa Municipality, Mufindi and Busokelo District Councils to participate in workforce development training. The selected youth were involved in various forms in the agribusiness sector, including spice processing and packaging, flour milling and tomato sauce processing, livestock, poultry, and horticulture. The program's livelihoods component reported significant progress in May 2021. A total of 84 youth were trained in savings and lending groups formation in Busokelo DC in Mbeya region. These beneficiaries responded positively to the financial model, raising TZS 100,000 (USD 43) for each group right away after the training through buying shares. As a result, four YSLAs were formed out of these 84 trained participants, each with an average of 20 members. The YSLAs have already been supplied with operational YSLA kits and registered under the local government authority at a district level, making them formalized SMEs. The total value of money borrowed by YSLA members during May 2021 was TZS 63,318,700 (USD 27,530), with a collective total value of YSLA from the project's inception to date of TZS 1,160,706,300 (USD 504,000). The program's leadership component reported that 84 young mothers were trained in savings and lending groups formation, with 78 (93%) responding that their self-efficacy level has increased as they are now able to make meaningful decisions, navigate and overcome challenges in business and daily life struggles. The income increase assessment conducted by AY grantee SIDO Iringa showed that 110 youth (90%) have reported an income increase due to entrepreneurial revenues in various agribusiness value chains. The average capital of individual beneficiaries increased from TZS 93,052 (USD 40.108) to TZS 167,500 (USD 72.198), contributing to improved individual monthly income from TZS 50,000 (USD 21.5) to TZS 100,000 (USD 43). The program's workforce development training has been successful in improving production, market expansion, value addition, increasing sales, and job creation among the selected youth. The program's interventions have also contributed to the reported increase in self-efficacy among the beneficiaries, enabling them to navigate emergent life challenges and execute livelihood improvements. Overall, the Feed the Future Tanzania Advancing Youth program has made significant progress in promoting youth development and entrepreneurship in Tanzania, with a focus on the agribusiness sector. The program's interventions have been successful in improving the livelihoods of the selected youth, increasing their income, and enhancing their self-efficacy.