Dar es Salaam (ILO News) The International Labour Organization (ILO) through the UN Kigoma Joint Programme (KJP) and in collaboration with other UN Agencies, is currently implementing youth and women empowerment interventions particularly targeting access to finance for small scale investments. Through working closely with the Local Government Authorities (LGAs), youth and women groups were identified, assessed and then selected to participate in business training sessions facilitated using ILO’s Start and improve your Business (SIYB) programme tools.

The training was organized during November/December 2018 for youth groups from the three districts - Kasulu, Kibondo and Kakonko. In total 45 participants from ten different groups, including four officials, one from each respective district participated in the training. The training was aimed at enabling the groups to come up with new or improved business ideas which were then used, at the end of the training, to develop simple business plans to guide them through during implementing their ideas.

The support to group owned business is thought to open up the local and refugee communities in Kigoma to explore and exploit abundance of resources available and begin realizing the economic value by engaging in local and cross-border trade. One among Kigoma potentials for youth and women is its strategic access to trade with Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

During the training, participants shared with the trainer – their business ideas, reasons for its selection, how it is to be implemented and finally determine the cost of implementing it. One of the participants Batro Ngilangwa, commended the programme and commented,

“…I have attended a number of entrepreneurship training sessions but interestingly, the current one seems to be very well organized and valuable… I am now capable of identifying which business will work for me and for the group, the resources required and how to assess different costs associated with my business…”

In addition to the training, ILO and UNDP is supporting the groups with small grants to kick-start their businesses and provide regular follow ups, on-site coaching and linkages to enhance value and impact to the members and surrounding communities. So far a total of 12 youth and women groups have received these grants to expand their businesses. The next steps include to follow. These groups will continue to receive support including mentorship, capacity building as well as linking them with BDS providers and other relevant business associations that may be crucial in sustaining their enterprises. 

Caption: Some of the youth entrepreneurs that have been supported by UN Agencies in the region exhibiting some of their products to a UN delegation led by Norwegian Ambassador, H.E. Elisabeth Jacobsen (centre), and UN Resident Coordinator, Tanzania, Mr. Alvaro Rodriguez (2^nd right). The support to these entrepreneurs mainly focuses on building their capacity in entrepreneurship, financial management, business formalization, access to finance and building partnerships along the value-chain in the three districts.