A New Era for Youth Entrepreneurship in Tanzania
Tanzania has taken a significant step forward in its youth entrepreneurship agenda, thanks to a 2.8 million US dollars grant under the u’GOOD Programme. This initiative marks a shift towards data-led policy making and focuses on improving the social and economic well-being of young people across the Global South. The programme spans five years and involves 23 countries, with Tanzania being one of them.
The u’GOOD Programme (2023/24–2027/28) is a multi-country partnership involving Switzerland’s Foundation Botnar, South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF), and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). It is implemented in collaboration with the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH). This partnership aims to create a collaborative model of research that produces tangible, actionable outcomes, especially in areas like youth employment, entrepreneurship, mental health, and resilience against climate and urbanization challenges.
At the recent u’GOOD Conference in Dar es Salaam, Dr Bugwesa Katale, Director of Research at COSTECH, highlighted that over 120 project proposals were submitted from various countries, with only 23 selected for funding. Tanzania managed to secure eight projects, showcasing the strong capacity and innovation of its researchers in addressing youth challenges.
The projects will focus on key development areas such as youth economic activity, climate vulnerability, small-scale enterprises, and ways national development programmes can better serve marginalized communities. The results of these studies are expected to improve social and economic policies related to youth, driving impactful change in employment, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The aim of the u’GOOD Programme is to leverage cutting-edge research to inform policy reform and develop solutions that enable young people to participate meaningfully in the economy, particularly in informal sectors like agriculture, fishing, and small-scale trade, which dominate in periurban and rural areas.
Collaboration is seen as the linchpin to success. Dr Hassan Mshinda, CEO and Founder of HD Consulting & Associates, emphasized that real impact comes when working together to tackle critical social issues. His focus is on empowering young people to participate meaningfully in the development ecosystem. He also mentioned that growing data on other forms of youth vulnerability guides how interventions are shaped.
“Innovation must go beyond technology and offer creative, community-rooted solutions that address the challenges youth face daily,” said Dr Mshinda. In a country where many young people are unemployed or underemployed in the informal sector, such policy interventions are long overdue.
Dr Candice Groenewald, Chief Research Specialist at HSRC, warned that Tanzania’s rapidly growing urban population, particularly in cities like Dar es Salaam, requires proper planning and inclusive policies. Without it, there is a risk of deepening inequality, poor health outcomes, and youth marginalization. She stressed the need for true collaboration between governments, communities, researchers, and development partners to understand and respond to the priorities of urban populations.
Ardhi University (ARU) is spearheading local research efforts. Dr Victoria Mwakalinga, a lecturer at ARU, explained that their project aims to inform the design of inclusive policies for young people living in periurban areas who are often excluded from mainstream development programmes. These areas are becoming key settlement zones for youth, and the research focuses on how their economic activities are affected by or affect climate change.
ARU received 200,000 US dollars in funding for a three-year study. Dr Mwakalinga highlighted that two lecturers have already begun PhD studies under the programme. “This is not just academic. It will help shape national policies on youth development,” she said.
Prof Sharlene Swartz, a senior researcher at HSRC, noted that what sets u’GOOD apart is its relational model. Teams from nine countries, including Tanzania, South Africa, Vietnam, Ecuador, Colombia, Indonesia, Romania, and others, collaborate in real time. “It is about building environments that meet young people’s needs and allow them to make a difference in the world,” said Prof Swartz.
Dr Dorothy Ngila, representing NRF, emphasized that the programme supports the longstanding bilateral relationship between Tanzania and South Africa in science and innovation. “It reflects national priorities and aligns with goals for science and innovation that truly serve the people. It is about producing knowledge rooted in local ways of knowing,” she said.
As Tanzania positions itself as a thought leader in youth-focused policy reform and social entrepreneurship, the outcomes of these research projects could redefine national approaches to job creation, digital innovation, climate resilience, and social inclusion. For investors, policymakers, and business leaders, the message is clear: investing in youth is not just a social good—it’s a strategic economic imperative.
