CUSO INTERNATIONAL AND VSO LAUNCH A FIVE-YEAR PROJECT TO CREATE JOBS LOCALLY AND PROMOTE LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS IN TANZANIA

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 22 February, 2016

Tanzania Local Enterprise Development (T-LED) is an innovative project which aims to create jobs for Tanzanians by ensuring that small-medium enterprises (SMEs) capitalise from investments in the agriculture and extractive sectors. Through this project, local SMEs will be assisted in overcoming existing barriers of capacity, access to technology and access to finance – with particular attention paid to the additional challenges faced by female-headed SMEs. This new project will be launched on the February 22nd, 2016 from 10am to 1pm (local time) at SIDO headquarters.

The overall goal of T-LED project is to ensure sustainable economic growth and prosperity for women and men in Mtwara, Lindi, Mwanza and Iringa regions of Tanzania. Through modern enterprise and innovation training centres in each region, and direct long-term training from advisors and its partners, T-LED will guide SMEs in improving their knowledge of market opportunities, business practices  technical know-how and increase women’s capacity to develop and grow sustainable SMEs. T-LED, through its own innovation fund, will facilitate entrepreneurs’ access to new technology and through its network of international impact investors will enhance SMEs’ access to finance.

After 5 years, the project is expected to have created 2,500 new jobs through the SMEs supported; increase the income of 1,300 supported SMEs and their employees; facilitate access to new markets opportunities for 1,760 SMEs; and improve the quality of services provided by partner institutions supporting the growth and development of SMEs in Tanzania

T-LED is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and will be implemented by VSO and Cuso International, in collaboration with key Tanzanian institutions mandated with building the country’s SME sector – The Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), The Small Industry Development Organisation (SIDO), and The Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC).

More information can be found here.

Jennifer Buter, Communications Officer
613.829.7445 x244
jennifer.buter@cusointernational.org