Big TASAF milestone as 400,000 households achieve self-reliance

DODOMA: AT least 400,000 households have graduated from dependence on social protection support under the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF), reflecting growing economic resilience among beneficiaries, the National Assembly was told yesterday.

Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Service Management and Good Governance), Regina Qwaray, said the households had reached sufficient economic capacity to sustain their livelihoods without continued government assistance.

Ms Qwaray was responding to a supplementary question from Dr Catherine Joachim (Special Seats — CCM), who sought clarification on the criteria used to determine when TASAF beneficiaries are ready to exit the programme.

She said the government conducts regular assessments to evaluate the socio-economic status of beneficiary households and determine whether they have achieved self-reliance.

“We assess whether households can independently meet their basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing and healthcare services. Once a household reaches that level and can sustain itself without subsidies, it is removed from the list of beneficiaries,” she said.

Ms Qwaray said about 400,000 households have so far been removed from the programme after meeting the required thresholds for economic independence.

Responding to another supplementary question on safeguards against households falling back into poverty due to economic shocks, climate change or market disruptions, the deputy minister said the government has put in place a follow-up system through local government authorities.

She explained that households exiting the programme continue to benefit from various empowerment initiatives, including access to the 10 per cent local government loan scheme, entrepreneurship training, and participation in community savings and investment groups.

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“After graduation, these households remain under the supervision of local government authorities and are linked to various economic opportunities available in their areas. They continue to receive close followup and empowerment support, which has enabled them to improve their livelihoods over time,” she said.

Earlier, responding to a primary question from Dr Joachim on government measures to transition TASAF beneficiaries into productive employment and income-generating activities, Ms Qwaray said the programme is designed with multiple interventions to promote self-reliance.

These include productive grants to support the establishment or expansion of economic activities, cash transfers to meet basic household needs, and training in entrepreneurship and savings group formation.

She added that local government authorities have intensified efforts to link beneficiaries with financial institutions, markets for their products, and skills development opportunities.

“Beneficiaries are linked with various financing opportunities and markets, while others are connected to SIDO to acquire skills and improve the value of the products they produce,” she said.

The government views the graduation of beneficiary households as a key indicator of TASAF’s success in reducing poverty and strengthening sustainable livelihoods among vulnerable communities across the country.