DAR ES SALAAM: IN every corner of the country, you will hear testimonies of people of how Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) has had a significant impact on the lives of impoverished families for over a decade.
In 2000, the Government of Tanzania, with support from the World Bank, created the TASAF as part of a broader strategy to reduce poverty by stimulating local economies.
Since its inception, it has reached over 5.2 million Tanzanians from 1.3 million households.
While retaining direct community financing as a key empowering mechanism, it is being implemented through Local Government Authorities targeting beneficiaries ranging from communities with inadequate access to social services; households with able-bodied adults suffering from food insecurity to individuals living in poor households affected by acute shocks (like HIV/AIDS).
The program is implemented across all neighbourhoods, villages and hamlets in mainland Tanzania and the islands.
A case study, Habiba Selemani Maramoja, who is one of the beneficiaries has seen her dreams come.
Habiba and her family joined the programme in 2014 when she was Class VII and joining Form One at Kingugi Secondary School in Temeke District, Dar es Salaam in 2015, she was already seeing the benefits.
Before TASAF’s intervention, Habiba’s family lived in poor conditions, often having only one or two meals a day, which affected her focus on her studies and overall well-being. With the arrival of TASAF programme, the family was enabled to have three meals a day, just like any other citizens and that in turn improved her academic performance.
Habiba completed her studies at Kingugi Secondary School in 2018 with the highest grade, being the only student to achieve Division One at the institution. With this achievement, she was selected to continue her education in Form Five in Biharamulo District, Kagera, where she studied Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
When time for Form Six national exams, she attained Division One, attributing her success to the support from TASAF.
Now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Science in Communication and Engineering at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Habiba notes that the TASAF support of 65,000/- greatly helped cover her living expenses and those of her two siblings.
“I am a beneficiary of TASAF through my parents, receiving a grant of 65,000/-, which has been used to buy notebooks, clothes, shoes, a bag and other necessities for my older brother, myself and my younger sibling,” she pointed out.
She says that through TASAF, she was able to get essential needs without most challenges, unlike during primary school, when they would only receive one or two meals.
She mentions that after her older brother finished his Form Four and was unable to continue with his studies, the support amount was decreased to 56,000/-, but they are still managed to sail well in the family.
Habiba says her mother used to run a business of selling doughnuts and samosas, adding that: “When I also added part of my university allowance, she expanded her sources of income to include making local kitenge clothes in the neighbourhood and things were going well.”
Habiba, who is the second of three children of Mzee Selemani Maramoja, says the grant helped her achieve her dreams, while she asks TASAF to prioritise employment opportunities for children from the families they assist.
She says that through TASAF, she was able to obtain a 100 per cent loan from the Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB), which gave her the freedom to study hard, because the allowance was used for accommodation, food and clothing.
“The course I am studying costs 1.5m/-per year, which I acknowledge my family and I would not have been able to pay, but through TASAF, things have been good and I see my dream coming true,” she says.
She adds that she is currently in her third year at the University of Dar es Salaam and hopes to finish next year and begin working towards her dream of becoming a communications expert and contributing to her nation building.
Habiba is encouraging beneficiaries, especially children, to study hard so that they can come back to help their families escape the depths of poverty that they face. However, the most important thing is for them to achieve their dreams.
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Equally, the student is requesting President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the government to continue supporting poor households, as they have human resources that should contribute to the country’s development in all sectors.
“My parents set an example by ensuring I reach where I am now, so it is good for every family to manage their responsibilities well so that the benefits of TASAF can be seen as I am showing, everything is possible,” she says.
Habiba says that through TASAF, Tanzania is rapidly working to eradicate poverty and therefore the government and other stakeholders should support it.
TASAF’s Executive Director, Shadrack Mziray, says he finds it gratifying to lead the fund that delivers positive results in aiding the country.
Mziray states that Habiba is a role model in the Tanzanian community, especially among TASAF beneficiaries, as their mission is to ensure that 26 per cent of poverty in Nchimbi is eradicated.
“We are committed to eradicating poverty through this project to save poor households and we are pleased with the progress Habiba has made.
According to our statistics, over 4,700 children of beneficiaries have benefited from education up to university level and this number will continue to grow,” he says.
Mziray also mentions that to show the positive outcomes of what TASAF is currently doing, they are in the final stages of removing 400,000 beneficiaries from the program because they have been able to improve economically and socially.
He adds that they will be left with 900,000 beneficiaries who will continue to be assessed to determine if they meet the criteria for removal from the program.
