TASAF uplifts over 400,000 households
DODOMA: OVER 400,000 households have successfully graduated from the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) programme after 10 years of sustained support aimed at alleviating poverty and promoting economic resilience.
Speaking in Dodoma recently, the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Service Management and Good Governance), Mr George Simbachawene, said the achievements mark a major milestone in the government’s efforts to improve the livelihoods of lowincome households, particularly under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
“These households have significantly improved their livelihoods and are now able to sustain themselves independently, without relying on TASAF grants,” he said.
The Minister also revealed that by December 2024, TASAF had implemented a total of 1,518 community-based projects under the fourth phase of the Tanzania Productive Social Safety Net (TPRP IV), worth 81.8bn/-.
“Out of these, 659 projects have been completed and are currently operational, while 859 others are at different stages of implementation,” Mr Simbachawene said.
The sectoral distribution of the projects includes 495 in education, 262 in health, 120 in rural roads, 23 in water, 11 in agriculture, 6 in environmental protection, 4 livestock dips and 597 income-generating activities.
He noted that the TPRP IV programme is being implemented in five regions, Arusha, Geita, Mwanza, Njombe and Simiyu, with support from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
In addition, the Minister said that by the end of 2024, a total of 27,863 works projects will have been carried out, providing temporary employment to more than 662,000 households, with total disbursements reaching 213.8bn/-.
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“These initiatives not only provide income but also impart valuable skills to beneficiaries, which they can apply in their own economic activities,” he noted, adding that the projects have largely benefitted agriculture, forestry, road infrastructure, water and environment sectors.
Mr Simbachawene further said that 137 infrastructure projects worth 12.67bn/- were implemented across 29 local authorities. Of these,6 have been completed and 72 are progressing well.
“These projects have helped address challenges in the delivery of basic services such as education, health and water,” he said.
TASAF has also provided basic economic skills training to qualified households and facilitated access to productive grants.
By December 2024, some 94,520 beneficiaries in 69 local councils had received grants totalling 35.9bn/- as start-up capital for self-initiated projects.
To ensure sustainable development, the programme has also enforced conditions tied to cash transfer schemes.
These include mandatory clinic visits for children under five for vaccinations and nutrition education, as well as school attendance of over 80 per cent for children of school-going age.
“This has significantly contributed to better academic performance and enabled many children from poor households to secure admission to institutions of higher learning,” he explained.
Furthermore, in collaboration with the Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB), TASAF has ensured that loan applicants from beneficiary families are identified and supported, with 8,274 students having received 100 per cent tuition coverage by November 2024.
