Vijana platform goes live
DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has launched a first-of-its-kind national initiative, the Vijana Platform, marking a historic shift in how the state engages with the country’s youth population to drive economic self-reliance.
The platform, the first ever established, was officially unveiled yesterday in Dar es Salaam by the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Youth Development), Dr Joel Nanauka.
It is designed to serve as a high-speed bridge for young people to access entrepreneurship, employment and multi-billion-shilling government financial schemes.
Speaking at the launch Dr Nanauka characterised the platform as a direct response to the modern challenges facing the youth.
He said that for the first time, there is a formal, centralised space for young people to influence policymaking and tap into underutilised sectors such as ICT, the digital economy and large-scale agriculture.
“The government’s aim is to ensure that young people are nurtured in an environment that develops their talents, knowledge and modern skills,” Dr Nanauka said.
He added, “This platform will ensure that the youth are not just bystanders, but active participants in the nation’s development.”
A central pillar of the launch is the synchronisation of the platform with the newly minted National Youth Development Policy of 2024.
Minister Nanauka further said that the government has moved away from the 2007 policy to embrace a framework that reflects the current digital and technological revolution.
The new policy places a heavy premium on the digital economy, innovation and mental health, areas previously underserved.
Under this framework, youth are encouraged to move beyond traditional roles and take up leadership positions in decision making bodies, from the grassroots level to the national stage.
The Minister provided a detailed breakdown of the government’s financial commitment to the youth. In a significant move to remove capital barriers, 10 per cent of all local government internal revenue is now legally mandated for empowerment loans, with 4 per cent specifically ringfenced for youth-led enterprises.
Minister Nanauka revealed that for the 2025/26 fiscal year, the government has already disbursed 36.64bn/- to 2,827 youth groups.
These loans are strictly interest-free, designed to allow young entrepreneurs to scale their businesses in agriculture, construction and the arts without the burden of debt accumulation.
Furthermore, the government’s commitment to local content has seen 2,226 young contractors secure government procurement contracts worth 10.8bn/- during the 2024/25 period.
In what is being hailed as a game-changer for industrialisation, the government has officially designated 170,000 hectares of land specifically for youthled investment.
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This initiative is managed under the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA).
To ensure these lands are utilised effectively, the government has established Youth Investors Resource Centres in multiple regions.
These hubs will provide the technical expertise and administrative support needed to transform raw land into productive industrial zones.
Permanent Secretary Jenifa Omolo said that the Vijana Platform is not merely a website or an app, but a hybrid ecosystem.
“This platform was created to fill a long-standing gap in formal spaces connecting youth with the private sector and development partners,” Ms Omolo said.
She added, “By combining face-to-face meetings with digital tools, we are ensuring that a youth in rural Mtwara has the same access to these opportunities as a youth in Dar es Salaam.”
The platform is expected to begin its first series of regional digital dialogues next month, allowing the government to receive real-time feedback on the implementation of these new economic measures, according to her.
