Women, youth tipped on how to secure tenders through NeST

DAR ES SALAAM: Women and youth have been urged to register in the National e-Procurement System (NeST) to increase their chances of securing various procurement opportunities dedicated to special groups.

The Coastal Zonal Manager for the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), Vicky Mollel, offered this advice to these groups during a three-day training held in Dar es Salaam.

The training aimed to empower women and youth to participate in public procurement processes through the BID FOR SUCCESS project, organized by the Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC) in collaboration with Trademark Africa and Tenderbank.

Ms. Vicky highlighted that the Public Procurement Act of 2023 provides significant opportunities for Tanzanians, particularly for special groups, including women, youth, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

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She further explained that procurement entities are required to allocate 30 percent of their budgets to these groups.

“Experience is not a major requirement for these tenders since they are designed to uplift Tanzanians from these special groups,” Mollel stated.

The Project Coordinator, Julieth Sandi, explained that the three-year project, running from 2024 to 2027, aims to reach over 1,000 women and youth across the country.

She noted that while the project is currently in its second phase, further training will take place in the third, fourth, and fifth phases, with upcoming sessions planned for the Lake Zone and Central Zone.

A food vendor from Lindi, Noela Lukanga, said the training has empowered businesswomen by helping them elevate their daily businesses and explore tenders to boost their economic status.