DIGIMALI stands for “Digital and
Mjasiriamali”.
The
project aims to address youth and women unemployment by training 100 young
entrepreneurs across Tanzania on how to start and manage businesses online
using digital tools through a training program that will impact 2,400 micro
businesses. Additionally, the training aims to enhance financial literacy
among Tanzanian youth to promote financial inclusion.
A lot of
young people are exploring alternative options to cross the unemployment
threshold and by moving into entrepreneurship through the informal sector with
the aim of solving becoming self-sustainable and creating jobs. The growing
informal sector remains underserved while its potential for alleviating poverty
and bridging the unemployment gap particularly among youth is immense.
Currently,
micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contribute to 27% of the GDP
employing more than 5.2 million people (FSDT 2021). With the right support,
entrepreneurship could become an integral part of Tanzania’s economic
development.
DIGIMALI
project is designed to support (MSMEs) by enhancing knowledge in online
business, digital business ecosystems, business finance, financial literacy,
and business management to drive self-employment opportunities and maximize the
target group eligibility to scale up their businesses i.e. for loans and
overall access to finance, access to market and compliance.
“Opportunities at DIGIMALI have
significantly changed my business especially on the usage of digital platforms
in broadening the market base for my products. Following completion of the
training boot camp, we are being mentored individually to ensure we put the
training into practical use and for us to be able to impart knowledge to other
youth.” - Amos Eugene, CEO Nivushe Nijifungue Salama, a DIGIMALI beneficiary
Successful selected entrepreneurs are being trained and
mentored on the knowledge of using digital platforms to improve their
businesses. Beneficiaries are expected to train other entrepreneurs on business
management digital skills. As an incentive, upon completion of the program, the
direct beneficiaries who will successfully
impart their knowledge to their counterparts will be awarded free
sponsored ads for their business and will be awarded a DIGIMALI training
completion certificate.
“Training alone is not enough to change perspectives on how to run a business. Through our DIGIMALI project, we are paying visitations to 100 youths from 14 regions in Tanzania in order to improve their businesses by mentoring them on how they can creatively use digital opportunities to grow their businesses”, Lydia Charles, Executive Director Her Initiative
The project targeted youth and women
who run businesses specifically (MSMEs) that employ 2-5 people because of their
importance in creating jobs for the most vulnerable and as a backbone of the
local and national economy.
