A total of 21 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the country have received over 800m/- funding to support their economic empowerment efforts and community-based development projects.

The funds, disbursed as interest-free loans, are intended to help the organisations launch or scale income-generating activities that directly benefit the communities they serve. 

The initiative was unveiled yesterday in Dar es Salaam by Seleman Abdullah, national coordinator of Nice Tanzania, during a symbolic cheque handover ceremony to the beneficiary organisations.

Abdullah explained that the funding totaling 875m/- is part of Nice Tanzania’s broader programme to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) and enable them to transform local challenges into economic opportunities.

“We trained the organisations to identify and present community challenges, then helped them design viable projects that could address those problems while also generating income,” said Abdullah. “The profits will support the organisations’ sustainability and also benefit the communities they work with.”

Each organisation received an average of 40m/-, while some received up to 100m/-, depending on the scope and sustainability of their proposed projects. 

The funding is a non-interest loan that must be repaid over time. Once repaid, the funds will be redistributed to support new organisations in future cycles.

The programme is supported by Nama Foundation and Nama Women Advancement, two philanthropic institutions committed to empowering grassroots organisations in Tanzania and across the region.

“This process began in January, and now we’re entering the implementation phase,” Abdullah noted. “The funds will support NGOs both on the mainland and in Zanzibar as they begin launching the projects they proposed earlier this year.”

The selected NGOs work in a variety of sectors including women’s empowerment, environmental protection, education, health, and faith-based and social initiatives. Through the support, they are expected to become more self-reliant and reduce dependency on traditional donor funding.

The goal, organisers say, is to create lasting impact by ensuring these organisations can sustain their operations while also addressing pressing community needs.

Speaking at the event, Saleh Bazead, Chief Executive Officer of NAMA Foundation, emphasised the vital role that NGOs play in national development and urged continued investment in their capacity.

“Non-governmental organisations make a significant contribution to society. Supporting them in developing income-generating projects will not only help them sustain their work but also extend their reach to more communities in need,” Bazead said.

The initiative marks a unique model in Tanzania’s development space, where NGOs are not only given financial support but also equipped with the skills to turn local problems into self-sustaining ventures, a shift from aid dependency to entrepreneurial impact.