The government has praised a new youth empowerment initiative by NMB Foundation and Save the Children Tanzania focused on entrepreneurship and skills development as a timely, strategic boost to national efforts to reduce unemployment and promote inclusive economic growth.

Speaking at the official launch of the Skills for Entrepreneurship and Employment Development (SEED) programme yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, said the initiative was a strategic tool that will help prepare Tanzanian youth to compete and thrive in an evolving economic environment.
 
“With a growing middle class and a national drive to transform local industries for both domestic and export markets, the SEED programme is a timely and strategic intervention,” said Prof. Mkenda. “It reflects our shared commitment across government, civil society, and the private sector to invest in Tanzania’s most valuable asset: its youth.”
 
He noted that the initiative will play a critical role in addressing youth unemployment, particularly in urban areas where the challenge is most acute.
 
Prof. Mkenda also commended the partnership between the NMB Foundation the philanthropic arm of NMB Bank and Save the Children, calling it a model for effective public-private collaboration in youth empowerment.
 
According to him, the SEED programme supports Tanzania’s broader development goals, particularly in advancing quality education, gender equality, and decent work opportunities for young people.
 
“This programme doesn’t just prepare young people for jobs. It prepares them to shape a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous Tanzania,” Prof. Mkenda said.
 
SEED will initially be piloted in Dar es Salaam with 200 youth aged 18 to 35—particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, including the unemployed and those facing financial hardship during vocational training.
 
In her remarks at the event, NMB Bank CEO Ruth Zaipuna who also chairs the NMB Foundation board, said the initiative aims to equip young Tanzanians with practical business solutions and vocational skills to enable self-employment and improve job market competitiveness.
 
She described the programme as a timely strategic response to the growing need for youth economic empowerment and financial emancipation.
 
“SEED is our joint effort to support young people with the skills and resources they need to thrive in today’s economy,” Ms Zaipuna said. “It’s not just about training it's about giving youth the tools, the mindset, and the startup capital to turn ideas into income.”
 
She further noted that the SEED programme will offer training in business development and identifying market opportunities, alongside courses in financial and business management.
 
In addition, participants will have access to startup capital through NMB Bank loans, provided in collaboration with the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (TAMISEMI).
 
“We believe SEED will empower youth to become job creators, not just job seekers,” Ms Zaipuna pointed out.
 
Ms Angela Kauleni, Country Director for Save the Children, emphasized that the initiative reflects the organization's deep commitment to sustainable youth development.
 
She described the joint effort as a strategic investment in Tanzania’s future, one that not only empowers young people with the skills and opportunities they need but also makes a meaningful contribution to the country’s long-term socio-economic transformation.
 
“This partnership is about more than just immediate impact it’s about building resilient communities and fostering a generation of youth who can drive innovation, economic growth, and inclusive development,” she added.
 
Quoting the 2022 Population and Housing Census, NMB Foundation Executive Director Nelson Karumuna noted that youth represent 34.5% of Tanzania’s population, with four in ten either unemployed or economically inactive.
 
“That’s not just a statistic it’s a national call to action,” Karumuna said. “Through SEED, we’re giving young people the skills, tools, and confidence to become entrepreneurs and job creators.”
 
The programme’ s long-term vision is to scale nationally, transforming Tanzania’s youth from job seekers into self-reliant economic contributors, and supporting the government’s broader push for inclusive and sustainable growth.