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MEDA in partnership with Global Affairs Canada, is working with 22,500 men and women small entrepreneurs (SEs), 225 small growing businesses (SGBs) and 30 lead firms in the manufacturing, agriculture, and construction sectors to grow their businesses and increase their contribution to rural economies in the Arusha, Morogoro, and Mtwara corridors of Tanzania.
SSBVC is an acronym for our Strengthening Small Business Value Chains project. Our SSBVC project is partnering with 30 lead firms, competitive business that are market-driven, profit oriented, and sustainable in the Arusha, Morogoro, and Mtwara corridors of Tanzania.
SSBVC will improve business performance of SEs supplying goods and services to lead firms; improve business performance of SGBs supplying goods and services in response to market opportunities; and improve rural business environment to facilitate sustainable business.
The SSBVC project is working with 22,500 men and women small entrepreneurs (SEs) and 225 small growing businesses (SGBs) in the manufacturing, agriculture, and construction sectors to grow their businesses and increase their contribution to rural economies in Tanzania.
Despite efforts between 2007 and 2016 that have reduced the country’s poverty rate from 34.4% to 26.8%, the absolute number of poor people has held at about 13 million due to high population growth. Tanzania has a strong dependence on agriculture and agro-processing which makes the economy highly vulnerable to weather shocks and fluctuating commodity prices. 76% of Tanzania’s population rely on agriculture. Due to the lack of knowledge and infrastructure to develop and implement new agricultural technology; droughts, floods, or temperature shocks can severely damage the living standards.
Tanzania is a diverse low-income country of around 56 million people with a steadily growing economy, sustaining relatively high economic growth over the last decade, averaging 6-7% a year; yet businesses and entrepreneurs of all levels continue to struggle to meaningfully contribute to the economy. Small businesses and entrepreneurs face constraints with access to information on markets, strict regulatory environment, access to new and environmentally sustainable technology, and access to appropriate financial products.
