About the Program
The Inclusive Finance for the Growth of Women and Youth MSMEs program is designed to address the financial and capacity barriers that limit the growth of women and youth-led enterprises in Tanzania. By offering tailored financial solutions and enterprise development, alongside evidence-based policy engagement, the program aims to enhance access to affordable financial services. Key initiatives include an Impact Grant Fund, Venture Capital and Private Equity support, and technical assistance for financial service providers. With a focus on fostering innovation and building robust financial infrastructure, the program seeks to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, particularly within green and circular economies. Six targeted interventions are implemented to overcome systemic barriers, enhance collaboration among stakeholders, and inform policies that support financial inclusion for undeserved communities.
Impact Grants Fund
Impact Grants Fund focuses on supporting women and youth-led MSMEs with capital and operating grants to help them start, grow, or formalize their businesses. It focuses on businesses with high potential for social and environmental impact, especially in green and digital sectors.
Impact Grant Fund
Impact Grants Fund focuses on supporting women and youth-led MSMEs with capital and operating grants to help them start, grow, or formalize their businesses. It focuses on businesses with high potential for social and environmental impact, especially in green and digital sectors.
Targeted Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries of the Impact Grant Fund are women and youth-led MSMEs, both formal and informal, at start-up or growth stages.
They will benefit through access to capital and operating grants, tailored support for green and digital business models, linkages to additional financing, and technical assistance to help formalize, grow, and sustain their enterprises.
Key Constraints
Results Area
The project aims to increase access to finance for women and youth-led MSMEs, support their growth and formalization, and promote green and digital business models.
It will strengthen linkages to financial institutions, enhance enterprise capabilities through technical assistance, and drive job creation and economic inclusion.
Strategic Partneship
The Impact Grant Fund project partners with government bodies, regulators, financial institutions, fintechs, NGOs, and development partners to align with national policies, deliver tailored financial solutions, and strengthen MSME capabilities, driving inclusive growth for women and youth-led enterprises.
INTERVENTION
Impact Grant Fund
Whose lives are we trying to improve?
What challenges are they currently facing?
What Market System Change must take place to resolve the challenge?
How will FSDT intervene?
FSDT will operationalize an Impact Grant Fund that provides both Capital and Operating Grants to women and youth MSMEs. The fund will be managed by a professional Fund Manager to ensure efficiency, transparency, and strategic impact. Capital Grants will support enterprises with investments in start-up infrastructure, equipment, and formalization processes. Operating Grants will focus on enhancing working capital to support business expansion and operations. Grant sizes will range from TZS 1 million to TZS 50 million, depending on enterprise size and the anticipated impact of the investment. Enterprises must employ or be led by at least 50% women and youth and present a robust business plan approved through technical assistance. FSDT will implement a co-investment requirement of at least 20% and integrate light technical assistance to ensure sustainability. Selected grantees will also be linked to further credit and equity opportunities where applicable.
What are we hoping to achieve through this intervention?
Through this intervention, FSDT aims to significantly expand access to catalytic finance for women and youth-led MSMEs. It is expected that the grant fund will accelerate the growth of enterprises engaged in high-impact sectors such as renewable energy, waste management, and digital commerce. This will enhance productivity and drive formalization of previously informal businesses, while strengthening the pipeline of enterprises ready for further investment from financial service providers and venture capital funds. Ultimately, this will contribute to increased financial inclusion and socio-economic empowerment.
What lasting impact do we intend to achieve?
INTERVENTION PERIOD
2024 - 2027
FUNDED BY
Technical Assistance and Advisory Services
Technical Assistance and Advisory Services
Targeted Beneficiaries
Key Constraints
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Results Area
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Strategic Partneship
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INTERVENTION
Technical Assistant and Advisory Services to Financial Service Providers
Whose lives are we trying to improve?
What challenges are they currently facing?
What Market System Change must take place to resolve the challenge?
To overcome these barriers, a shift is needed within financial institutions towards inclusive product development and gender-responsive service delivery. The financial system must integrate institutional incentives that promote inclusive finance, while also building sustainable internal capacities to generate and apply market insights. The widespread adoption of practices such as gender-disaggregated data collection, user-centric product design, and human-centered delivery channels must become standard across the sector.
How will FSDT intervene?
FSDT will deploy a structured Technical Assistance (TA) and Advisory Services program targeting Tier II banks, microfinance institutions, and mobile money operators. The program will offer two key streams of support. First, institution-specific technical assistance will include capacity building for product development, systems upgrades, staff training, and improvements in internal data systems. Second, cross-sectoral knowledge generation activities will produce industry research, insights, and tools to improve market-wide understanding of inclusive finance opportunities. The TA will include pilot testing, product design workshops, policy dialogues, and support for institutions adopting inclusive financial practices. FSDT will fund up to EUR 100,000 per institution, requiring at least 25% co-financing from participating FSPs.
What are we hoping to achieve through this intervention?
This intervention seeks to expand the number and quality of financial products available to underserved markets, particularly women and youth. FSPs will be equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to develop products that are relevant, accessible, and sustainable. The program aims to increase the volume and uptake of inclusive financial services, promote innovation in product design, and strengthen partnerships across the financial ecosystem to reach underserved communities
What lasting impact do we intend to achieve?
INTERVENTION PERIOD
2024 - 2027
FUNDED BY
Venture Capital Fund
Venture Capital Fund
The Venture Capital Fund is an equity financing initiative under the Inclusive Finance for Growth of Women and Youth MSMEs program, designed to support start-ups and growth-stage MSMEs with high potential. Managed in partnership with CMSA and the Ministry of Finance, the fund will provide equity investments ranging from EUR 50,000 to 250,000 to help businesses scale, innovate, and create jobs.
Targeted Beneficiaries
Key Constraints
Start-ups and growth-stage MSMEs in Tanzania face limited access to equity financing due to an underdeveloped investment ecosystem. They often lack investor readiness and have weak business structures and governance. Many struggle to meet due diligence requirements demanded by equity investors. Their visibility in formal investment networks remains low. Regulatory complexities also create additional barriers to accessing funding. These constraints limit their ability to scale, innovate, and compete effectively.
Results Area
The project aims to increase equity financing access for start-ups and growth-stage MSMEs, helping them scale, innovate, and create jobs. It will boost economic participation and strengthen Tanzania’s investment ecosystem by enhancing policies, partnerships, and support structures. The project also focuses on improving MSMEs’ investor readiness to better manage equity investments.
Strategic Partneship
The Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund project partners with Capital Markets and Security Authority (CMSA), and ministry of Finance (MoF) to establish Private Equity and Venture Caital Fund.
The project will also partner with MSMEs to provide technical support to prepare investment proposals.
INTERVENTION
Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund
Whose lives are we trying to improve?
What challenges are they currently facing?
What Market System Change must take place to resolve the challenge?
How will FSDT intervene?
What are we hoping to achieve through this intervention?
What lasting impact do we intend to achieve?
INTERVENTION PERIOD
2024 - 2027
FUNDED BY
Policy Reforms
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Policy Reforms
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Targeted Beneficiaries
Key Constraints
Results Area
Strategic Partneship
INTERVENTION
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Whose lives are we trying to improve?
What challenges are they currently facing?
What Market System Change must take place to resolve the challenge?
How will FSDT intervene?
What are we hoping to achieve through this intervention?
What lasting impact do we intend to achieve?
INTERVENTION PERIOD
2024 - 2027
FUNDED BY
Financial Systems and Data Management
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi
Financial Systems and Data Management
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Targeted Beneficiaries
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Key Constraints
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Results Area
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Strategic Partneship
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INTERVENTION
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Whose lives are we trying to improve?
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What challenges are they currently facing?
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What Market System Change must take place to resolve the challenge?
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How will FSDT intervene?
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What are we hoping to achieve through this intervention?
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi
What lasting impact do we intend to achieve?
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi
INTERVENTION PERIOD
2024 - 2027
FUNDED BY
Enterprise Development
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Enterprise Development
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Targeted Beneficiaries
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Key Constraints
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Results Area
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Strategic Partneship
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INTERVENTION
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Whose lives are we trying to improve?
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What challenges are they currently facing?
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What Market System Change must take place to resolve the challenge?
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How will FSDT intervene?
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What are we hoping to achieve through this intervention?
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi
What lasting impact do we intend to achieve?
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi
INTERVENTION PERIOD
2024 - 2027
FUNDED BY
