The government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding economic and educational opportunities for young people, women and persons with disabilities, underscoring a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening national development through inclusive empowerment.
Speaking at the 39th Graduation Ceremony of the Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) in Dodoma, Deputy Minister for Finance Engineer Mshamu Ali Munde (MP) who represented Minister for Finance Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar said the government will continue scaling up programmes that boost entrepreneurship, access to finance, skills development and participation in key economic sectors.
Munde noted that the government has already released more than TZS 130 billion through the 10 percent council loan scheme to support income-generating projects for youth, women and persons with disabilities.
He said the scheme, which President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan re-emphasised during the inauguration of the 13th Parliament in November 2025, requires beneficiaries to form and register entrepreneurship groups with their respective councils.
“This financing is a revolving loan and must be managed with discipline to ensure sustainability and greater impact,” he said.
To further widen opportunities, he said the Public Procurement Act directs all public entities to reserve 30 percent of procurement for youth and other special groups. The measure is designed to stimulate entrepreneurship, tackle unemployment and increase the participation of young people in the national economy.
The government has also established dedicated investment windows for youth in collaboration with the private sector.
These platforms offer affordable financing, investment capital, entrepreneurship training, financial management skills, technical advisory services and business development support.
Munde further revealed that the budget for higher education loans has risen to TZS 916.7 billion in 2025/26, up from TZS 787.4 billion in 2024/25.
The number of beneficiaries is expected to reach 252,773 this year an increase of 2,773 students.
He added that the Samia Scholarship continues to motivate young women to enrol in science-related fields by covering 100 percent of tuition and fees for programmes in technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.
In the 2025/26 academic year, 2,630 female students will benefit, representing a 27 percent growth in two years.
The government’s decision to remove barriers for young mothers and girls who dropped out of secondary school has also enabled 22,844 girls to return to class.
Given that agriculture contributes 26.7 percent of the GDP and absorbs 58 percent of the youth labour force, Munde said the government is strengthening youth and women engagement in the sector through the Building a Better Future Programme, which promotes agribusiness participation in strategic crops.
Addressing the graduates, Munde said the nation looks to them to apply the knowledge and skills gained at IRDP to enhance planning and contribute to the attainment of Tanzania’s Vision 2050.
He commended IRDP’s leadership for steering progress and assured continued government support in improving infrastructure and human resources to maintain high standards of training.
IRDP Governing Council Vice Chairperson CPA Dr. Samwel Werema thanked the government for sustained support through strategic development projects, which have improved teaching facilities, increased staffing, strengthened staff training and expanded international partnerships.
He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to professionalism, integrity and accountability in managing public resources and enhancing the institution’s role in providing quality education and impactful services.
He encouraged stakeholders to make use of IRDP’s offerings, including research, consultancy, tailored training and development project partnerships.
IRDP Rector Prof. Hozen Mayaya said the institution has introduced 10 new curricula approved by NACTVET and reviewed 15 existing programmes to align with labour market demands in the 2025/26 academic year.
“The new and updated programmes will produce graduates equipped with creativity, core employability skills, digital literacy and a solid understanding of emerging issues such as climate change,” he said.
He added that IRDP’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre continues to nurture student talents, with some graduates becoming successful entrepreneurs, innovators and even competitive athletes.
A total of 5,721 graduates 3,127 women and 2,594 men received undergraduate degrees, diplomas and certificates across 40 programmes during the IRDP’s 39th graduation ceremony in Dodoma.