By Charles Mkoka
Tanzania has launched a new Program aimed at helping small-scale traders, particularly women, and youth transition to digital payments and formal business systems, as part of broader efforts to expand access to finance and global markets.
The programme, introduced at Tegeta Nyuki market on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, seeks to enable traders to conduct transactions both domestically and internationally while building financial records that can unlock credit and investment opportunities.
Rasimisha as Organisers, UBX patnership with MALIPO MTANDAO said the shift to digital payments is intended to help informal businesses move beyond local markets and compete in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
“Many traders are still operating at a very small scale, but the world is changing. We need to adapt to digital systems to increase the value of our businesses and reach markets beyond Tanzania,” one organiser said during the launch event, held alongside celebrations for International Women’s Day.
A key component of the initiative is the “Rasimisha” platform, which aims to formalise informal businesses by helping traders build reliable financial records, making it easier to access loans from formal financial institutions.
“Businesses without proper records remain invisible. When they become visible, they gain trust, and that opens doors to financing and investment,” a project representative said.
The programme also connects traders to a range of services through partnerships with private sector players, including logistics solutions, insurance products, and access to group purchasing schemes for business assets such as vehicles.
Organisers said such support is designed to reduce operational risks for traders while improving efficiency in areas such as product delivery, a key barrier to expanding into online commerce.
Leah Karunde, a lead figure behind the Rasimisha initiative, said the broader goal is to transform small, individual enterprises into sustainable family businesses that can be passed on to future generations.
“Success requires systems. Without structure, businesses struggle to grow. Rasimisha is about building businesses that last, not just for today but for the next generation,” she said.
She also warned that local traders risk being left behind as international competition intensifies, particularly from foreign businesses with stronger technological capabilities.
“As global standards evolve, those who are not formalised may find it harder to compete or even remain in the market,” she added.
Local traders welcomed the initiative, with some citing personal success stories as evidence of the sector’s potential when supported with the right tools.
One trader at Tegeta Nyuki market said she had been able to build a stable livelihood through small-scale commerce, including owning property in the city, and encouraged other women to embrace new systems and opportunities.
Officials said the programme will be expanded to other markets across the country, with ongoing training planned to help traders obtain business licences, tax identification numbers, and adopt e-commerce platforms.
The initiative comes as Tanzania continues to prioritise financial inclusion and digital transformation as key drivers of economic growth, particularly among women and youth operating in the informal sector.
