A total of 100 young innovators from Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar have been selected for the next stage of the Youth Economy Challenge, following a highly competitive process that attracted more than 7,852 submissions from across the country.
The announcement was made in Dodoma by the challenge committee’s secretary, Amina Sanga, who said the selected participants stood out for their innovative and practical ideas aimed at accelerating Tanzania’s economic development.
According to Sanga, many of the winning proposals were centered on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and digital services, highlighting the growing role of technology-driven solutions in addressing economic and social challenges.
“The response from young people has been remarkable. The ideas submitted demonstrate creativity, innovation and a strong commitment to contributing to the country’s economic transformation,” she said.
The competition, which opened for applications in April, attracted thousands of entries from youths eager to showcase solutions capable of generating jobs, improving productivity and creating new business opportunities.
Sanga noted that the quality of submissions reflected the increasing interest among Tanzanian youths in using innovation and entrepreneurship as tools for national development.
The 100 shortlisted participants will now undergo another round of assessment, which will narrow the field to 30 semi-finalists before the final 10 contestants are selected to compete in the grand finale.
She explained that the evaluation process focused on the originality of ideas, their potential economic impact, level of innovation and the feasibility of implementation.
To support the participants in developing their projects, all 100 finalists will attend a four-day innovation camp beginning on June 20.
The programme will bring together experts from various sectors who will provide mentorship, technical guidance and presentation training.
“The camp will offer participants an opportunity to refine their ideas and strengthen their business and pitching skills so that their innovations can have a greater impact on society and the national economy,” Sanga said.
All selected participants will receive certificates of participation in recognition of their efforts and creativity. The overall winner of the competition will receive TZS 50 million, while the first runner-up will take home TZS 30 million.
The Youth Economy Challenge is designed to encourage young Tanzanians to develop practical solutions to economic challenges while connecting them with experts, investors and opportunities that can help transform promising ideas into sustainable enterprises.
