More than 26,000 retailers across Tanzania are set to benefit from business management training and digital financial solutions following a two-year partnership between Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) and Vodacom Tanzania.
The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, is aimed at strengthening the capacity of retailers who form a critical link between manufacturers and consumers.
Under the Retailer Development Programme, the companies will provide training in financial and business management, cash-flow management, stock control, sales and marketing, customer service and entrepreneurship.
The initiative comes as small businesses increasingly turn to digital tools to manage payments, finances and daily operations, while access to practical business skills remains important for their survival and growth.
TBL Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs Neema Temba said the company viewed retailers as an important part of its business and the wider economy.
“For TBL, retailers are a critical pillar of our business and economic growth. Through our partnership with Vodacom Tanzania, we are investing in skills, technology and business sustainability to enable them to grow their operations and benefit from new opportunities,” she said.
The agreement will link TBL's network of more than 26,000 retailers with Vodacom's telecommunications, digital and financial services.
Through the programme, retailers will also be introduced to services including SME Bomba, M-Wekeza, Lipa kwa M-Pesa and M-Koba.
The services are expected to help participating businesses improve financial management, facilitate digital transactions and make greater use of technology in their day-to-day operations.
Vodacom Business Director Nguvu Kamando said technology could help small businesses improve productivity and create opportunities for sustainable growth.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Tanzania’s economy. Through the partnership between TBL and Vodacom Tanzania, retailers are being equipped with the tools, knowledge and technology they need to improve their businesses, increase productivity and unlock opportunities for sustainable growth,” he said.
Beyond financial and digital services, the programme will cover responsible business practices, customer relations and entrepreneurship.
The two companies will also conduct face-to-face and digital training and monitor the programme's implementation to assess its impact on participating businesses.
The first training session is scheduled for Mwanza on September 16, marking the rollout of the programme.
The partnership, operating under the theme “Growing Innovatively Together” (GRIT), is expected to give retailers practical skills that could help them improve how they manage stock, cash flow, sales and customer relationships.
For thousands of small retailers, the focus will ultimately be whether the training and digital tools translate into better-managed businesses, improved efficiency and greater access to financial services.