Stanbic Bank Tanzania, through its Biashara Incubator, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) to enhance capacity-building programs for entrepreneurs across Tanzania. The strategic partnership aims to equip entrepreneurs with essential skills to foster the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and contribute to the country’s economic development.
The collaboration will focus on delivering comprehensive training in key areas, including climate-smart agricultural practices, business and financial literacy, market access, digital skills, value addition, cross-border trade regulations, and gender and social inclusion. These programs are designed to enhance business development services, create a supportive environment for trade, and drive job creation in Tanzania.
The agreement was signed in Dar es Salaam by Stanbic Bank Tanzania’s Head of Biashara Incubator, Kai Mollel, and the Executive Director of the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS), Justice Rutenge.
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Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mollel emphasized the importance of equipping entrepreneurs with relevant skills to scale their businesses sustainably. Rutenge echoed this sentiment, highlighting FCS’s commitment to empowering local businesses and fostering economic resilience.
Capacity-building programs for entrepreneurs in Tanzania are initiatives designed to enhance the skills, knowledge, and resources of individuals and businesses to foster entrepreneurial success and contribute to economic growth. These programs often focus on areas such as business management, financial literacy, market access, innovation, and access to funding, tailored to address the unique challenges faced by Tanzanian entrepreneurs, including youth, women, and smallholder farmers.
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Several notable capacity-building programs in Tanzania include:
- FUNGUO Programme – Supported by the European Union (EU) and other partners, this initiative aims to strengthen Tanzania’s startup ecosystem through funding and capacity-building support for SMEs.
- Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC) – Twende Sokoni Afrika – Launched in 2025, this program seeks to train over 8,000 Tanzanian women and youth in entrepreneurship and trade by the end of the year.
- DOT Tanzania – Digital Business Program – Part of the Daring to Shift project with Global Affairs Canada, this program has already supported 8,560 entrepreneurs, with 70% being women.
- Feed the Future Tanzania Advancing Youth (USAID) – A USAID-backed initiative targeting rural youth, helping them transition from subsistence farming to sustainable entrepreneurship.
- Tanzania Growth Trust (TGT) – Focused on SME and farmer development, particularly for women and youth, with the goal of building self-sufficient businesses.
- Anza Accelerator – Based in Moshi, this program supports social entrepreneurs by providing training and resources to address community challenges.