3.1. QUICK WIN INTERVENTIONS
Collaborating Partners: Agriculture sector leading ministries, private sector, youth enterprises, DPs, NGOs, researchers and academia.
Analysis of the desk review and stakeholder interviews points to several areas where PSSA can support policy- related design, review, and/or implementation activities with the potential to foster sustainable youth enterprise growth. These findings present options and frameworks for developing meaningful and impactful interventions to strengthen the business-enabling environment and improve access to services and markets for Tanzanian enterprises, especially those led by youth. Recommendations target programs and policies that enable youth enterprises to access services, finance, and market opportunities when effectively implemented and enforced. PSSA should consider interventions in the following areas:
3.1.2. National Youth Development Policy (2007)
The current policy does not emphasize the role of innovation, invention, and creativity in youth enterprises. PSSA should review the policy to include these elements. Special measures to curb potential abuse and misuse of ICT and digital technologies would promote moral behavior among youth. Appropriate enforcement mechanisms should be in place. PSSA’s policy review should ensure effective coordination between training institutions and the industry (labor market), particularly during curriculum development and review. Special initiatives to promote industrial training, apprenticeship programs, and youth incubation schemes should be part and parcel of the policy. This will combat the prevailing “mismatch” between what is supplied (in terms of skills) and market demand. In addition, PSSA should provide support to facilitate the establishment of the National Youth Council, which has taken overly long. Other support areas include developing implementation and coordination frameworks between the government and other stakeholders for establishing youth incubation centers and/or hubs. Currently, there is a lack of stakeholder coordination focusing on this area. Technical support should also focus on specific measures to promote youth empowerment and appropriate instruments. Currently, the policy does not have a special provision to encourage and accommodate innovation and creativity in the skills development ecosystem for youth. Collaborating Partners: Ministries responsible for education and youth, private sector, NGOs/CSOs, DPs, researchers and academia, NEEC, Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology and youth-led/ focused CSOs.
3.1.1. Building a Better Tomorrow - Youth Initiative for Agribusiness
Technical support is needed to develop graduation plans and to encourage beneficiaries to use targeted subsidies to grow their businesses to higher levels. Such assistance should help startups and other nascent enterprises to move up the graduation trajectory. This measure will promote accountability for the use of funds, promote mindset and behavior change, and allow organic growth for youth enterprises. Currently, the program offers targeted subsidies to promote access to land, and finance for inputs through the Agriculture Inputs Trust Fund, etc. The rationale for the graduation system is to promote efficiency gains and reduce the cost of project delivery. Ultimately, successful enterprises would graduate to commercial loans and leave room for new entrants and upcoming SMEs. This could be an innovative way to promote replication and scaling up of the BBT-YIA program. Anecdotal evidence suggests that beneficiaries of these kinds of subsidies are not necessarily compelled to pay back their loans or use the subsidies to promote business growth. In large measure, governments have been providing seed money without safety measures to promote compliance for paying back the loan or compelling complacency. Often, interventions have led to complacency. Technical support should incorporate measures (including incentives) to ensure the private sector remains committed to playing its role in resources and sharing of innovation, best practices, relevant technologies, etc.
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Youth Enterprise Policy Analysis Report
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