1.0. What
is the problem for which you are seeking funding?
The problem which has prompted us
to seek funding is increasing poverty among rural inhabitants, particularly
women, in Tanzania following underutilization of locally available resources
and opportunities. Following four years of hard work and networking, we have managed
to develop a model that needs up-scaling to address the mentioned critical
problem, firstly in Tanzania and then to the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Specifically, through our not-for-profit platform and grassroots NGO partners,
we have been experimenting two microfinance grassroots empowerment models in
Singida and Iringa regions of Tanzania since year 2011. Over 400 grassroots
women entrepreneurs from the two regions have benefited.
However, our funding resources
are not adequate enough to reach out to more women in the two regions and upscale
the project to other regions in Tanzania. Particularly important, funds for
running the project have been obtained from two sources: a) in 2011, US
government through its Alumni Exchange Program provided initial fund worth
$25,000 that was used to run the project for a year; b) Then members’
contribution, both in-kind (worthy $25,000 per annum) and cash (averaging $1000
to $2000 per annum), which have been supporting the project to date. Using
experience accumulated over the past four years, we have managed to develop a
model to address women’s financial needs that we need to upscale in the two
regions and at least additional two regions per annum across Tanzania.
2.0. Why
is important?
The project is important because
Tanzania and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa experience fast macro-economic
development which have failed to have an impact to grassroots people
particularly women in rural and remote areas. Nevertheless, the role of those
grassroots people particularly women in feeding the economy, cannot be
underestimated. For instance, over 90.4% of active Tanzanian women engage in
agricultural activities, producing about 70% of the country’s food
requirements.
3.0.What
are the main objectives for your proposed activity?
The main objective are 1) To provide women with additional
funding for revolving; b) providing women with entrepreneurship training
relevant to their context; c) networking women with potential partners
including networking in Tanzania and abroad; d) up-scaling the project in
Tanzania and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa.
4.0.How
will your objectives be achieved?
We have created a platform that brings together over 120 dedicated
scholars from across the globe including Tanzania, USA, Ethiopia, Kenya, China,
Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Liberia, South Africa,
Mauritius, Rwanda, Eritrea, Zambia, Senegal, Japan, Democratic Republic of
Congo, Burkina Faso, Republic of South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Mexico,
Burundi and India. The platform is composed of AGEN and AGEN-USA Inc which are
two but one organization incorporated in both USA and Tanzania. This platform
has been created so as to connect people in Sub-Saharan Africa and those in the
diaspora to foster mutual and lifelong social and economic gains. The common
denominator is that if grassroots people, particularly women, are empowered
life standards of both African in diaspora and Africa are going to be improved.
Details on the platform can be accessed at www.agentz.org.
We are legally registered in USA so as to connect grassroots people in Africa
with the diaspora in North America. Similarly, Tanzania is a strategic country
in Sub-Saharan Africa with peace and good democratic record as compared to
other countries in regions. This platform is important for further
experimentation of our models and then up scaling it to the rest of Sub-Saharan
Africa.
5.0.What
are the expected outputs?
The expected outcome include: a) enabling grassroots
communities benefit from macro-economic gains currently experienced in many Sub-Saharan
African countries; b) rising life standards of grassroots people and women in
particular across sub-Saharan Africa; c) increased networking among scholars
from across the globe that channels their expertise directly to grassroots
interventions in Tanzania and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa; d) increased
number of beneficiaries. At least 200 women entrepreneurs will be added every
year.
6.0.What
is the proposed timeline?
The proposed timeline for this project is three years for up-scaling
in Tanzania. Then three years for up-scaling in Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon and Cote
d'Ivoire.
7.0.What
is the approximate budget?
The approximate budget for up scaling in Tanzania is $100,000
per annum totalling to $300,000 for three years. For up-scaling in Kenya, Uganda,
Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire, the approximate budget is $300,000 per annum. Up-scaling
in Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire starts after two years of
implementation in Tanzania.
8.0.How
can we contact you?
Mr. Rasel Madaha
AGEN&AGEN-USA Inc.
P.O.BOX 3002
Morogoro
Phone: +255 787737309
Email: raselmpuya@gmail.com and rasel.madaha@fulbrightmail.org
