Concept Note

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