Save the Children Tanzania and Tanzania Bora Initiative Launched EU-Funded "Vijana Plus" Project to Empower Youth Leaders and Youth-led CSOs Across Tanzania

March 21, 2025, Dar es Salaam – Save the Children, in partnership with Tanzania Bora Initiative, officially launched the EU-funded "Vijana Plus" project, valued at over €2 million, with a goal of reaching 700,000 youth and 40 youth-led CSOs directly across Tanzania.

The Vijana Plus project is designed to strengthen the capacity of youth-led civil society organizations (CSOs) and young leaders in Tanzania, enabling them to become independent actors of good governance and development.

A Strong Step Towards Empowering Youth

Hon. Patrobas Katambi, Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister's Office (Labour, Youth, Employment & Persons with Disability), was the Guest of Honor at the event. He emphasized that the Vijana Plus project is a significant step in empowering youth and youth-led CSOs, especially in achieving the country’s development strategies and Youth Development Policy of 2007 edition of 2024.

"The project is a crucial initiative to build the capacity of youth, particularly in fulfilling national development goals. Policies and plans have been designed to boost youth employment, foster skills development, and ensure that youth voices are heard in leadership and decision-making at various levels," said Katambi.

He also highlighted key national policies that aim to empower youth, including the National Youth Development Policy 2007 (2024 edition), the National Vision 2025, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. He expressed satisfaction that the project would involve collaboration with youth development officers in his office and across all regions of implementation, ensuring its sustainability beyond the funding period.

Empowering Youth for Future Leadership

The Vijana Plus project will target 40 youth-led Civil Society organizations (CSOs) and 150 young leaders including young artists and journalist, providing them with capacity-building in leadership, innovation, and various skills that will enhance their ability to become self-employed, gain employment, and actively participate in decision-making processes.

Save the Children’s Country Director, Angela Kauleni, spoke about the project’s focus on empowering young leaders to play a key role in governance and development across the nation.

 “At Save the Children, we believe every child and young person deserves the opportunity to achieve their goals, engage in development opportunities, and contribute to the progress of their communities. However, we recognize that many young leaders in Tanzania face challenges that hinder their ability to reach their full potential, particularly when it comes to engaging in decision-making processes and creating innovative, sustainable projects that contribute to good governance and community development,” Angela said.

She further expressed that Save the Children is committed to working closely with the government to advance youth development, supporting the implementation of key national policies such as the National Youth Development Policy, National Vision 2025, and the SDGs.

The project partner, Tanzania Bora Initiative, emphasized that the future of Tanzania lies in the hands of its youth. They believe that the Vijana Plus project will enhance the operational capacity of youth, allowing them to become a driving force for positive change in the country.

“Through this project, we aim to empower youth and strengthen youth-led organizations, making them key players in community development and national policy-making. We understand that youth are not a single group with identical needs, so we, Tanzania Bora Initiative, in collaboration with Save the Children International, are committed to ensuring that every youth whether from rural or urban areas, male or female, with disabilities, or from marginalized groups—has an opportunity to participate in this project,” said Ismail Biro-Deputy Executive Director, Tanzania Bora Initiative.

Continued EU Support for Youth-Led Development

Neema Bwaira, Programme Manager for Civil Society Economics & Governance Section at the European Union, also spoke at the launch, expressing the EU's continued commitment to supporting youth organizations through training and funding.

 “As the EU, we are constantly seeking strategies and approaches to support youth organizations, particularly those just starting but with big dreams to contribute to development in our country (Tanzania). That is why we have developed this strategy, where we fund youth organizations to help them achieve their goals and create a meaningful impact,” Neema said.

Project Overview and Expected Impact

The Vijana Plus project will be implemented for three years, from 2025 to 2028, across seven regions in mainland Tanzania and five regions in Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba). The project will focus on building the capacity of youth-led CSOs to implement innovative, sustainable programs that encourage continuous engagement and constructive dialogue with decision-makers and key actors, while promoting resilience, leadership, and governance.

Additionally, the project will strengthen the EU Youth Sounding Board (YSB), equipping its members to advise the EU on youth issues and influence decision-making at local, national, and regional levels.

The Vijana Plus project is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of leaders and decision-makers in Tanzania, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and tools to drive sustainable development and good governance.