Women entrepreneurs in Tanzania have for long been under-represented in its economy, with a majority of them running small, informal businesses.

But a Commonwealth project has been helping them tilt the balance in their favour.

Over the last two years, rural women in Zanzibar, Tanzania, have been trained in new skills that have enabled them to succeed in the local food processing industry.

This project has helped the women improve their skills with technical and business knowledge, which enabled them to run an agro-processing plant funded by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC).

From January 2005 to June 2006, the Commonwealth Secretariat supported this agro-technology programme and the Small Industries Development Organisation -- the Tanzanian Government’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) development agency.

“The grant assisted the agency in comprehensively modernising their support programme for the SME sector,” said George Saibel, Director of the Secretariat’s Special Advisory Services Division, which oversaw the project.

“We also worked with local experts to impart new skills to the women by teaching them about new manufacturing technologies and health and safety requirements.”

The first phase of the project focused on bolstering the Small Industries Development Organisation. Its food laboratory was upgraded and a new training manual was developed to incorporate modern business management modules. Six new food products, including honey, avocado and ‘mchicha nafaka’ (grain amaranth), were also introduced to the local market.

The next phase involved about 70 local trainers who assisted the agency in providing basic, month-long courses to more than 150 potential micro-businesses. An advanced business and quality management training course was also offered to nearly 200 SMEs.

Through the programme, established SMEs received advice on improving product design which resulted in some 40 new brands entering the market.

“There are indications that established businesses are improving their turnover and that at least 50 per cent of those who received basic training have made attempts to start a micro-business,” stated Roland Charles, Enterprise Development Adviser with the Secretariat.

“To sustain this growth, the government will have to continue strengthening the business advice and counselling provided to these SMEs.”

The Small Industries Development Organisation and relevant authorities are now collaborating to assist more SMEs in receiving certification for export.