INCLU-CITIES
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Tanzanie
Nuru
Michael, in her late twenties, enjoys her participation in the first cohort of
trainees at Mwanza city’s first open digital innovation hub, thanks to Enabel’s collaboration with Ennovate Ventures and the government.
“I’m
excited to get an opportunity to participate in a guided learning about digital
business; I’ll study digital marketing. I’m eager to learn and prove that girls
can do what they need with technology. My success will prove to other girls
that they can be good in technology as well,” she said.
With
funding from the European Union, Enabel provided Ennovate Ventures, a business
development company, a grant to run a two year initiative to empower youth’s as
competitive entrepreneurs in the digital
ecosystems.
The upbeat
tone reflected on the Senior Mwanza Regional economist Patrick Karangwa, who officially launched the lab on behalf of the Regional Commissioner on
15 October 2024.
“We
hope that this centre will help facilitating advancement of personal growth for
youth and their families. Technology is critical for development. Our youth need technology skills because
Tanzania must benefits from integrating in international markets,” said Patrick Karangwa.
This
is the first open digital innovation lab in Mwanza, giving youth access to
internet, online courses that aim to make them tech savvy to take on challenges
of the digital economy.
Tanzania’s
urban population, currently estimated at 30% of its overall population is
expected to reach 50% around 2040. While the cities in Tanzania offer
opportunities for job creation, innovation and inclusion the promises is
tainted with low level of professionalization of business, limited access to
technology, lack of financial literacy among other limitations.
“Through Ennovate Ventures, Enabel supports
effort to transform youth into technology savvy entrepreneurs. Youth
entrepreneurs, especially girls, face challenges including capital, business
ideas, and markets. One of the solutions harness mobile technology for
business,” said Thomas Ekaruwa, TVET Advisor with the INCLU-CITIES project.
The
two year project, INCLU-CITIES is part
of the European Union's bigger program, dubbed
SASA , that intends to create wealth and enhance the quality of life for
people – in particular women and youth –
of the cities of Mwanza, Tanga and Pemba through improving conservation of the environment and creating decent jobs.
It
is expected that by the end of the project a particular number of youths, like
Nuru, in Mwanza will have valuable skills to the labour market and many more
will be capable to venture on their own as business persons.
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