Tanzania's government has directed the Tanzania Social Action Fund to accelerate its transformation into a dedicated institution focused on fighting poverty, aiming to improve how programmes targeting vulnerable households are coordinated, delivered and sustained. The Minister of State in the President's Office for Planning and Investment, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, issued the directive during a meeting in Dodoma with TASAF management to discuss strengthening cooperation between government and development partners in supporting poor households.
Prof Mkumbo said the proposed transformation should learn from earlier programmes, strengthen how results are monitored and evaluated, and examine poverty-reduction models used elsewhere to find the right approach for Tanzania. He directed that research and recommendations on the appropriate institutional structure be completed before the end of 2026. The review will also assess whether to create a new central institution or use existing bodies to coordinate and oversee poverty-reduction work.
TASAF Executive Director Shadrack Mziray explained that the fund's programmes aim to help households increase income-generating activities, build savings and invest in their economic growth and long-term welfare. These interventions are part of broader efforts to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty across the country.
World Bank Senior Economist and Representative Claudia Zambra said efforts are underway to improve how poor households are identified by considering the assets available to them. She said strengthening social protection systems, including the Social Protection Registry, would help identify households in need, enable delivery of assistance during emergencies and improve household resilience. Better targeting and stronger social protection systems would enhance how government programmes contribute to poverty reduction.
For savers, borrowers, business owners and investors in Tanzania, the restructuring could lead to more efficient delivery of support to vulnerable households, potentially broadening economic participation and reducing poverty that constrains domestic demand and economic growth.