TPSF: Women, youth development core of our agenda

Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) Executive Director, Mr Godfrey Simbeye

By Correspondent

The Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) has said youth and women are priority groups in the country’s development endeavours and that the foundation’s strategy to develop them is at the core of its agenda.

To put this into action, the new TPSF cluster system will give the two groups special positions so as to spur their development in the private sector.

Speaking at a meeting to sensitise TPSF members in Mbeya Region on the need to work in clusters at the weekend, the Foundation’s executive director, Godfrey Simbeye said involvement of youths and women will help emancipate them

economically, hence steer their development and that of the country at large.

 

“There are a lot of women business dealers nowadays, that is a reason why we have decided to recognize them in the foundation’s new setup,” he said.

 

Unemployment problems facing youth are serious and they need serious solution, he said.

 

Under the proposed system, a new TPSF board structure will be based on clusters and inclusion of special interest groups such as women, youths and people with disabilities, he said. 

 

 There will be ten clusters that will be expanded depending on the changes within the economy.

 

The clusters are agriculture, manufacturing/industry, extractive, industries and energy, and tourism and natural resources.

 

Others are banking and financial services, services, trade and commerce, private sector organisations based in Zanzibar, regional business associations and women entrepreneurs.

 

According to recommendations of the sub-committee of the task force on strengthening the common voice of the private sector in Tanzania, TPSF will have 11 board members of which 10 are elected based on representation picked from the clusters and one position is reserved for the outgoing chairperson.

 

TPSF will strengthen training given to youths and make them value entrepreneurship instead of depending on employment, he said.

 

“In this time and age, young people should be creative and entrepreneurs,” he said, adding that the foundation works with various stakeholders in and outside the country in building such capacity to youth.

 

Based on this, TPSF will forward recommendations to the government to seek its support in programmes toward women and youths development, he said.

 

“We want to have a very huge impact in the government’s five year development plan especially with regard to youth and women entrepreneurial and business skills,” he said.

 

The one-day seminar that took place in Mbeya also involved members from other Southern Highlands regions of Iringa, Rukwa, Njombe, Katavi and Ruvuma.

 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN