Historical Context

The Tanzania Entrepreneurship Foundation (TEF), initiated informally in 2017 and formally established in 2018 as a registered non-profit (Reg. No. OONGO/R/1723), was founded to empower Tanzanians as job creators, inspired by Mr. Gary Shotton of Inspiring Better Business and Tanzanian native Octavian Msongamwanja. By 2021, TEF’s registration solidified its role as a leader in Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem. It delivered projects that foster entrepreneurship. These projects also promote sustainability. The Smart Agriculture Entrepreneurship Training and Climate Resilience Livelihood project was launched in July 2025. This took place in Sangasanga Village, Morogoro Municipality. It builds on TEF’s commitment to economic empowerment. The project focuses on environmental conservation and community-led innovation. It equips farmers with skills to thrive in a changing climate.

Introduction

The Smart Agriculture Entrepreneurship Training and Climate Resilience Livelihood project is implemented by TEF. Global Food Gardening (GFG)-Switzerland funds the project. It empowers smallholder farmers in Sangasanga Village, Mkundi Ward, Morogoro Municipality. Farmers overcome climate-induced challenges through innovative agricultural practices. The project integrates entrepreneurship training, climate-smart technologies, and market linkages. This enhances food security, income generation, and environmental sustainability. These efforts align with TEF’s mission to foster a community-led movement for economic and ecological resilience.

Targeting 100 households in Sangasanga, a climate vulnerability hotspot, the project addresses drought, food insecurity, and poverty through practical solutions. The project focuses on women, who make up 60% of the beneficiaries. It reduces gender disparities. It also equips farmers with the tools, techniques, and frameworks to excel as agripreneurs. This initiative complements TEF’s Smart Climate Resilience Livelihood Systems project, reinforcing Sangasanga’s transformation into a hub for smart agriculture.

The Smart Agriculture Approach

The project embodies “smart agriculture” through:

• Entrepreneurial Training: Farmer Field Schools deliver hands-on training in sustainable farming, business management, and market access.
• Climate-Adaptive Technologies: Drip irrigation, greenhouses, and solar-powered boreholes optimize resource use in dry seasons.
• Environmental Conservation: Tree planting and water conservation enhance soil fertility and ecosystem resilience.
• Market-Driven Strategies: Value addition and market linkages ensure economic viability for horticultural crops.

These elements enable TEF to address Sangasanga’s challenges—crop failures, water scarcity, and high food prices—while fostering entrepreneurship. The project aligns with Tanzania’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). It also relates to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC, 2023). Furthermore, it is in line with the National Climate Change Strategy. These alignments prioritize agriculture and water management.

TEF’s Role in Sangasanga

TEF, as the executing agency, coordinates activities from its Morogoro headquarters, collaborating with village authorities and GFG-Switzerland. Key contributions include:

• Entrepreneurship Training: TEF trains 100 farmers, including 60 women and 40 men, through Farmer Field Schools. The training covers drip irrigation and greenhouse management. It also includes marketing and conservation techniques. Workshops with TanTrade and SIDO expose farmers to value chains.
• Water Supply: TEF oversees the drilling of two boreholes with solar pumps, installing storage tanks and community water points. Training for Community-Owned Water Supply Organizations (COWSOs) ensures sustainable governance, with gender-inclusive by-laws.
• Climate-Smart Agriculture: TEF establishes drip irrigation schemes and demonstration greenhouses, alongside nurseries for horticultural crops and fruit trees (e.g., mangoes, moringa). Training focuses on dry-season production and value addition.
• Environmental Conservation: TEF distributes fruit trees to 100 households. This promotes planting across public and private areas. The goal is to enhance ecosystems and diversify income.
• Community Outreach: TEF integrates smart agriculture education into programs for women’s groups and schools. Okoa FM (106.3) broadcasts episodes on farming techniques and gender equity, reaching 5,000 listeners.
• Market Linkages: TEF connects farmers to local markets, hotels, and businesses, facilitating Village Community Banking (VICOBA) for financial access.

By embedding these activities within its entrepreneurial ecosystem, TEF empowers Sangasanga’s farmers to build resilient, profitable businesses.

Partnership and Funding

The project is funded by GFG-Switzerland (€10,000). They also provide technical expertise in sustainable agriculture. This reflects TEF’s strategic partnership with global leaders in food systems. GFG’s support helps TEF deploy innovative technologies. It delivers practical training. This complements TEF’s collaborations with Better Business-USA and Sustainable World Corporation (SWC)-Sweden. TEF works with Morogoro Municipal Council to ensure project ownership, drawing on lessons from Sokoine University’s agricultural initiatives.

Outcomes and Impact

With GFG’s funding and expertise, the project delivers economic, social, and environmental benefits, prioritizing vulnerable groups:

• Economic Benefits: By July 2026, 50% of trainees adopt drip irrigation, increasing horticultural yields by an estimated 40%. Market access for 60% of farmers boosts income by TSh 100,000 monthly per household.
• Social Benefits: Boreholes reduce women’s water-fetching time from 30km treks, saving 3 hours daily. This enables women to engage in training and girls to attend school, reducing dropout rates by 15%.
• Environmental Benefits: Planting 500 fruit trees across 100 households sequesters 50 tons of carbon annually and enhances soil fertility. Water conservation practices reduce usage by 20%.

A success story is that of Mariam, a Sangasanga farmer trained in 2025. Mariam uses drip irrigation and marketing skills she learned from TEF’s workshops. She grows tomatoes in a greenhouse. She sells the surplus to local hotels for TSh 150,000 monthly. Her income supports her daughter’s education, showcasing smart agriculture’s transformative potential.

Since 2021, TEF has reached 11,000 people across Tanzania. In Sangasanga, this project engages 100 direct beneficiaries and 6,000 indirect beneficiaries, reducing malnutrition by an estimated 10%.

Challenges and Solutions

The project addresses key challenges:

• Drought: Solar-powered boreholes and drip irrigation ensure water access, with boreholes drilled to 140m for reliability.
• Gender Norms: Women’s domestic burdens are alleviated through water points and training, with COWSOs ensuring female leadership.
• Market Barriers: Limited market access is overcome through TanTrade exposure and VICOBA financing.
• Technical Skills: Farmer Field Schools certify 20 trainers by 2026, ensuring local expertise.

These solutions demonstrate TEF’s commitment to sustainable outcomes.

Global and Local Impact

The project positions TEF as a leader in Tanzania’s agricultural innovation ecosystem, aligning with global climate goals (e.g., Paris Agreement) and national priorities (NAPA, NDC). Locally, it enhances Sangasanga’s resilience, complementing TEF’s Smart Climate project. Its environmental impact—500 trees planted—sets a model for rural sustainability. The project’s economic and social benefits empower women and youth as agripreneurs.

Future Commitment

TEF, under the governance of Dr. Luseko Chilagane, aims to scale the project by:

• Training 500 farmers by 2028, expanding Farmer Field Schools.
• Establishing 10 greenhouses across Morogoro, reaching 1,000 households.
• Planting 2,000 trees, sequestering 200 tons of carbon annually.
• Increasing Okoa FM’s reach to 20,000 listeners with agricultural content.

TEF will strengthen VICOBA systems and market linkages, ensuring sustainability. This project embodies TEF’s vision of a thriving, entrepreneurial Tanzania, driven by smart agriculture.