Historical Context

Founded informally in 2017 and formally established in 2018 as a registered non-profit (Reg. No. OONGO/R/1723), the Tanzania Entrepreneurship Foundation (TEF) emerged from a vision 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 capacity to deliver transformative projects, positioning it as a leader in Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem. The Smart Climate Resilience Livelihood Systems project was launched in January 2025 in Sangasanga Village, Morogoro Municipality. It builds on TEF’s commitment to entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, and environmental conservation. This project addresses climate-induced challenges through innovative and community-driven solutions.

Introduction

The Smart Climate Resilience Livelihood Systems project is spearheaded by TEF. It is funded by Sustainable World Corporation (SWC)-Sweden. The initiative represents a pioneering effort to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity in Sangasanga Village, Mkundi Ward, Morogoro Municipality. By deploying climate-smart technologies, the project addresses water scarcity, food insecurity, and income poverty. It empowers vulnerable communities to thrive amidst climate change. Aligned with TEF’s mission, this initiative fosters a community-led movement for entrepreneurship. It also promotes economic empowerment and environmental conservation. The initiative integrates water management, climate-smart agriculture, and tree planting to deliver sustainable livelihoods.

The project targets Sangasanga, a village identified as a climate vulnerability hotspot in Morogoro. It addresses the threefold challenge of drought, malnutrition, and poverty. It does this through innovative interventions. TEF provides climate-proof water supply, small-scale irrigation, and ecosystem restoration. It equips farmers and women with the tools, techniques, and frameworks to excel. This approach promotes gender equity and environmental sustainability. This project exemplifies TEF’s dedication to transforming lives through smart climate solutions. It reinforces its role as a catalyst for resilience in Tanzania.

The Smart Climate Approach

The Smart Climate Resilience Livelihood Systems project embodies “smart climate” principles through:

• Climate-Adaptive Technologies: Solar-powered boreholes, drip irrigation schemes, and greenhouses optimize water and land use in a drought-prone region.
• Community Governance: Community-Owned Water Supply Organizations (COWSOs) and Farmer Field Schools empower locals to manage resources sustainably.
• Data-Driven Design: Vulnerability assessments (2022) and climate projections from the Tanzania Meteorological Agency inform targeted interventions.
• Sustainability: Reusable infrastructure and ecosystem restoration ensure long-term resilience, reducing dependence on rain-fed agriculture.

These elements enable TEF to address Sangasanga’s climate challenges—droughts, crop failures, and water scarcity—while fostering entrepreneurship and economic diversification. The project aligns with Tanzania’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). It also aligns with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC, 2023) and National Climate Change Strategy (2023). This alignment underscores its strategic importance.

TEF’s Role in Sangasanga

TEF serves as the executing agency for the project. It works closely with village and district authorities. This includes the Morogoro Municipal Council. Together, they aim to deliver transformative outcomes. From its Morogoro headquarters, TEF coordinates activities across two components: water supply and climate-smart agriculture. Key contributions include:

• Climate-Proof Water Supply: TEF oversees the drilling of two boreholes. These are equipped with solar-powered pumps. They also manage the installation of water storage tanks and the construction of community water points. Training programs for COWSOs ensure sustainable water governance, with gender-inclusive by-laws to prioritize women’s access.
• Climate-Smart Agriculture: TEF establishes drip irrigation schemes and greenhouses, alongside nurseries for horticultural crops and trees. Through Farmer Field Schools, TEF trains 100 farmers. This includes 60 women and 40 men. They are taught best practices, operation, and maintenance. This transforms traditional farming into resilient systems.
• Environmental Conservation: TEF promotes planting of fruit, nitrogen-fixing, and ornamental trees across 50 hectares, alongside beekeeping initiatives. These activities restore ecosystems, enhance soil fertility, and diversify income through honey and fruit sales.
• Community Education and Outreach: TEF integrates climate resilience education into its programs for schools, women’s groups, and farmers’ collectives. Okoa FM (106.3) broadcasts monthly episodes on water management, smart agriculture, and gender equity, reaching 10,000 listeners in Morogoro.
• Market Linkages: TEF connects farmers to internal and external markets, promoting value addition (e.g., fruit processing) and facilitating access to Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) and Village Savings and Lending Associations (VSLAs).

TEF embeds these activities within its entrepreneurial ecosystem. This empowers Sangasanga’s residents to overcome climate challenges. It fosters economic independence and sustainable livelihoods.

Partnership and Funding

The project is funded by SWC-Sweden, reflecting TEF’s strategic partnership with global leaders in sustainability. SWC’s financial support allows TEF to deploy innovative technologies. It helps scale community-based interventions. This support complements TEF’s partnerships with Better Business-USA and Global Food Gardening International (GFG)-Switzerland. The National Environment Management Council (NEMC), Tanzania’s National Implementing Entity, oversees monitoring and reporting, ensuring alignment with national climate priorities.

TEF collaborates with local authorities, including the District Executive Director, to ensure project ownership and sustainability. By leveraging lessons from similar initiatives (e.g., SUGECO and Sokoine University’s solar pump projects), TEF enhances the project’s impact, positioning it as a model for replication across Tanzania.

Outcomes and Impact

The project delivers economic, social, and environmental benefits, with a focus on vulnerable groups, particularly women:

• Economic Benefits: By 2028, the project aims to increase crop and livestock productivity by 30%. This increase enables farmers to sell surplus produce, fruits, and honey. Market linkages and financial services (SACCOs, VSLAs) support 500 households, reducing income poverty.
• Social Benefits: Access to boreholes reduces women’s and children’s drudgery, saving 4 hours daily previously spent fetching water. This time enables women to pursue entrepreneurial activities and girls to attend school, addressing gender-based challenges like school dropouts.
• Environmental Benefits: Planting 50 hectares of trees restores ecosystems. It sequesters an estimated 500 tons of carbon annually. This also enhances soil fertility through nitrogen-fixing species. Beekeeping promotes pollination, boosting crop yields by 15%.

A success story is that of Fatuma, a Sangasanga farmer who joined TEF’s Farmer Field School in 2025. Trained in drip irrigation and beekeeping, Fatuma now manages a greenhouse producing tomatoes and sells honey, earning TSh 200,000 monthly. Her income supports her children’s education, demonstrating how smart climate solutions transform lives.

Since 2021, TEF’s broader programs have reached 11,000 people across 56% of Tanzania’s regions. In Sangasanga, the project has engaged 500 residents. Sixty percent of them are women. The initiative fosters resilience. It has reduced malnutrition rates by an estimated 20%.

Challenges and Solutions

The project addresses several challenges:

• Drought and Water Scarcity: Solar-powered boreholes and drip irrigation minimize reliance on erratic rainfall. Boreholes are drilled to 140m. This ensures access to reliable groundwater.
• Cultural Barriers: Gender norms burden women with water fetching. TEF’s COWSOs ensure women’s leadership roles, while Okoa FM reduces stigma around women’s economic roles.
• Financial Constraints: High initial costs for greenhouses are mitigated through SACCOs and VSLAs, enabling farmers to access credit.
• Technical Capacity: Limited skills in irrigation maintenance need to be improved. This is addressed through Training of Trainers programs. By 2026, 20 community members will be certified.

These solutions reflect TEF’s problem-solving capacity and commitment to sustainable outcomes.

Global and Local Impact

The project positions TEF as a leader in Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem, recognized for advancing women’s empowerment and climate resilience. By aligning with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Tanzania’s NDC, TEF contributes to international climate goals. Locally, the project enhances Morogoro’s reputation as a hub for smart climate solutions, complementing initiatives like Spacerpad.

The project’s environmental impact—restoring 50 hectares and reducing reliance on disposable resources—sets a precedent for rural resilience. Its economic impact empowers farmers like Fatuma to become community leaders, inspiring entrepreneurial ventures. Socially, it addresses gender disparities, reducing women’s labor and enhancing girls’ education.

Future Commitment

TEF is committed to scaling the Smart Climate Resilience Livelihood Systems project beyond 2028. The Board, chaired by Dr. Luseko Chilagane, governs this commitment. Future goals include:

• Expanding drip irrigation to 100 hectares by 2030, reaching 1,000 farmers.
• Planting 100 hectares of trees, sequestering 1,000 tons of carbon annually.
• Establishing 10 additional boreholes across Morogoro, serving 5,000 households.

TEF will refine market linkages, strengthen SACCOs, and collaborate with NEMC and local authorities to ensure sustainability. This project embodies TEF’s vision of a resilient, entrepreneurial Tanzania, where communities thrive through smart climate solutions.