DODOMA: THE Tanzanian government has directed the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) to speed up plans to transform it into a dedicated poverty-fighting institution to improve coordination, efficiency and sustainability of programmes targeting vulnerable households.
Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, issued the directive in Dodoma during a meeting with TASAF management to discuss strengthening government and development partners’ cooperation in supporting poor households.
Prof Mkumbo said the proposed transformation should draw lessons from previous programmes, strengthen monitoring and evaluation, and examine models used in other countries to identify the most suitable framework for Tanzania.
Moreover, he directed that the research and recommendations on the appropriate institutional structure be completed before the end of 2026.
The review will also assess whether to establish a dedicated central institution or use existing institutions to coordinate and oversee poverty-reduction programmes.
TASAF Executive Director Shadrack Mziray said the fund’s programmes aim to help households increase income-generating activities, build savings and invest in their economic growth and long-term welfare.
He said the interventions form part of broader efforts to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty across the country.
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World Bank Senior Economist and Representative Claudia Zambra said efforts are underway to improve the identification of poor households by considering the assets available to them for household use.
She said strengthening social protection systems, including the Social Protection Registry, would help identify households in need, facilitate the delivery of assistance during emergencies and improve household resilience.
Ms Zambra added that better targeting and stronger social protection systems would enhance the contribution of government programmes to poverty reduction.
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