MWANZA: FROM vibrant batik fabrics and intricately woven baskets to homemade soap, thriving livestock and sturdy permanent houses, a quiet but remarkable transformation is unfolding among families once weighed down by poverty.
Where daily life was once a struggle to secure basic necessities, new opportunities are taking root, livelihoods are blossoming and dreams once held back by hardship are finding room to flourish.
Through hard work, determination and timely support, these households are turning the page on deprivation and writing new chapters defined by resilience, dignity and hope for a better future.
In Misungwi District Council, Mwanza Region, the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF), through its Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN) Programme, is helping turn these aspirations into reality.
By extending a helping hand to poor and vulnerable households, the programme is opening doors to income-generating opportunities, nurturing a culture of saving and financial inclusion and supporting access to essential community services.
For many beneficiaries, this support is proving to be more than a safety net; it is a stepping stone towards economic independence, stronger families and a future in which prosperity is built through their own efforts.
Behind these achievements are remarkable stories of women who have moved from depending on assistance to becoming entrepreneurs, property owners and active contributors to their communities’ economic development.
This comes as the world marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, with testimonies from PSSN beneficiaries in Misungwi District highlighting TASAF’s role in transforming lives and creating sustainable pathways out of poverty.
As Tanzania joined the international community in commemorating the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, observed annually on October 17, the achievements recorded provide practical examples of the importance of inclusive, peoplecentred social protection interventions.
The commemoration serves as a reminder that eradicating poverty requires more than addressing immediate financial hardship.
It demands sustained investment in human capabilities, access to essential services, productive opportunities and systems that enable vulnerable populations to build resilient and dignified livelihoods.
Turning skills into sustainable livelihoods
At Igenge Village in Misungwi District, Helena Cosmas, the Chairperson of the Mlimani City Savings Group, is among the beneficiaries whose lives have significantly improved through TASAF’s interventions.
Together with fellow group members, Ms Cosmas engages in the production and sale of batik fabrics and handmade baskets, generating income that enables them to meet household needs while gradually expanding their economic activities.
For Ms Cosmas, the transformation goes beyond earning money. It represents a journey towards financial independence, dignity and the ability to provide for her family without depending entirely on others.
“Before TASAF, life was extremely challenging, and meeting my family’s basic needs was a constant struggle. Today, through the skills and opportunities we have gained, I can earn my own income, support my family and plan for a better future. I am proud that I can now stand on my own,” says Ms Cosmas.
The Mlimani City Savings Group also demonstrates how collective action can create lasting economic opportunities.
Beyond producing and selling their products, members save part of their earnings in a common fund, which they use to provide loans to one another for individual businesses and household investments.
This revolving savings and lending arrangement has strengthened members’ financial discipline, improved access to capital and created opportunities for economic growth beyond the initial programme support.
Another beneficiary, Flora Mabilika, shares a similar story of transformation, describing how TASAF’s support has enabled her to educate her children while engaging in productive activities that provide a more reliable source of household income.
“Through TASAF, I have managed to take my children to school, and they are performing well in their studies.
Our group produces mats that we sell for up to 60,000/- each.
This business has given us an opportunity to earn income, save money and improve our families’ lives,” explains Mabilika.
Her testimony highlights an important dimension of the PSSN Programme: the relationship between household economic security and human capital development.
When vulnerable families are empowered economically, they are better positioned to keep their children in school, meet healthcare needs and invest in their long-term well-being.
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From beneficiary to entrepreneur
In Mapilinga Village, Misungwi District, a member of the Nguvukazi Group, Muyanja Magesa Mafuru has turned newly acquired soap-making skills into a promising business.
Through capacity-building opportunities facilitated under the TASAF programme, Mafuru learned how to manufacture soap, a skill that has enabled her to establish an income-generating activity serving customers within her village and at local markets.
“TASAF has given me more than financial support. It has equipped me with practical skills that I am now using to earn a living. I produce soap and sell it to people in my village and at the markets. The income helps me meet my household needs, and I am determined to continue growing my business,” says Mafuru
Her experience demonstrates the importance of equipping vulnerable households with productive skills and opportunities that enable them to participate meaningfully in local economies.
By linking social protection support with livelihood development, TASAF has helped beneficiaries move beyond immediate consumption needs towards productive investments and economic self-reliance.
Building assets, securing the future
For Grasiana Petro, another TASAF beneficiary, the programme has helped turn aspirations that once seemed beyond reach into tangible achievements.
Through the support and opportunities associated with TASAF, Petro has progressively strengthened her household’s economic position, acquiring cattle, investing in farming and constructing a house with two commercial business spaces.
These investments represent more than material possessions. They provide productive assets, opportunities for income diversification and a stronger foundation for her family’s future.
“I am very grateful to TASAF because the programme has completely changed the direction of my life. I have managed to build my own house, acquire cattle and invest in farming. I also have two business spaces that provide opportunities for additional income. These are achievements I once thought would be impossible. Today, I have hope and confidence in my family’s future,” Ms Petro said.
Her journey illustrates how social protection interventions, when combined with productive investments and individual determination, can help vulnerable households accumulate assets, withstand economic challenges and establish sustainable livelihoods.
Beyond households: Investing in community development
While individual success stories provide compelling evidence of the programme’s impact, TASAF’s contribution to poverty reduction in Mwanza extends beyond household incomes to the development of essential community infrastructure.
According to Gloria Bunami, the PSSN Coordinator for Misungwi District Council, since the programme commenced in the district in 2015, it has contributed to the improvement of community infrastructure while supporting vulnerable households to strengthen their livelihoods.
“Since TASAF began implementing the PSSN Programme in Misungwi District in 2015, we have witnessed significant achievements both at household and community levels. The programme has supported the development of schools, health facilities, dormitories and road infrastructure, while empowering individual beneficiaries to engage in productive economic activities,” Bunami explained.
Among the communitylevel investments are educational facilities, including those at Mwanangwa secondary school, that was built at cost of over 600m/-, outpatient department (OPD) facilities, dormitories and road infrastructure, which have contributed to improved access to essential services and strengthened community development.
These investments play an important role in addressing structural dimensions of poverty.
Improved roads facilitate movement and access to markets, educational infrastructure supports learning opportunities and health facilities bring essential services closer to communities.
Alongside these achievements, interventions such as the Productive Grant have provided opportunities for eligible beneficiaries to invest in income-generating activities, strengthen existing businesses and progressively build productive assets.
Social protection as a pathway out of poverty The experiences of Helena, Flora, Muyanja and Grasiana reflect the broader objectives of TASAF’s Productive Social Safety Net Programme, which seeks to reduce poverty and vulnerability while enabling poor households to improve their livelihoods and strengthen their productive capacity.
Through interventions that include cash transfers, public works, livelihood enhancement and economic inclusion initiatives, the programme has supported vulnerable households in meeting immediate needs while building a foundation for sustainable economic development.
The success of beneficiaries participating in savings groups also highlights the importance of financial inclusion and community-based economic cooperation in sustaining development gains.
By encouraging beneficiaries to save, borrow responsibly, invest and collectively pursue economic opportunities, these groups are helping create a culture of entrepreneurship and resilience that can continue beyond direct programme assistance.
Importantly, the economic empowerment of women has produced benefits that extend beyond individual participants. Increased household incomes enable families to invest in children’s education, improve nutrition, access healthcare and contribute more actively to local economic development.
For Helena, Flora, Muyanja and Grasiana, the impact of TASAF can be measured not only in the businesses established, assets acquired or income earned, but also in the dignity restored, opportunities created and confidence gained.
Their stories demonstrate a powerful lesson: When vulnerable households are given the right support, skills and opportunities, they can move beyond poverty, transform their livelihoods and become active drivers of their own development.
As the world reflects on its commitment to ending poverty, the journeys of these women stand as compelling evidence that social protection is not merely about providing assistance; it is about creating opportunities, restoring dignity and empowering people to build a better future.
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