• Funding targets skills development, jobs, and support for vulnerable households

• Programs expected to benefit over 3 million people

The World Bank said on Tuesday it had approved $550 million in financing for two new education and social protection programs in Tanzania.

The funding will support the second phase of the Education and Skills for Productive Jobs program (ESPJ-II) and the third phase of the Productive Social Safety Net initiative (PSSN III).

ESPJ-II, with $300 million in financing, aims to equip more graduates with market-relevant skills and support inclusive employment in key sectors of Tanzania’s economy. The program is expected to reach about one million people, at least 45% of them women, and help more than 656,000 graduates secure jobs or improve their career prospects.

PSSN III, backed by $250 million, aims to expand income-generating opportunities and strengthen human capital among vulnerable households, while reinforcing the country’s social protection system. It is expected to benefit around 2.2 million people through cash transfers and climate-resilient public works. The program will also promote savings and access to finance, and provide training to support self-employment and more diversified sources of income.

“Earlier phases of these programs have shown that investing in people delivers results — strengthening human capital, improving the well-being of the poorest households, and equipping young people with job-relevant skills,” said Nathan Belete, World Bank country director for Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Tanzania has introduced a range of policies to strengthen its social protection system. The National Five-Year Development Plan 2021/22–2025/26 includes measures to expand coverage to both formal and informal sectors, while promoting inclusion and the economic empowerment of people with disabilities.

The government is also pursuing education reforms to better align skills with labour market needs. In 2025, it announced a program to train 8,000 young people across various sectors to improve employability and strengthen workforce competitiveness.

Lydie Mobio