Livelihood Recovery for Women Vendors in Tanzania

Introduction

Dear GlobalGiving Team and Supporters,

We are pleased to share the first update for our newly launched project, Livelihood Recovery for Women Vendors in Tanzania. Although the project is still in its early fundraising stage, we have begun preparatory activities to ensure immediate implementation once funds are received.

This initiative aims to support women street vendors in Mwanza who lost their working capital, goods, and income due to post-election disruptions and rising living costs. These women are the backbone of their families, and restoring their livelihoods means restoring hope and dignity to entire households.

Current Situation on the Ground

In Mwanza, many women vendors continue to face severe economic hardship. Most operate small-scale businesses selling fruits, vegetables, and household items. Due to previous disruptions and ongoing economic pressures:

• Many lost their savings and capital.
• Some have been forced to reduce stock significantly.
• Household income instability has affected children’s school attendance and nutrition.

Without immediate support, these women risk falling deeper into poverty.

Activities Undertaken So Far

Although we are yet to receive funding, NESODO has already begun groundwork activities to ensure readiness:

1. Beneficiary Identification Framework Developed
   Criteria for selecting the most vulnerable women vendors has been finalized, prioritizing single mothers, widows, and women with school-age children.
2. Baseline Preparation Tools Designed
   We have prepared simple baseline assessment tools to document income levels, business size, and household dependency before support begins.
3. Partnership Engagement
   Initial consultations have been conducted with:
• Local market leaders in Mwanza
• Community development officers
• Women vendor representatives
4. Training Curriculum Drafted
   Entrepreneurship and financial literacy training modules have been prepared, focusing on:
• Basic bookkeeping
• Savings culture
• Stock management
• Business resilience planning

These preparations ensure immediate rollout once funding is secured.

Expected First Phase Implementation (Upon Funding)

Once funds are received, the project will begin with:

• Selection and registration of the first 50 women vendors
• Baseline data collection
• Distribution of small business recovery grants
• Provision of working tools (baskets, trays, protective materials)
• Entrepreneurship and financial literacy training sessions
• Formation of peer-support savings groups

Early Impact (Anticipated)

Within the first three months of implementation, we expect:

• At least 50 women to restart their businesses
• Restoration of daily income streams
• Improved household food security
• Re-enrollment or improved school attendance for children
• Strengthened confidence and financial management skills

Challenges

The main challenge at this stage is:

• No funds raised yet to initiate direct support.

However, NESODO remains fully committed and prepared to begin immediately once donations are received.

Call to Action

We kindly invite supporters to help us launch this transformative initiative:

• €43 can help a woman restock fresh produce.
• €87 provides a full startup kit and mentorship.
• €217 fully supports one woman’s business recovery journey.

Every contribution, regardless of size, brings us closer to restoring dignity, income, and hope to women vendors and their families in Mwanza.

Appreciation

We thank GlobalGiving for providing this platform and for supporting grassroots organizations like NESODO. We look forward to sharing tangible impact stories and photos in our next update once implementation begins.

Together, we can help women rebuild, recover, and thrive.