Dar es Salaam, 24 August 2026: Thirty youth-led and girl/women-led Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Songwe have completed a three-month capacity-building programme implemented by the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) in partnership with UNICEF Tanzania.
Following a competitive selection process, 15 of the participating organisations have been recommended to receive seed grants of TZS 25 million each, representing a total investment of TZS 375 million to support community-level initiatives.
The programme, introduced in April 2026, was designed to strengthen the organisational and technical capacity of CSOs working closely with communities on issues affecting children, adolescents, young people and women.
Between May and August 2026, approximately 90 representatives from the 30 CSOs participated in online training, mentorship and in-person sessions covering project cycle management, strategic communications and advocacy, institutional administration, financial and grant management, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), resource mobilisation and partnership development, as well as strategic leadership and governance.
Speaking at the seed grants awarding ceremony, Foundation for Civil Society Deputy Executive Director and Head of Programmes Quality and Learning, Cynthia Bavo, said the participating organisations already possess strong community connections and an understanding of the challenges facing children and adolescents.
“These organisations already have what matters most: they are trusted in their communities and they understand the problems children and adolescents face. What this programme has added is the institutional strength to act on that knowledge and to account for it. We are now moving from strengthening institutions to investing in the solutions they are positioned to deliver.”
COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS
Participating CSOs were invited to submit concept notes for a competitive seed grant opportunity. Applications were assessed using a structured and weighted framework covering training attendance, alignment with UNICEF priorities, relevance to community needs, focus on vulnerable children and adolescents, quality of the proposed intervention, child participation, gender responsiveness, monitoring, budget realism, value for money, implementation timelines and risk management.
The 15 selected organisations comprise five CSOs from Dar es Salaam, five from Zanzibar — covering both Unguja and Pemba — and five from Songwe.
They will implement three-month community-level interventions focusing on areas including child protection, education and alternative learning, adolescent wellbeing, gender equality, and prevention of violence against women and children.
A representative from UNICEF Tanzania said reaching children and adolescents who are furthest behind depends on organisations that are already present and trusted within their communities.
“By investing in the capacity of youth-led and women-led CSOs, and then trusting them with resources, this partnership helps build a civil society that can keep delivering for children well beyond a single funding cycle.”
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS AND RESOURCE MOBILISATION
One of the key issues emerging from discussions with participating CSOs was the need to better understand partnerships as a complementary approach to diversifying funding.
Speaking on behalf of Vodacom Tanzania Foundation, a representative emphasised the importance of exploring sustainable financing beyond traditional donor funding, including private-sector partnerships, community support, donors and social enterprise models.
The representative noted that partnerships are not simply another way of raising money, but can help build organisational resilience and enable CSOs to plan beyond individual grant cycles.
A related priority was strengthening community-based resource mobilisation and local giving.
Giving Tuesday Tanzania Country Lead, Alice Zayumba, said CSOs should explore ways of mobilising resources from within the communities they serve, including individual giving, community contributions, local philanthropy, fundraising campaigns, in-kind contributions, volunteerism, faith-based giving, private-sector support and other locally driven approaches.
“Communities are not only beneficiaries; they are also a source of support.”
15 CSOs SELECTED FOR SEED GRANTS
The 15 organisations selected to receive the seed grants are:
| No. | Organisation | Region |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Popular Inspiring and Relief Organisation (PIRO) | Zanzibar (Pemba) |
| 2 | Youth Empowerment and Skills Development Organization (YESDO) | Zanzibar |
| 3 | Gender and Social Reform Organization (GSRO) | Songwe |
| 4 | Kupunguza Umasikini na Kuboresha Hali za Wananchi (KUKHAWA) | Zanzibar (Pemba) |
| 5 | Barefoot College Zanzibar | Zanzibar (Unguja Kaskazini) |
| 6 | Wakina Mama na Watoto Foundation | Songwe |
| 7 | Women and Standard Changes Organization (WSCO) | Songwe |
| 8 | Community Initiative for Development Organization (C.I.D.O) | Songwe |
| 9 | Ruge Mutahaba Foundation | Dar es Salaam |
| 10 | Theatre Arts Feminists (TAF) | Dar es Salaam |
| 11 | Ella Foundation | Dar es Salaam |
| 12 | Madina Climatic Organisation | Dar es Salaam |
| 13 | Young and Alive Initiative | Dar es Salaam |
| 14 | Jumuiya ya Vijana na Elimu Kaskazini 'A' (JUVIEKA) | Zanzibar (Unguja Kaskazini) |
| 15 | Elisha Fashion Youth Support Foundation (EFAD) | Songwe |
The selected organisations are currently participating in Manage Your Grants training from 24 to 28 August 2026, after which the funds will be disbursed. Implementation of the three-month community interventions is expected to begin on 1 September 2026.
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