DODOMA: CRDB Bank Foundation has committed 2.0bn/- to expand economic opportunities for women and youth groups in Dodoma through the flagship iMbeju Programme initiative.
The funding was announced in Dodoma during a stakeholder seminar aimed at accelerating entrepreneurship, job creation and inclusive growth, with support directed to women’s networks and organised youth groups to strengthen income-generating activities and small businesses. The Minister for Minerals,
Anthony Mavunde, said yesterday while presenting a 2.0bn/- cheque to women’s groups, alongside 20 motorcycles to 10 youth groups, that the lender’s commitment aligns with government efforts to promote employment, raise household incomes and support small and medium-sized enterprises.
“The willingness of CRDB Bank Foundation to collaborate with the government in uplifting women and youth should serve as a model for other financial institutions. “The funds being disbursed today [yesterday] will make a meaningful impact on our entrepreneurs. I am confident they will reinvest these resources, creating a ripple effect that benefits their peers as well,” he said.
He further said that the government will continue working with development partners to create an enabling environment for business, including policies and regulations that facilitate economic empowerment. CRDB Bank Foundation Managing Director, Tully Mwambapa (pictured), said the initiative forms part of a broader national strategy to invest in human capital as the engine of Tanzania’s economic growth.
“This is a strategic investment in the next generation that will drive the country’s economy. Youth and women are not merely beneficiaries, they are critical partners in economic growth,” Mwambapa stated.
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Since its establishment in 2023, the Foundation has provided entrepreneurship training and financial literacy to over one million young people and women, disbursing enabling capital of more than 20.4bn/- across the country.
Dodoma Regional Commissioner, Rosemary Senyamule, who founded the Umoja wa Wanawake na Samia network, highlighted that the support is a vital catalyst for strengthening women’s economic influence in region and nationwide.
“We are very grateful,” the RC said.
The iMbeju Programme is a cornerstone of CRDB Bank Foundation’s commitment to financial inclusion and fostering youth-led businesses.
Recently, the Foundation also launched the Go Green initiative under iMbeju, supporting innovative youth enterprises that contribute to environmental conservation and the realisation of the country’s 2050 Development Vision. CRDB Bank Foundation will continue collaborating with the government and other stakeholders to ensure investments in women and youth translate into tangible economic impact for households and communities, she said.