How a Small Tanzanian City is Becoming a Global Blueprint for Youth-Led Urban Innovation

Tanga, Tanzania – A remarkable transformation is underway in Tanga, a coastal city that is rapidly emerging as a global model for youth-led urban development and innovation. This profound shift is powered by the TangaYetu Initiative, an ambitious program born from a powerful collaboration between the Tanga City Council and Fondation Botnar.

At its core, TangaYetu seamlessly integrates young people into every stage of planning and implementation, directly enhancing their economic and social well-being. Dr. Hassan Mshinda, Fondation Botnar’s representative in Tanzania, emphasises that the initiative’s success hinges on “the unwavering commitment to youth centrality.”

Known locally as OurTanga, this initiative is a flagship program within Fondation Botnar’s global “OurCity” network. The network aims to transform cities into places where young people’s well-being and opportunities are secured by leveraging digital technologies and AI.

The profound impact of TangaYetu spans multiple critical areas, addressing complex urban challenges with human-centred, data-driven solutions. Since its inception in 2019, the initiative has directly benefited an estimated over 100,000 young people in Tanga City. This holistic engagement has positioned Tanga as a scalable blueprint for sustainable development, with its “sandbox” approach inspiring the expansion of the ‘OurCity’ framework to other cities globally, including Cluj-Napoca in Romania, Barranquilla in Colombia, Koforidua in Ghana, and Manta in Ecuador.

Why Tanga? A Strategic Choice for Transformation

Tanga was deliberately chosen as a “secondary city” to address and prevent the rapid, unplanned urbanization seen in primary cities like Dar es Salaam. Dr. Mshinda highlighted that Tanga offered unique advantages, including a smaller population compared to other major cities like Mbeya, Mwanza, and Arusha, high road density, over 80% household water access, higher levels of formal employment, and a strong commitment from the city leadership, including the Mayor and City Director. This proactive approach aims to embed youth-centred and digitally enabled systems early on, maximising long-term impact and helping to avoid the entrenched challenges of larger urban centres.

Foundational Pillars: A Holistic Approach to Urban Renewal

The TangaYetu Initiative’s first phase (2019–2024) was structured around five key pillars: Economic Empowerment, Innovation and Technology, Education and Skill Development, Community Engagement and Safety, and Health and Well-being. This comprehensive strategy, grounded in a human-centred design approach and the Evidence-to-Action (E2A) Framework, ensures that interventions reflect the lived experiences and aspirations of Tanga’s youth. The guiding principle of “nothing for youth without youth” reinforces program effectiveness and sustainability.

Abdallah Mselem, Chairperson of the Youth Advisory Group (YAG), stated, “TangaYetu has opened so many doors for us, allowing young people to gain life skills and apply their knowledge practically.”

Innovations Driving Economic Empowerment and Digital Transformation

A critical focus for TangaYetu has been addressing youth unemployment, particularly among the 30,000 young people in Tanga who are not in school or employed. The initiative has created diverse pathways to economic independence through several pioneering projects:

• Digital Skills and Freelancing: The “Youth Digital Skills for Employment Project” trained 100 young people in digital marketing and online work. As a result, 40% secured online jobs, collectively earning over TZS 10 million in 2023. Zainab Msafiri, a participant, turned her training into a business, Aghena General Supplies, and now mentors others, even freelancing for international organizations. Rock John, inspired by TangaYetu’s digital training and city-wide Google mapping, founded Tanga Delivery, which now employs five people. Dr. Mshinda noted that the “Digital Swahili” collaboration led to several youths earning Amazon certifications and securing employment in places as far away as Dubai.
• Fabrication Labs and STEM Education: Tanga houses Tanzania’s first Fabrication Lab (FabLab), where youth learn to operate CNC machines and 3D printers. Thirteen individuals have already secured industry internships. Instructor Sahil Abdulahman Ismail explained, “Our lab serves as a centre where young people learn not only technical skills but also how to apply them practically to make an impact in their communities.” The East Africa-first STEM Park has engaged over 30,000 youth through hands-on learning. Primary school student Fredy Abdallah shared that the park’s interactive tools helped him understand complex concepts, such as plant respiration.
• Poultry Farming: The “Empowering Youth in Poultry Value Chain” project transformed lives. Omari Mussa began with 500 chickens in 2023 and now manages 4,000 broilers and hybrids. He also founded Kuku Pesa Investment Group, training 118 youth and supporting 98 regional farmers. Paul Sikombe, chairperson of Unity Youth Group, plans a local hatchery. Mohamed Juma Athumani noted, “Through the Poultry Project under TangaYetu, I learned to manage a poultry business and gained the confidence to support myself and my family.”
• Marine Industries: The “Youth Economic Empowerment Through Fisheries Project” trained 362 youth in innovative methods, including seaweed, sea cucumber, and crab farming. The Maua Group, ten determined women, now mentors over 50 girls, defying gender norms and accumulating TZS 4 million in savings. Irene Charles Kiariro leads Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming, converting organic waste into high-protein animal feed and generating income while training others.
• Agribusiness: Hamisi Shabani transitioned from traditional to irrigation-based agriculture, cultivating high-value crops and significantly boosting his earnings.
• Youth Savings Groups: The “Mindset Change and Entrepreneurship Project” formed 17 Youth Savings and Loans Associations, collectively saving over TZS 13.2 million. Many members began with no weekly income, demonstrating the initiative’s impact on financial independence.
• Data-Driven Governance: The first City Observatory in East Africa was established to monitor SDGs at the ward level—certified by UN-Habitat and part of the Global Urban Observatory Network (GUO-Net). Youth-led data organization OMAT (OKOA MAISHA KWA TAKWIMU – SAVE LIFE THROUGH DATA) even secured a World Bank contract. The TAUSI Digital Licensing Platform, which registered 10,000 taxpayers, also increased city revenue and created short-term employment for up to 70 youth.
• Public Space Revitalisation: Jamhuri Park (Forodhani) was transformed from a neglected area into a vibrant hub, supporting 50 youth entrepreneurs. Mayor Abdurahman Shiloow stated, “The park’s redevelopment, funded at over TZS 1.6 billion, has created jobs for more than 50 young people.”

Enhancing Education and Safety

TangaYetu also delivered measurable gains in education and child protection:

• Education Infrastructure: The “Desk and Chairs Project” provided 12,270 desks to primary schools and 3,846 chairs and tables to secondary schools (some reports cite 4,090 desks and 3,000 chairs/tables). The project also empowered 113 young carpenters, 39 adult carpenters, and 10 carpenters with disabilities.
• Learning Outcomes: Through “Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL),” 2,081 students were assessed, with 473 enrolled in basic literacy programs; 81% successfully graduated. Reports show that over 80% of pupils improved reading and writing within one month of intervention.
• Road Safety: The “Safe and Healthy Journeys to School” project improved infrastructure around 11 schools, reducing traffic accidents and benefiting over 10,000 individuals. Some sources highlight 2,000+ students at schools like Mwanzange and Mwakizaro experiencing safer commutes.
• Child Protection: The “Combating All Forms of Violence Against Children and Adolescents (VACA)” project reached over 75,000 beneficiaries (surpassing its 10,000-target), established 104 anti-abuse clubs, and rescued 12 child laborers. Mayor Shiloow acknowledged cultural norms sometimes discouraged abuse reporting, but noted that awareness efforts are changing that.

Unwavering Commitment to Youth Centrality and Community Impact

The first phase directly benefited over 100,000 + individuals including youth, women, and students. Leonard Chacha Kitoka, Managing Director of INNOVEX (TangaYetu’s fund manager and implementation partner), stated, “We have witnessed first-hand the transformation this initiative has sparked in Tanga City.”

Challenges and the Path Forward

Despite its impact, TangaYetu has faced challenges: limited resources, the unavailability of global digital payment platforms like PayPal in Tanzania, labor law complexities for online work, and a municipal focus on revenue collection over long-term development. Cultural norms also occasionally presented barriers—such as reluctance to report abuse or impatience with entrepreneurial timelines.

In response, the initiative has entered its “transformation phase,” designed to ensure sustainability and scale its impact. This phase emphasizes connecting entrepreneurs with financial support and loans, promoting self-reliant entrepreneurship to reduce donor dependency, and advocating for the allocation of land specifically for youth-led agriculture. It also prioritizes early childhood development as a foundational strategy to address unemployment at its roots. Furthermore, the initiative aims to expand digital hubs, advance climate-resilient agricultural practices, empower local champions, and foster co-designed, community-led projects — all with the broader ambition of replicating Tanga’s successful model across other councils and regions in Tanzania.

A Blueprint for Urban Resilience and Inclusive Growth

TangaYetu’s achievements have laid a solid foundation for a prosperous future where youth are equipped to lead. Its alignment with national strategies and SDGs (3, 4, 8, and 11) positions it as a scalable model for inclusive, resilient urban growth across Tanzania—and potentially the globe.

As the initiative has shown, when young people are empowered, they become catalysts for lasting change—shaping their cities and driving sustainable development from the ground up.