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Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF)


In Tanzania, about 43.5% of people live on less than USD 2.15 per day, and 8% live in extreme poverty. Switzerland, together with the World Bank and other partners, is working with the Government of Tanzania to build a stable and financially sustainable social protection system. The programme assists 575,000 poor households with cash transfers, temporary jobs in climate-smart projects, and  training with small business grants, thus reducing extreme poverty and improving livelihoods. 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Tanzania
Inclusive economic Development
nothemedefined
Social protection
Employment creation
18.11.2025 - 14.12.2029
 CHF  9’200’000
The project in brief
Background Since 2020, Tanzania is classified as a lower middle-income country.  Its population amounts  to 63 million people (2022) and grows annually by 3.2%. 43.5% of the population live with less than USD 2.15 per day, 26.4% below  the national poverty line, and 8% in extreme poverty. Without inclusive policies,  vulnerable groups like the elderly, rural communities, and especially women risk being left behind. In 2000, the Government of Tanzania (GoT) established a comprehensive social safety net programme through the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) which Switzerland started to support in 2019.  
Objectives Long-term goal: reduce poverty, develop human capital and increase productive income-earning opportunities, i.e. jobs for the poor.  
Target groups

• Households living in poverty and  extreme poverty; 

• Government Ministries (President’s Office-State House for mainland, Second Vice President’s Office for Zanzibar, Ministry of Finance, President’s Office-Regional Administration and Local Government); 

• TASAF implementing staff and involved community management committees. 
Medium-term outcomes

In this exit phase, Switzerland aims to further strengthen the base of a self-sustaining, locally financed social protection programme that is institutionalized within permanent government structures.  

The respective outcomes for TASAF’s programme are: 

1. To enhance income-generating opportunities of targeted beneficiaries. 

2. To build an adaptive social protection delivery systems. 
Results

Expected results:  

TASAF aims to reach 575’000 households in Tanzania through cash transfers, most of them live in extreme poverty. Of those households, 100’000 will also receive enhanced economic inclusion support, and 75’000 will participate in  climate-smart public works projects. These interventions are projected to impact around 2’875’000 people, assuming an average household size of five. 

Specific performance-based indicators: 

• GoT contributes USD 20 million to the programme (in addition to the USD 250  million from the World Bank loan to the GoT); 

• TASAF is formalized and established as a dedicated social assistance government agency; 

• Household data are updated and verified in TASAF’s registry.  


Results from previous phases:  

i. TASAF’s social protection programme has reached 1.3 million households  through cash transfers, benefiting about 5.2 million people, most of whom are extremely poor.  

ii. Within the programme’s livelihood component, TASAF supported 83,666 households, 80% of them women, by providing  training and grants to help them start small businesses.  

iii. Households receiving cash transfers experienced an additional 10 percent  reduction in poverty. 

iv. TASAF has increased household consumption by 20% and raised the likelihood of households having savings by 30%. 
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
Private sector
Foreign state institution
  • Foreign private sector North
  • Sub-National State SouthEast
  • The Government of the United Republic of Tanza- nia through the Ministry of Finance


Coordination with other projects and actors World Bank, Ireland, FCDO (UK), UNICEF, ILO, World Food Programme; SDC’s  Universal Health Coverage & Good Financial Governance Programme. 
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    9’200’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    0 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   31’312’286 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   40’512’286
Project phases Phase 3 18.11.2025 - 14.12.2029   (Current phase) Phase 2 01.10.2023 - 30.09.2025   (Completed) Phase 1 01.03.2020 - 30.09.2023   (Completed)
  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation OTHER SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
    OTHER SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Social and welfare services
    Employment policy and administrative management
    Cross-cutting topics The project supports partner organisation improvements as a priority
    Aid Type Basketpooled multi-donor fund
    Mandate without fiduciary fund
    Project number

    7F10425

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Last update 05.12.2024