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Tanzania

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The Local Network in Tanzania was established in 2024 and is led by the Association of Non-State Actors Forum (ANSAF). There are over 2,000 agricultural cooperatives with over 1.8 million members in Tanzania. These are primarily smallholder farmers. Tanzania is pursuing the Agenda 10/30 for agricultural transformation through commercialization. To achieve this goal, the government, through the National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC), is collaborating with stakeholders to develop national BDS guidelines to standardize services nationwide.

AMEA seeks to contribute to these objectives by addressing key issues, such as the reliability and quality of Business Development Service (BDS), BDS cost, enabling environment for BDS providers, demand for BDS, and coordination of BDS providers (BDSPs).

Tanzania BDS Vision

The National BDS Roadmap was launched in 2025 by the National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC).

Tanzania Vision for a BDS Market in Tanzania by 2030

The Roadmap identifies three priority actions which would have the greatest impact:

1 Icon AMEA

Certifying BDSPs

Establishing a credible certification system for Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) ensures that providers meet consistent minimum quality standards. With the creation of a BDS Association, BDSPs would be certified based on predefined quality metrics, helping agricultural businesses to identify trustworthy service providers and fostering a more structured support network. This system aims to ensure most of the commissioned BDSPs are certified, elevating dilligence, reliability and professional standards in the sector.

2 Icon AMEA

Standardised Data on BDS Cost Effectiveness

The roadmap advocates for collecting and sharing data on BDS cost-effectiveness across various initiatives. By generating uniform data, stakeholders can assess the impact and efficiency of BDS, facilitating evidence-based learning and continuous improvement. This initiative will promote transparency, trust, improve collaboration, and foster a knowledge-sharing culture that helps optimising resource allocation and enhance effectiveness of BDS Interventions.

3 Icon AMEA

BDS Cost share facilities

The roadmap calls for larger-scale cost-sharing facilities, supported by both government and donors, to make BDS more accessible to agricultural SMEs. These facilities would not only subsidise the cost of services but also contribute to improving BDSP quality through training and professional development programs. This broader support system would help scale up the reach and impact of BDS, ensuring that rural and underserved areas benefit from these services, thus promoting equitable access to BDS in Tanzania.

Downloads

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Tanzania BDS Roadmap

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National BDS Guidelines

Our Members

TAPBDS

Member Type:   Local

Partner Since: 2025

Headquarters   Tanzania

tapbds.com

MEDA

Member Type:   Local

Partner Since: 2026

Headquarters   Canada

meda.org

Cordaid

Member Type:   Founding, Global

Partner Since: 2016

Headquarters   The Netherlands

cordaid.org

IDH

Member Type:   Founding, Global

Partner Since: 2016

Headquarters   The Netherlands

idh.org

IFC

Member Type:   Founding, Global

Partner Since: 2016

Headquarters   Washington, D.C.

ifc.org

Rikolto

Member Type:   Founding, Global

Partner Since: 2016

Headquarters   Belgium

rikolto.org

AGRA

Member Type:   Global

Partner Since: 2021

Headquarters   Kenya

agra.org

Corus International

Member Type:   Global

Partner Since: 2020

Headquarters   Washington, D.C.

corusinternational.org

ANSAF

Member Type:   Local

Partner Since: 2025

Headquarters   Tanzania

ansaf.or.tz

IMED Limited

Member Type:   Local

Partner Since: 2025

Headquarters   Tanzania

imedtz.org

NEEC

Member Type:   Strategic Partner

Headquarters   Tanzania

uwezeshaji.go.tz

TADB

Member Type:   Strategic Partner

Headquarters   Tanzania

tadb.co.tz

TCDC

Member Type:   Strategic Partner

Headquarters   Tanzania

tcdctz.org

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