3.4.1 Studies Done on Youth and Unemployment
Youth makes up more than 40 per cent of the world’s total unemployed. Forced by
poverty and the lack of possibilities for better jobs, many young people in Tanzania have
With economic growthbeing insufficient to absorb new labour force entrants, there is a
danger that informal work will become the only option for large numbers of young
people, thereby making the objective of a decent job for all increasingly unavailable.
According to Gora Mboup, (2004) urban unemployment in Tanzania was rated at 20
percent and youth unemployment was at 40 percent, according to ILO statistics.
Tanzania is the leading country in Africa with 64% of young female neither in school
nor in employment also the second with 39 % of youth neither in school nor in
employment (Mushi, 2006).
According to the integrated Labour Force Survey (2002) out of estimated total labour
force of 17.9 million people 65% are young men and women between the age of 15 and
35. The survey also revealed that unemployment for the whole country is 12.9% and the
majority of the unemployed are living in urban areas. While 46.5% of unemployed
labour force is living in Dar es Salaam alone, other urban areas have 25.5% and in the
rural areas unemployment rate is 8.4%. The unemployment rate for young people aged
18 to 34 is 8.6% in rural and 41.4% in the urban areas (Mushi, 2006).
3.4.2 Skills Training Available for Youth
The characteristics of youths and youth labour market as a whole, as well as
characteristics of individuals which affect their chances of finding work due to
insufficient skills are the major concern here. One important aspect of youth
unemployment is the relationship between unemployment and labour skills (education).
The level of education will influence the level of employment. Other things being equal
then a good labour skill brought about by relevant education will reduce the degree of
unemployment. An insufficient supply of skills is a cause of unemployment in the long
The Ministry of Labour Youth Development and Sports (MLYD) realizes the
complexity of youth labour market due to insufficient skills and training, therefore in
order to minimize the problem of training the ministry collaborate with different sectors
both formal and non-formal vocational training institutes to cater for some of the youths
who cannot be absorbed by the government.
Some Policies and programmes implemented by the government to empower youth in
the country
Establishment of department within the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sport. The department was created in the 1970s and was charged with the
responsibility of overseeing issues of youth carrier, counseling and guiding.
Youth employment issues were addressed through the formation of youth
economic groups and youth camps.
Launching of the National Youth Employment Action Plan (NYEAP). The main objective of NYEAP according to MLYD is first to identify and detail
specific/potential sectors and major programmes components for youth
employment while providing small and medium scale enterprise investments
which will generate the greatest number of new jobs, secondly to identify key
issues and challenges faced by youth in their transition through education to the
work place, and third set priorities for action by policy makers and other key
stakeholders (MLYD 2006).
Establishment of youth carder at regional and district level and employment of Youth Development Officers to coordinate youth issues at these levels.
Vocation Education and Training Programmes have been developed. These programs are regulated by Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA)
Other responses include Ratification of core Conventions as a measure to guarantee workers, fundamental rights and protection as well as reform of labour
policies and laws. The reformed labour market policies and laws will provide
economic efficiency and attract more investment both internally and externally
hence creation of more job opportunities.
3.4.3 Youth Fund Support Initiatives
Since its inception in the 1970s, the Youth Department on behalf of the government and
in collaboration with donor organizations such as the UN, ILO, UNDP, UNFPA, CYP
and other International and Local Nongovernmental organizations have initiated various
programmes on youth empowerment through advocacy and financial support for youth
entrepreneurship in the country. However, some of these strategies are not rural youth
and uneducated youth friendly. Some of these initiatives are as follows:
3.4.4 Initiatives by International Development Agencies
YEN (Youth Employment Network), is a partnership of the UN, ILO and the World Bank (WB) set up after the Millenium summit in 2001 to find new and
durable solutions to the youth unemployment challenges. The network is a
global platform whose goal is to priorities youth employment on the
development agenda and to exchange knowledge on effective policies and
programmes to improve employment opportunities for youth. It is a service
provider focusing on policy advice, innovative pilot projects, and knowledge
sharing and brokering partnerships.
Youth- to- Youth Fund Facilitated by the Youth Entrepreneurship Facility Working in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The way the Fund achieves this
identify potential entrepreneurs whose projects can improve people’s well- being. It then aims to provide the necessary support for these entrepreneurs to
their work.
The Youth- to-Youth Fund Component of the facility offers local youth-led
organizations an opportunity to actively participate in the development of youth
entrepreneurship development projects implemented by youth led organizations.
Urban Youth Fund by UN-Habitat initiatives. This Fund promotes the poverty reduction aims of Millenium Development Goals and the Habitat
Agenda for better, more sustainable and equitable towns and cities
throughout the developing world.
UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund.(Based in Nairobi-Kenya) UN-HABITAT, regards
youth as a major force of a better world. Supports young people in the drive to alleviate
poverty. The Habitat Agenda Commits governments and UN-HABITAT to work in
partnership with youth and empower them to participate in decision-making in order to
improve urban livelihood and develop sustainable human settlement.
CYCI (The Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiatives) Is a micro-credit and enterprise development initiative designed to promote youth employment and
alleviate poverty among the young people of the Commonwealth.
3.4.5 Initiatives by the Government of Tanzania (GOT)
YDF (Youth Development Fund) This is a Revolving Fund established in the mid 1990s to support youth income generating activities in organized
economic production bridges and small entrepreneurs. Local Government
The administration of Youth Development Fund is under the Local Government
Authorities where is go down from the district level, ward and village level and the
district contributed its 10 percent revenue to this fund so as to ensure sustainability of
YDF. Youth have to apply through the office of Ward Executive Office (WEO)