The Governments of the United Kingdom and Tanzania have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on social development representing a total investment of GBP 110 million.
The fund will be provided through the British Department for International Development (DFID) over the next five years and will support the Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN) program, which aims at reaching one million of Tanzania’s poorest households.
The program consists on secure a basic income, guarantee a minimum of 60 paid-days of labour a year and promotes education and healthcare among the children.
By providing a conditional cash transfer, green public works and livelihood enhancement the program expects to improve opportunities to the poorest communities in Tanzania by the year 2020.
More than 28% of the population live in poverty in Tanzania and the Government expects to reduce it to 14% within the next five years with the PSSN program, Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary, Dr. Servacius Likwelile, explained to the press after the signing of the MoU.
According to DFID, GBP 87,639 have been already released for technical and advisory services and GBP 30 million more would be release in the next 12 months to start with the provision of conditional cash transfers to secure food and children’s attendance to school.
Tanzania ranks fifth in the top five countries receiving UK’s aid through the DFID with 48 active projects totaling GBP 178 million and Pakistan topping the list with 32 active projects totaling GBP 368 million according to DFID.
