In Kilosa District’s Dumila and Mbigiri wards, Swisscontact and Kinara partner to give marginalized young mothers the skills, tools and market links they need to thrive as food entrepreneurs. The initiative blends hands-on culinary training with business coaching, legal and financial inclusion, and a strong support network of families, suppliers and local authorities.
Participants begin with soft-skill workshops—business planning, record-keeping and cooperative governance—before moving into two technical paths. The baking stream guides young mothers through the production of mandazi, cakes, cookies and other spice-based treats; the cookery stream focuses on popular dishes such as pilau, biryani and banana stew. Graduates leave with full start-up kits (ovens, tins and ingredients for bakers; gas stoves, cookware and furniture for cooks) so they can begin earning immediately.
Entrepreneurial groups formed during training register formally, unlocking access to government micro-loans. The programme also helps each mother obtain a NIDA identity number and open an account with NMB Bank, ensuring she can save securely, qualify for credit and tap into social services. Family engagement is built in—about nine out of ten parents provide seed capital or equipment—while a standing agreement with a local supplier keeps ingredient costs predictable.
Completion and launch rates remain exceptionally high: the vast majority of trainees finish the course and quickly turn their kitchens into reliable income streams, boosting household security and circulating money through the local economy. As businesses grow, group saving schemes and formal bank channels reinforce financial discipline and create pathways for expansion.
By pairing market-responsive skills with wrap-around support, EmpowerHER Through Skills enables young mothers to move from economic exclusion to confident entrepreneurship, setting a powerful example for their families and communities.
