Why Youth-Led organisations face funding woes and collapse
Dar es Salaam. Lack of funding, stringent donor requirements, limited operational knowledge, and weak organizational structures are among the main reasons why some youth-led organizations fail to survive in the long term.
These findings were shared by Lydia Charles, Executive Director of Her Initiative, during a graduation ceremony for leadership training attended by representatives from about 20 youth-led institutions.
The training was part of the Stawi Lab project implemented under Her Initiative.
Speaking at the event, Lydia highlighted how these challenges hinder young people from realizing their dreams of driving community change through their organizations.
“This is why we introduced this training to equip leaders of youth-led institutions with the tools to overcome these obstacles and improve their operational systems,” she explained.
Lydia also emphasized the importance of continuous training for young leaders, noting that it helps enhance their leadership skills, decision-making capabilities, and adaptability to change.
“We’re in a fast-changing world technologically, politically, economically, and socially. Ongoing training enables young leaders to navigate these changes and turn them into growth opportunities for their organizations,” she said.
She further urged the government to put in place supportive strategies and policies to ease the initial stages of setting up youth-led organizations, particularly in areas such as taxation, registration, and compliance.
Additionally, Lydia called for the establishment of grant funds specifically tailored to support youth-led NGOs, providing a strong foundation and involving young people directly in shaping development strategies.
“We believe Tanzanian youths’ dreams won’t die they will shine,” she affirmed.
On the issue of funding, Chikulupi Kasaka, Senior Officer from the Embassy of the Netherlands, identified additional reasons why some youth-led organizations struggle to secure donor support.
Speaking at the same event, Chikulupi pointed out the lack of formal governance structures and operational departments in some organizations, as well as reliance on family and friends instead of qualified professionals.
“Some institutions lack official departments, or are run by relatives and friends rather than experts suited to their respective roles,” she said.
She added that many youth-led organizations appear incapable of managing the funds they apply for.
“Some request millions in funding yet have never successfully managed even a small initial budget,” Chikulupi remarked.
She also touched on shifting global priorities, especially in Western countries where domestic needs now take precedence, affecting the availability of international funding.
Chikulupi urged youth organizations in Tanzania to reevaluate their strategies, moving away from short-term activities like seminars and workshops, and instead focusing on long-term projects with sustainable impact.
“We often see proposals for two-day events instead of investments in initiatives that have direct, lasting benefits for young people,” she noted.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Labour, Youth, and Employment, Patrobas Katambi, encouraged young leaders to be innovative, hardworking, and to act with integrity, ethics, and collaboration in their work.
He also advised that any funds received from donors should be used for their intended purposes to ensure real impact in communities.
At the conclusion of the event, the trained leaders were awarded certificates, with the top five performers receiving special recognition and financial support to improve operational systems in their respective organizations.
