RFAs: Smallholder Farmer Resilience and Livelihoods (Tanzania)

Deadline: 18-Sep-2026

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Tanzania is seeking eligible non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to partner in implementing integrated resilience, food systems, and livelihoods interventions for smallholder farmers in Dodoma and Kigoma regions. The opportunity is part of WFP Tanzania’s broader Climate Resilience and Market Development Strategy under the Tanzania Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2022–2027. It aims to strengthen food security, livelihoods, market participation, and climate resilience among smallholder farmers, particularly food-insecure and climate-vulnerable households.

About the WFP Tanzania Integrated Resilience, Food Systems and Livelihoods Programme

Agriculture plays a central role in Tanzania’s economy and provides livelihoods for a large share of the population. However, smallholder farmers continue to face barriers that limit productivity, income generation, and resilience.

Key challenges include:

- Weak and fragmented market systems - Limited access to financial services - Post-harvest losses - Limited market access and aggregation opportunities - Vulnerability to climate shocks - Limited access to appropriate services and technologies - Challenges in developing sustainable agricultural enterprises Through this partnership opportunity, WFP Tanzania seeks NGO partners capable of delivering integrated interventions that address these challenges while strengthening existing systems and investments. What the Programme Aims to Achieve The programme focuses on creating more resilient and sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers by connecting agricultural production with markets, finance, private-sector services, entrepreneurship, and climate-resilient practices.

The intervention emphasizes:

- Market systems strengthening - Private-sector engagement - Financial inclusion - Post-harvest management - Entrepreneurship development - Farmer aggregation - Improved market access - Climate-resilient livelihoods - Sustainable service delivery mechanisms - Institutional and organizational strengthening The approach is designed to move beyond isolated agricultural activities by building stronger systems that can continue delivering services and economic opportunities to farmers over time. Building on Previous WFP Investments and Experience The proposed programme builds on lessons and structures developed through previous WFP-supported initiatives in Tanzania.

These include:

- Kilimo Tija Kigoma Project - Climate Smart Agriculture Project Phase II - Farm to Market Alliance - Other related WFP-supported initiatives NGO partners are expected to leverage existing investments, structures, relationships, and lessons learned in the target regions rather than creating completely separate systems. Key Priorities in Kigoma Region In Kigoma, the programme will focus strongly on strengthening farmer organizations, agricultural services, aggregation, finance, and post-harvest systems.

Expected areas of intervention include:

Farmer Organizations and Service Centres The programme seeks to support the development and strengthening of farmer organizations and service centres that can provide sustainable services to smallholder farmers. These structures can help farmers access agricultural services, organize production, improve market participation, and strengthen their collective capacity. Aggregation Hubs Aggregation systems and hubs are expected to improve the ability of farmers to collectively organize, handle, store, and market agricultural produce. Improved aggregation can also help connect smallholder producers with larger markets and private-sector actors. Financial Inclusion Financial inclusion is another important priority in Kigoma. Interventions are expected to help farmers and agricultural enterprises improve access to appropriate financial services, enabling them to invest in production, manage risks, and participate more effectively in markets. Post-Harvest Management Reducing post-harvest losses is central to improving food security and farmer incomes. Partners are expected to strengthen post-harvest systems and practices that can help farmers preserve the quality and value of their agricultural products. Institutional Strengthening The programme also places emphasis on strengthening institutions and local structures so that services and market-based interventions can remain sustainable beyond the implementation period. Key Priorities in Dodoma Region In Dodoma, the programme places greater emphasis on commercialization, enterprise development, climate resilience, mechanization, and sustainability.

Priority areas include:

- Formalization of farmer organizations - Contract farming - Agricultural commercialization - Enterprise development - Mechanization - Climate-resilient livelihoods - Sustainable agricultural systems - Long-term system sustainability Formalization of Farmer Organizations Strengthening and formalizing farmer organizations can help producers improve governance, collective action, service access, and relationships with markets and private-sector actors. Contract Farming and Commercialization The programme aims to support stronger commercial relationships between farmers and markets. Contract farming and commercialization approaches can help smallholder farmers improve market certainty while encouraging production that responds to market demand. Enterprise Development Enterprise development will support farmers and other agricultural actors in developing stronger and more sustainable livelihood opportunities. This may include strengthening business capabilities, market participation, entrepreneurship, and value-chain engagement. Mechanization Mechanization is another priority in Dodoma, with the programme seeking to contribute to more efficient and productive agricultural systems. Climate-Resilient Livelihoods Given farmers’ vulnerability to climate shocks, interventions should strengthen livelihoods that are better able to withs