THE Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) and TradeMark Africa have signed a grant agreement for 2.3bn/- to implement an initiative for driving sustainable economic growth and inclusive trade practices tied to consumer protection.

Elibariki Shammy, the Trade Mark Africa country director, told journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, that the three-year project seeks to integrate the strengths of private sectors and civil society organisations (CSOs) to promote green economic growth.

Funded by the British government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), alongside Ireland and Norway, its major focus is to drive sustainable economic growth and inclusive trade practices.

Set up to address significant challenges in Tanzania’s trade sector, the “Private Sector and CSOs for Inclusive and Greening Trade” initiative is designed to leverage the unique strengths of the private sector alongside CSOs to enhance trade practices that are both inclusive and environmentally sustainable, he stated.

Recent studies underpin the substantial economic contributions that women can make when effectively integrated into national trade frameworks, he said, pointing at the prevalence of informal trading for women in Tanzania, encountering numerous barriers to optimal participation.

“This project is central to our strategic objectives to stimulate trade growth while ensuring that it is sustainable and inclusive. We believe that through strategic collaborations like this, we can make a significant impact on Tanzania’s trade landscape. Empowering women is not just a moral imperative but a developmental one. Integrating women into trade boosts economic diversity and lifts entire communities. Through this partnership, we aim to develop a trade ecosystem that is inclusive and robust enough to withstand the pressures of global trade demands,” he asserted.

Justice Rutenge, the FCS executive director, said that consumer protection is crucial in today’s global market, thus the initiative will involve strategic interventions across trading spheres, focusing on reducing environmental impact while linking women to the formal trade value chain, including clean cooking energy.

FCS collaboration with TMA is a game changer towards establishing fair and green trade practices in trade so that the benefits of trade expansion are shared by all, particularly the most vulnerable sectors of society, he said.

FCS would leverage their unique roles along with the private sector to address pressing issues of environmental degradation and social inequality, creating a trade environment that is inclusive and sustainable.

It will seek to increase trade opportunities for marginalised groups, collaborating with civil society organisations to address their needs, promoting environmentally friendly trade practices, and enhancing consumer protection, he said.

“TMA will support marginalised communities through smart-agriculture practices and market readiness programmes, contributing to their sustainable trade growth. Moreover, by advocating for sustainable trade practices, the project seeks to improve trade resilience to climate change, thereby contributing to the long-term viability of Tanzania's economy and environmental sustainability,’ he explained.

Innovative digital technologies such as e-learning platforms for smart-agriculture practices, enhancing market readiness and global competitiveness of Tanzanian products are among its ambitions, an illustration of how public-private partnerships can effectively address systemic challenges in emerging markets, creating pathways for more inclusive and sustainable trade practices, he added.