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The Sh890 million "Start Small" initiative transforms Zanzibar by merging reproductive health with entrepreneurship, offering a new economic lifeline to the islands youth.

In the winding alleys of Stone Town and the rural expanses of Unguja, a quiet revolution has taken root. A Sh890 million initiative, dubbed "Start Small," has successfully concluded its two-year pilot, fundamentally altering the economic and social fabric for thousands of Zanzibari youth by merging reproductive health with hard-nosed entrepreneurship.
The project, a strategic partnership between MSI Tanzania and the Zanzibar Youth Forum Association (ZAFAYCO), challenged the traditional siloed approach to development. By recognizing that bodily autonomy and financial independence are two sides of the same coin, "Start Small" has provided a roadmap for how to tackle the twin crises of youth unemployment and unplanned pregnancies in the archipelago.
Implemented between 2024 and 2025, the project targeted the most vulnerable demographics: adolescents under 25 and women of reproductive age in the West Urban, Unguja North, and Unguja South regions. The premise was simple but radical: you cannot build a business if you cannot control your own health.
The success of the initiative has caught the eye of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar. Dr. Fatma Mohammed Kabole, Deputy Director of Preventive Services at the Ministry of Health, hailed the project as a model for future public-private partnerships. "Start Small has demonstrated that when you treat young people with dignity and give them the tools to manage their lives, they dont just survive—they thrive," she noted.
Zanzibar faces a "youth bulge," with over 60% of its population under the age of 35. The "Start Small" blueprint offers a scalable solution to the demographic dividend that threatens to become a demographic disaster if ignored. By integrating life skills with capital, the project has created a generation of young Zanzibaris who are not only job creators but informed decision-makers.
As the pilot phase concludes, the challenge now lies in sustainability. Will the government and donors step up to replicate this success across Pemba and the mainland? For the young entrepreneur in Unguja who can now balance her ledger and her family planning, the answer is not just political—it is personal.
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