The Belgian Government through its Belgian Development Agency (BTC) has pledged over 330m/- to small-scale projects run by grassroots organisations throughout Tanzania.

Agreements were finalised on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam between representatives of 20 community-based organisation and BTC.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the agency’s resident representative Vincent Vercruysse, said funding comes from Belgian government’s Micro Intervention Programme (MIP), which has been supporting Tanzanian civil society since 2002.

“A key objective of this programme is development that directly benefits local communities,” he said.

He said the fund is dedicated to their own community, which has the capacity to identify and execute micro financial interventions they need.

This year 150 applicants submitted initial proposals and were selected.

Projects are located in the seven regions of Dar es Salaam, Coast, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Kagera, Morogoro and Arusha, and they cover sectors ranging from water and sanitation to education, health and women’s rights.

He said that at least 40 percent of the funds to the projects will be transferred this month, adding that subsequent installments will be paid upon satisfactory completion of the projects.

According to him, the project targets the most vulnerable communities in Tanzania as well 15 other partner countries cooperation.

Since it began in 2002, at least 250 people and organisations have received financial support.