THE National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is conducting impact evaluation survey on the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF)’ s Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN)-II head of its completion in 2025.

The exercise that commenced on 17th of this month is being undertaken in 14 survey regions of Dodoma, Mtwara, Lindi, Singida, Ruvuma, Iringa, Morogoro, Tabora, Rukwa, Katavi, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Dar es Salaam and Coast, with the aim of establishing its impact.

Speaking during a visit to witness the ongoing survey at Majeleko and Msanga wards in Chamwino District, Chief Statistician Dr Albina Chuwa noted that the aim of the exercise is to establish the status of households that were enrolled in PSSN.

“The outcome of the impact evaluation survey will help decision makers on what to improve on in the next phase of PSSN,” she said, adding that it is the government’s intention to improve people’s lives through the programme.

Dr Chuwa explained that to reduce extreme poverty and break its intergenerational transmission, the PSSN, which is based on integrated interventions targeted to the poorest households: a labour-intensive public works (PW) programme and conditional cash transfers (CCTs).

The specific objective of PSSN, which is implemented by TASAF, is to increase income and consumption and improve the ability to cope with shocks among vulnerable populations, while enhancing and protecting the human capital of their children.

She added that through PSSN II, the government has reached 1.4 million households with six million people at wards, village and shehias throughout the country.

According to her, TASAF beneficiaries in Chamwino District are 8,754 whereby 209 are in Majeleko wards, other 82 in Majeleko village while some 254 people are in Msanga ward and Kawawa village has 144 beneficiaries.

Statistics show that from 2000 to August, 2024, the government supported 1,500,000 households, equivalent to 6,960,000 people through PSSN. 

“Out of these households, 394,500, equivalent to 1,893,600 people have graduated from the programme” said Dr Chua, adding that Between July, 2021 and June, 2024, a total of 945.5bn/- was disbursed to the beneficiaries.

She called on leaders of households involved in the survey and beneficiaries to cooperate by giving the right response based on the questions asked as such data help the government make good decisions.

 On the other hand, she appealed to leaders at grassroots levels to explain to residents the importance of statistics for they also shape development activities.