TANZANIAN youth have been urged to be innovative and identify economic opportunities to combat poverty and improve their living situations.

Edward Lalika, programme officer at the Tanzania Youth Coalition (TYC), made the call here yesterday during a training session on the Enhancing Youth Integrated and Gender Equality for Improved Livelihoods Project (EYIGEL) held.

Currently, TYC is implementing the EYIGEL project in Iringa Rural, Mufindi, Ilemela, Sengerema, Moshi Rural, Hai, Chamwino Districts, and Dodoma Town with the support of WE Effect.

Lalika emphasized that if youths properly identify and utilize the economic potential around them, they will be well-positioned to fight poverty. For example, he suggested that youths could use land as collateral to secure loans from banks for investment in agriculture or other businesses.

He pointed out that by taking advantage of such opportunities, youths can improve their living standards and contribute to the nation's development.

Lalika also advised youths involved in entrepreneurship to be part of the official system to facilitate easier access to bank loans and gain trust in their business ventures.

According to Lalika, the EYIGEL project, which began in 2022 and is set to conclude in 2027, aims to strengthen youth-led organizations, ensure sustainable livelihoods for youths, and enhance their ability to address gender violence, among other goals.

The project aims to reach 11,606 youths, with 6,606 being women, through various groups engaged in agricultural and innovative activities.

One of the beneficiaries, Flora Musa from the Kariakoo group based in Igombe, Ilemela District, shared that the training has been beneficial in learning how to save money generated from their activities to sustain their livelihoods. She also noted that the training has provided valuable insights into conducting agricultural activities about climatic changes.