Kijana Makini Kamata Uongozi is a Swahili title for the project being implemented by Kiona Youth Coordinates (KYCo). Loosely transalted, the project name is a call to the youth who are focused to get in leadership spaces – (Focused youth take leadership). Emerging from diverse social-cultural and socio-economical backgrounds with different interests and talents, the youth need intergenerational capacity development through mentoring and coaching.

KYCo and TADENE realised this need especially in preparation of Tanzania’s upcoming constitutional civic elections( in 2020) of local government’s governance at street and village level. The project identifies one hundred youth, empowers them through conducting a tailor-made programme for capacity development in order to attain reasonable leadership skills aka (KIMU) by facilitating the formation of respective youth councils at Ward level at Tanga town. This is used as a fundamental platform to impart knowledge and familiarise with the contents of youth-related laws and policies to determine their position and obligations that enable them to make an informed decision towards the challenges faced in civic space participation.

KYCo and TADENE use The National Youth Act No.12 of 2015 to facilitate the formation of Youth Councils at Ward level in five (5) Wards at the Tanga town and its environs. The councils enhances youth competency by promoting and popularising The National Youth Policy and other policies that affect youth while recognising the activities and initiatives undertaken by youth groups, youth-focused community-based organisations, non- governmental organisations, civil society movements among other statutory obligations.

Unfortunately, the English translation of “Kijana makini, kamata uongozi” does not capture the energy and emotion expressed. It is a call to the youth to be more knowledgeable, aware and be at attention. Furthermore, it calls for the youth to be more motivated and active in the political process. During the project, also named Kijana Makini, Kamata Uongozi (KIMU) KYCo activities and accomplishments echoed this call.

KYCo successfully engaged with 112 eligible youth from five wards in Tanga City and the city’s periphery (marginalised peri-urban area), approximately 16-20km from the city centre.

In the second quarter, KYCo brought together stakeholders to pre-tested and troubleshoot the Mwangozo (Guidance) booklet to ensure it was user-friendly. Among the attendees at the workshop were Ward Councillors, Community Development officers, Youth-Led NGOs, Public and Private sectors invitees. KYCo Executive Director Fatma Fungo, in a separate event handed over a Mwangozo (Guidance) booklet to Tanga City Mayor Hon. S. Mustafa. During the handover event, mayor Mustafa proposed that KYCo be the custodians of four per cent of youth loans from the Municipal city retention scheme because of their expertise and commitment to youth development. One thousand copies of the booklet were published and attained recognition from the Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA).

The project developed tailored capacity development sessions and periodic training that made tremendous changes that created youth empowerment and enhanced the implementation of youth-related national instruments (policies and acts). As a result, 35 rightsholders from the KIMU project were nominated as Election agents by the National Election Commission (NEC) and assigned to polling stations in 27 wards within Tanga City. Some of the appointed election agents were representatives of contesting political parties.

Two rightsholders contested in the General Election for ward councillor and local government member position. Both won the position they contested.

KYCo is looking forward to scaling up the project through capacity strengthening and periodic training sessions to continue to make changes by empowering the youth and enhancing the implementation of youth-related national instruments (policies and acts).