Small Industries Development Organisations (SIDO) - Tanzania

Mentorship in Tanzania

Business Mentoring is for those who want to get advice (Mentees) and learn from those who have been in business and have done it well (Mentors). 

According to Tanzania Women Chambers of Commerce (TWCC), 70% of its mentees have gained profit through business improvements. These Organisations are mentoring women in various areas, that include business registration, product processing and packaging, marketing, networking, and industrialization. 

TWCC says that women in business are many in URT, and it can be challenging to mentor them all at the same speed and level. Thus women in business are advised to find themselves matching potential business mentors (Mlezi Biashara) from the same locality who are willing to cooperate. 

Importance of mentoring

Mentoring is needed not only because of the knowledge and skills mentees gain from their mentors, but also because of a number of benefits that include:

• Experience: if mentees in business are connected to the right mentor, they gain business experience not shared under ordinary circumstances. The mentors share personal experience in business and the best approaches used to solve problems
• Business success: Mentees have higher chances of excelling in their businesses compared to those without mentoring opportunity
• Network Opportunities: Mentors have strong business networks and can link up the mentees with new markets, inputs supply and/or technology opportunities
• Business Assurance: Good mentors remove worries and fears in business; this gives confidence and hope to the mentees 
• Stay long in business: Mentors help mentees to initiate sustainable businesses and equip them with problem-solving skills; this allows mentees to stay longer in business despite challenges they might face.
• Stronger Emotional Intelligence: Mentees are taught on how to react in business and make reasonable decisions when dealing with difficult issues. Entrepreneurs with good mentors are more matured when it comes to making decisions and they can control their emotions to avoid risky decisions.
• Encouragement: Experienced mentors share personal experience on business ups and downs hence this helps the mentees to heap up even at times of crisis.