Tanzania
TWAM has worked in Tanzania for many years, and in February 2025, we celebrated a major milestone: the arrival of our first container in Tanzania since 2016. The shipment was delivered to Mwanza, Tanzania's second-largest city on the shores of Lake Victoria. This container included tools for 43 community groups. A second container was shipped in October for arrival in Mombasa on 8th December, with tools for 30 groups.
Tanzania is now serving as a pilot country to help us test new ways of reducing the waiting time between applying for tools and receiving them. The goal is simple: help communities get the tools they need more quickly and more reliably.
This pilot has been made possible through the opening of an in-country bank account by the Anglican Diocese of Kagera, on TWAM's behalf. This means that groups can now pay for their consignments within the country, and use local currency, making the process easier and more affordable. This new system has the potential to greatly speed up deliveries and strengthen TWAM's services across Tanzania in the years ahead.
131
applications were received from Tanzania in 2025
9
offers of tools were made
490
main toolkits were sent or delivered in 2025 to Tanzania
Story - Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO)
After our 2024 Tanzania container landed, TWAM visited our partners there in Mwanza, who facilitated the distribution of the toolkits to over forty organisations, NGO's, churches, and skill centres.
The toolkits were well received, and will increase their capacity to train learners and change lives. In this photo (from right to left) we have Sofia who runs the women's organisation Sauti Ma Wanawake le; Christina, who facilitates the sewing programme, holding one of the products of this particular group; and Ian, our country coordinator standing with some of the young ladies who are training themselves in tailoring.
Apply for tools
We do not charge for specific tools or tool kits, but we do ask that you contribute a small amount towards the UK cost of collecting, refurbishing and packing the tools we send to Africa.
The Online Application form below will show you the cost of the tools you are applying for. Before completing your application, please think about the cost and whether you can afford it. If you cannot, please reduce the number of tools you are applying for at this time to a cost you can afford. You can apply again another time for more tools. By applying for less tools rather than waiting to raise a larger amount, you will not have to wait so long for the delivery of the tools you need.
What you need to know:
We will let you know that we have received your application.
You will then receive a phone call from our Zambia team to assess your application.
Following this we will tell you whether or not your application is successful.
We will then tell you when your tools will arrive, and where to collect them from.
After you have had your tools for one year, we will carry out an assessment to make sure you are using your tools as you agreed in your application.
Partners & country contacts
Country coordinators: Ian and Lilian Hetherington (tanzania@twam.uk)
Country partners: Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), Mwanza
