IMED Foundation is a non-profit organization registered with the Registrar of Societies in 2010. The Foundation was established by entrepreneurship and management professionals. The motivation was to contribute to bridging the glaring gap between substantial natural resource endowment of the country and high levels of poverty using a two-pronged approach – innovative economic empowerment models that simultaneously address the challenge of climate change, and change agency towards a conducive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Vision
The most preferred partner in catalyzing transformational changes of individual, organizations, communities through innovation and entrepreneurship
Mission
We work with partners to develop knowledge, skills and innovative solutions that transform the development trajectories of individuals, enterprises, communities and economies in sustainable ways
Our Values
- Collaboration: We jointly develop solutions with clients and partners
- Stewardship: We set a good example by being socially, ethically, financially and environmentally responsible.
- Learning: We challenge each other to strive for excellence and to continually learn.
- Innovation: We embrace continuous improvement, bold creativity and change
Our Objectives
- To act as an incubator of ideas, innovations, social and business enterprises
- To act as a hub and a resource for the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Tanzania.
- To champion innovations in entrepreneurship and private sector development curricula, leadership and policy
Our Focus Areas and Overall Approach
IMED delivers solutions that simultaneously deliver women youth and women economic empowerment, climate change mitigation and adaptation and health and nutrition. This is done by:
(i) Empowering women and youth with the attitudes, knowledge, skills and networks they need to start and grow businesses using environmentally friendly, youth and gender sensitive and socially inclusive business models
(ii) Contributing to shaping ecosystems needed for such businesses to thrive by conducting research, advocating for and building capacities for gender responsive business development services providers, finance and enabling policies.
Youth entrepreneurship
Only about 10% of graduates from schools and colleges find employment in the formal sector in Tanzania as in many other countries. Entrepreneurship offers an alternative career pathway for at least some youth. We support youth to develop entrepreneurial readiness capabilities though awareness raising training, coaching, mentorship, business incubation and linkages to finance, technology, and other ecosystem services. Among others, we raise awareness of youth and connect them to the opportunities available to them.
Women entrepreneurship
Women constitute at least 50% of all entrepreneurs and these contribute immensely to empowering themselves, their families and communities. However, due to a number of structural barriers, women owned enterprises are less likely to graduate from informal micro levels where they are concentrated. IMED Foundation contributes to empowering women to start and grow sustainable feminist businesses though training, coaching, mentorship, business incubation and linkages to finance, technology, and other ecosystem services desired to empower them to navigate the structural barriers to entrepreneurial success, including access to opportunities such as government procurement.
Clean and renewable energy entrepreneurship
Globally, about 3 billion people rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste for cooking and heating. Energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60 per cent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. The youth must take ownership of the agenda of transitioning from fossil fuels. IMED Foundation contributes to the SDG 7.2 target of increasing substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by developing the awareness of the risks posed by reliance on fossil fuel, the business and employment opportunities in clean and renewable energy and their capacity to champion technical innovations and scalable business models in this area. We have a strong focus on delivery of last mile energy access. Furthermore, IMED foundation advocates for policies that support youth and the business sector to contribute positively to the transition from fossil fuels.
Agripreneurship
Youth engagement in agribusiness is an important strategy to create employment opportunities, particularly for young people and for the development of agri-/food systems. Also, depending on the approach, agriculture can be a contributor to or a mitigator of climate change effects. Although, agriculture has historically been unattractive to African youth, especially those with formal education, there are unlimited emerging opportunities for youth to benefit from various activities in agrifood value chains attributed to the possibilities brought about by technological advances including renewable energies and ICTs. IMED Foundation promotes youth climate smart agripreneurship through capacity building of youth, linkages and development of an enabling ecosystem for agripreneurs.
Youth innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem strengthening
A key factor in advancing youth innovation and entrepreneurship an enabling ecosystem. Currently, the ecosystem is relatively underdeveloped. We support development of the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for youth and women though capacity building of trainers, coaches, consultants, incubation and innovation hub personnel, social entrepreneurs, financial services providers, and policy makers. We also conduct policy research and advocacy and support networks of young entrepreneurs to develop policy advocacy capacities and to advocacy for business enabling policies for youth. As well, we are increasingly investing in developing cost effective and scalable models for capacity building, including digital tools.
