Tanzania Development Trust

What Tanzania Development Trust does

Tanzania Development Trust (TDT) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered in England and Wales (UK Charity Commission Reg. No. 1215126) that has funded community development projects in Tanzania since 1975. The organisation concentrates on three priorities: clean water access (boreholes, wells, rope pumps, dam rehabilitation), girls' education (secondary school hostels, construction, vocational training for deaf students, and an open school for teenage mothers), and income generation for women (microfinance, small business grants, beekeeping, solar irrigation). TDT reports more than 680 projects funded benefiting over 900,000 Tanzanians, with cumulative project spend of £2.4 million over 45 years as of the 2020 anniversary.

TDT operates an entirely volunteer-run governance model with no paid staff and states that 100% of donations are directed to projects in Tanzania. The trust functions as the development arm of the Britain Tanzania Society and delivers projects through a network of volunteer local representatives embedded in Tanzania's poorest regions, including Kigoma, Mara, Mtwara, Singida, Tabora, Kagera, Dodoma, Iringa, Shinyanga, Rukwa, Katavi, and Zanzibar. These representatives — notably Rhobi Samwelly (Mara), Benedicto Hosea (Kigoma), Hamza (Singida), and William Shayo (Shinyanga/Kagera) — identify needs, manage implementation, and report outcomes through affiliated local NGOs such as Mboni ya Vijana, Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania, the Organization of People Empowerment (OPE), and Ntuntu Orphans and Disabled People Organisation (NODIP).

Revenue is sourced from individual donations via a Donorbox-powered website portal and payroll giving, trust and foundation grants (W F Carter Trust, Eddie Byers Fund, Network for Social Change), corporate and partnership funding (Eucanaid as flagship co-funder, Africa Palms), and online shop sales of GoodGift themed donations (£8–£20) and Christmas cards. Technology plays a supporting rather than core role: TDT leads the Crowd2Map Tanzania volunteer mapping initiative (over 14,000 mappers, 4.5 million buildings mapped) on the HOT OSM platform, and partners with Pennsylvania State University's PlantVillage Nuru app to deploy AI-based crop disease diagnostics through local Digital Champions. There is no proprietary technology product or paid software offering; the charity does not sell services and has no conventional revenue model beyond donations.

Name

Tanzania Development Trust

Legal name

Tanzania Development Trust

Website

https://tanzdevtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tanzania Development Trust is a UK-registered charitable organisation founded in 1975 that funds community development projects in Tanzania's poorest regions, focusing on clean water, girls' education, and income generation through an entirely volunteer-run model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development and Humanitarian Aid

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• Community development projects
• Clean water access
• Girls education programs
• Income generation grants
• Charitable donations

Headquarters

HQ city

Not stated

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: TDT receives donations from individuals via its website (Donorbox), direct debits, bank transfers, payroll giving, and legacy bequests. 100% of donations are spent on projects in Tanzania.
2. Trust and Foundation Grants: Funding from trusts and charitable bodies including W F Carter Trust, Eddie Byers Fund, Network for Social Change, and other institutional donors who co-fund or fully fund specific projects.
3. Shop Sales: TDT operates an online shop selling GoodGift themed donations (e.g., Clean Water £20, Climate Change £8, Girls' Education, Deaf Education), Christmas cards, and notecards. Proceeds fund Tanzania projects.
4. Corporate/Partnership Funding: Joint funding from corporate or NGO partners such as Eucanaid, Africa Palms, and others who co-fund integrated village development programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tanzania Development Trust is a UK-registered charity that funds community development projects in Tanzania across three priority areas: clean water access (drilling boreholes, installing hand pumps and rope pumps, rehabilitating water sources), girls' education (school hostels, vocational training, and open schools for teenage mothers), and income generation (microfinance, sustainable agriculture, and small business grants for women). The charity raises funds through individual donations via its website and Donorbox portal, trust and foundation grants, and an online shop selling symbolic GoodGift donation bundles and greeting cards.

Product overview

Tanzania Development Trust operates as a charitable organization offering donation-based products and development programs. Their GoodGift system allows donors to purchase specific charitable bundles funding clean water projects, girls' education, climate change, and deaf education. The online shop also sells Christmas cards and school sponsorship items. The core work encompasses three program areas: clean water infrastructure (wells, boreholes, water points), girls' education (hostels, schools, vocational training), and income generation for women (tailoring, agriculture, small business support).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GoodGift Donations Symbolic charitable gift bundles purchased by individual donors that fund specific Tanzania development projects such as clean water access, girls' education, climate change initiatives, and deaf education programmes. Purchased through the TDT online shop.
• Christmas Cards Collection Greeting cards featuring Tanzanian wildlife themes including Kilimanjaro elephants, giraffes, and Tinga Tinga art designs sold in packs of 8 for £5 per pack. Available globally via the TDT online shop with proceeds funding Tanzania development projects.
• Chicken (School Sponsorship) Purchase of chickens through the TDT shop to support school feeding programmes that help keep girls in education and provide income for schools in Tanzania.
• Clean Water Projects Charitable development programme providing clean drinking water in rural Tanzania through drilling boreholes, rehabilitating water sources, installing hand-drilled wells with locally manufactured rope pumps, and building dams. Funded by individual donations and grants.
• Girls' Education Programmes Educational development initiatives in rural Tanzania including construction of girls' secondary school hostels, vocational training for deaf students, Open Schools for teenage mothers, English language transition support, and school infrastructure (toilets, kitchens, water wells).
• Income Generation Programmes Strategic investments in small businesses and community projects in rural Tanzania, including tailoring workshops, soap-making, beekeeping, solar irrigation systems, poultry, vegetable farming, milling, and microfinance schemes for women and youth in extreme poverty.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 680 projects funded; over 900,000 Tanzanians helped
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Eucanaid (EU Can Aid)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018A major joint development partnership between TDT and Eucanaid to fund integrated village development programmes over multiple years. Started with Marumba village (Mtwara region, 2018) and extended to Mdughuyu village (Singida region, 2022). Projects span water, health, education, income generation, and agricultural projects. Extended multiple times beyond initial 3-year commitment due to success.
• Africa PalmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Co-funder of the Marumba village joint development project with TDT and Eucanaid. Contributed significant funding alongside the main partnership to support integrated projects including boreholes, solar panels, beekeeping, and classroom construction.
• Hope for Girls and Women TanzaniaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017NGO founded and led by TDT's Mara local representative Rhobi Samwelly. Runs two safe houses for girls at risk of FGM and gender-based violence. TDT funds safe houses, hostels, and FGM prevention work. The organization has protected over 300 girls during its first three years and expanded significantly.
• Mboni ya Vijana (MVG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Grassroots community non-profit founded by TDT's Kigoma Rural representative Benedicto Hosea. Operates microfinance schemes for women, sustainable agriculture training, water pump installation, and youth skills training. Has trained 600+ farmers, dug 9 village boreholes, and provided loans to 300+ women. TDT provides funding and project support.
• JiaminicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment organization that supported and documented the Mtangalanga Secondary School hostel extension project in Nangwanda/Seah Sheikh, Mtwara region. Provided positive testimonials about project impact.
• Bees AbroadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK charity that linked experienced beekeeper Innocent Mkasa (Mtwara) with Marumba village beekeeping group, providing training and marketing support. Part of the Marumba integrated village project.
• VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organization through which TDT operated its Small Grants Scheme. VSO volunteers could apply for grants of up to £450 to overcome obstacles in community projects. Funded beekeeping modernization in Mahuninga, Iringa (£450), among other projects.
• PlantVillage Nuru / Pennsylvania State UniversitycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to deploy the PlantVillage Nuru AI app for detecting Fall Army Worm in maize and Cassava Mosaic Disease. TDT's local reps trained as Digital Champions to teach farmers to use the free Swahili app. A 'Dream Team' of 10 field officers was created in Kigoma and Mara to detect, advise, and deliver solutions to farmers.
• Ntuntu Orphans and Disabled People Organisation (NODIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization led by TDT representative Hamza from NODIP in Singida. Selected as the implementing partner for the EuCanAid/TDT joint funding programme in Mdughuyu village, targeting WASH facilities, healthcare, and community development for 3,224 inhabitants.
• Organization of People Empowerment (OPE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO led by TDT local representative William Shayo. TDT funded OPE to implement the Busangwa solar vegetable irrigation project for 15 vulnerable women in Kishapu district (Shinyanga), and the Mlole women's group solar irrigation project in Muleba.
• RUWASA (Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency responsible for rural water supply. Selected Mkima village (Sumbawanga) as one of its priority villages for improved water access. Works with TDT's local representative to identify and approve water projects.
• PiXL InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational education partnership working to improve life chances of young people. TDT partners with PiXL to advance education in Tanzania's rural government schools.
• iamtheCODEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal charity with which TDT launched Wellbeing clubs in 14 schools in Tanzania — the first of their kind in the country. These are peer-to-peer community support groups for vulnerable populations, particularly girls, run by teachers using iamtheCODE materials.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Farm Africa: UK charity working on rural agriculture, livelihoods, and economic empowerment in eastern Africa. Highly comparable to TDT's income generation, microfinance, and sustainable agriculture programs (e.g., beekeeping, solar irrigation, Mboni ya Vijana).
• Plan International UK: Focuses on girls' education, child protection, and ending child marriage in developing countries. Direct peer to TDT's Girls' Education priority, including hostels, Open School for teenage mothers, and FGM/child-marriage prevention via Hope for Girls and Women.
• Sightsavers: UK international development charity with significant Tanzania footprint working on disability inclusion, education, and health. TDT has a long-running disability/Special Needs Unit program (Masasi Primary School), making Sightsavers a comparable peer along mission and beneficiary population.
• WaterAid: UK-registered international charity focused on clean water, sanitation and hygiene in developing countries. Closest direct peer to TDT given shared water-infrastructure mission, small UK charity/governance model, and similar community-led delivery in rural Africa.
• AMREF Health Africa: Africa-led health and development organization delivering community-based programs across Tanzania and East Africa. Comparable in geographic focus, grassroots delivery model, and water/sanitation/women's empowerment programming.
• VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas): UK-based international development charity that places volunteers and runs community programs. TDT operationalized its Small Grants Scheme through VSO and lists VSO as a partner; comparable operating model and UK-charity governance structure.

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children UK: Much larger UK-registered children's rights and education charity with multi-country programs. Overlaps with TDT on girls' education, child protection, and rural school infrastructure but operates at a vastly larger scale and broader geographic remit.
• Oxfam GB: Major UK-based international development confederation with wide-ranging programs in water, education, and women's economic empowerment. Overlaps with TDT's mission breadth but at a fundamentally different scale and scope.
• Mercy Corps: Large international humanitarian and development organization with programs in rural livelihoods, WASH, and education in East Africa. Overlapping mission portfolio with TDT but broader mandate and significantly larger budget.

Others

• Comic Relief: UK grantmaking charity that funds many of the same causes and geographies as TDT (water, girls' education, FGM prevention). Adjacent rather than competing — represents a potential funder and ecosystem participant rather than a direct operational peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tanzdevtrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/tanzdevtrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tanzania-development-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/tanzaniadevelopmenttrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tanzania Development Trust