Written by:
Junmin Hu, Programmes Intern, World Vision Ireland, interviewing World Vision Tanzania staff members Jackline Kawiche (Project Manager), Proches Faustine Lyimo (Project Facilitator), Edwin E Mulokozi (DME Officer) and Mark Dimosso (Project Accountant)
NOURISH is a five-year Irish-Aid funded programme being implemented in Mauritania, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Uganda and Vanuatu, now in its fourth year of implementation. I am delighted to have had the chance to speak with the NOURISH team in Tanzania, who shared their outstanding achievements in Kishapu District. Kishapu District is one of three districts in Tanzania’s Shinyanga Region. Most people here rely on small-scale agriculture, livestock keeping and casual labour. Due to the dry climate and scarce rainfall in Kishapu, it is challenging to access diversified food, and people struggle to earn a stable income. As a result, many households face food insecurity and malnutrition.
To support communities in Kishapu in increasing their income and combating malnutrition, the World Vision Tanzania team has introduced value chains in the NOURISH project. A comprehensive spotlight on the approach is planned to be shared later this year as part of the NOURISH spotlights developed by the programme’s climate adaptation specialist.
What is a Value Chain and the LVCD approach?
In simple terms, a value chain is a production model that follows sustainable cycles from input to output, to sale, and back to input again. To strengthen this cycle, World Vision Tanzania applies the Local Value Chain Development (LVCD) approach, which helps vulnerable producers and farmers to analyse markets, gain information, build relationships and act collectively to overcome market barriers and increase profits.
LVCD recognises that increasing production alone is not enough to improve livelihoods. Instead, it focuses on strengthening the entire value chain by connecting producers with the services and markets they need to succeed. Through this approach, farmers are linked to input suppliers, buyers, processors and financial service providers, creating opportunities to improve productivity, increase income and access reliable markets.
World Vision Tanzania and its local partner RECODA support this process through technical training, business development support and facilitation of market linkages, helping communities build the knowledge, networks and systems required to sustain their livelihoods beyond the life of the project.
Based on government priorities and value chain analysis, World Vision Tanzania selected several local products with a potential for improvement and has been promoting the implementation of multiple value chain items, such as poultry, sunflower, pig rearing, soap, batik (a traditional textile art form characterised by the handcrafted process of resist-dyeing), and honey.
What are the achievements from the NOURISH programme’s value chains?
Using the poultry and sunflower value chains started in 2024 as examples, the Poultry Value Chain has reached 242 direct members, produced 2,769 chickens with a total sales value of TZS 22,303,000 (USD 8,578.1), and the Sunflower Value Chain has reached 160 direct producers, produced 1,367 kg of sunflower seeds and 419 L of cooking oil with a total sales value of TZS 2,092,500 (USD 804.8).
Apart from these results, as the Tanzania team proudly shared, the biggest achievement is seeing the sustainability and replicability of these value chains. Producer groups are already applying the skills, knowledge and market connections gained through NOURISH to continue their activities beyond the initial production cycle. Through training and farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing, participants are able to support other farmers in their communities. The growing capacity of participants to continue these activities with reduced project support reflects increasing community ownership and provides a strong foundation for long-term sustainability.
This is how value chains are successful and sustainable: they establish a savings and reinvestment mechanism that enables groups to continue production independently. The sustainability of the value chains is reinforced through their linkage with Savings for Transformation (S4T) groups. By enabling members to save, access loans and reinvest in their businesses, S4T provides producer groups with the financial resources needed to continue production cycles and strengthen their enterprises over time.
What has the approach brought to communities and stakeholders?
Participation in the value chains approach has provided households with new opportunities to strengthen both their livelihoods and nutrition. Through poultry production, families have greater access to eggs and chicken meat, while sunflower production has increased the availability of locally produced cooking oil. Together with nutrition education delivered through the NOURISH programme, these activities help households diversify their diets and improve access to nutritious foods.
The value chains have also created income-generating opportunities for participating producer group members. By selling poultry, sunflower seeds and processed products such as cooking oil, households can earn additional income while developing business and financial management skills. Many participants reinvest part of their earnings into future production cycles, helping them expand their livelihood activities over time.
Beyond the economic benefits, the Tanzania team highlighted increased confidence among participants as they take on new roles as producers and entrepreneurs. Through training, mentoring and participation in producer groups, community members have gained practical skills, market knowledge and stronger connections with other farmers, buyers and service providers.
Moreover, women are the driving force behind the project. Women make up more than 75% of the participants. Through gender awareness training and household dialogue sessions, NOURISH has called for family support for women. Women now participate more actively in economic decision-making.
Strengthening sustainable and replicable Value Chains
According to the Tanzania team, their next step is to strengthen the sustainability and scalability of value chains. Building on the foundations already established, they will expand existing farmer groups and producer networks by encouraging more household involvement, improving practices, and supporting linkages between markets and businesses.
In addition, they will help promote greater value addition and business development opportunities within supported value chains, while continuing nutrition education activities, especially for women and children.
They will also place greater emphasis on farmer-to-farmer learning and mentorship, enabling experienced producers to share knowledge and practical skills with others both within and beyond project communities.
Ultimately, the long-term vision is not simply to increase production, but to strengthen local systems that can continue creating economic opportunities after project support ends. By investing in producer capacity, market connections and community-led learning, the value chain approach has the potential to be replicated in neighbouring communities and other districts facing similar challenges.
