Title: The Role of Youth in Promoting Economic Development in Mbeya Municipal: Challenges and Opportunities.
Authors: Benson James.
Volume: 9
Issue: 11
Pages: 101-115
Publication Date: 2025/11/28
Abstract:
This study investigated the role of youth in promoting economic development in Mbeya Municipal, Tanzania, with the specific purpose of analyzing the challenges they face and the opportunities available to them. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research gathered quantitative data from a sample of 132 youth through structured questionnaires and qualitative insights from interviews and focus group discussions. The findings revealed a significant paradox: while a strong majority of youth (over 80%) perceived high opportunities in sectors like agribusiness and ICT, their engagement was severely constrained by a triad of challenges-limited access to finance (64.4%), a critical skills mismatch (59.8%), and pervasive regulatory barriers (54.5%). Furthermore, institutional support systems were found to be ineffective, characterized by low awareness, poor accessibility, and minimal perceived impact. A key limitation was the study's cross-sectional design, which provides a snapshot in time but cannot establish causality. The practical implications dictate a holistic intervention strategy, including the establishment of a youth-focused one-stop-shop for business services, curriculum reform to embed market-relevant skills, and the bundling of financial capital with sustained mentorship. Socially, addressing these barriers is imperative to harness the youth bulge as a demographic dividend, thereby reducing unemployment, fostering social inclusion, and mitigating the risks of social unrest. The originality of this research lies in its localized, integrated analysis of the challenges-opportunity-readiness nexus within Mbeya, providing a granular evidence base that moves beyond national-level generalizations to offer context-specific insights for policymakers and development practitioners aiming to unlock the economic potential of the youth.