The Funguo Innovation Programme (also simply referred to as “FUNGUO”) was born out of the Tanzania innovation ecosystem’s desire to have a more viable and sustainable replacement of the former UKaid-funded Human Development Innovation Programme (HDIF) to continue promoting innovation and supporting innovative startups and MSMEs in Tanzania. FUNGUO is therefore meant to be a vehicle open to any partner interested in investing in catalysing the Tanzanian ecosystem in various ways.

Currently, besides UNDP’s seed financing into the programme and funding from the British Government through the Africa Technology and Innovation Partnerships (ATIP), the main funder is the European Union through its Business Environment, Growth and Innovation (BEGIN) Programme coordinated by the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. FUNGUO implements the 3rd Specific Objective of the BEGIN Programme – “Improved ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly for women and youth-led MSMEs”.

FUNGUO’s implementation is led by UNDP Tanzania which partners with various other players including UNCDF, COSTECH, TIRDO, SIDO and others.

DESIGN AND OVERARCHING GOALS

The ultimate aim of the FUNGUO Innovation Programme is to increase the number of successfully scaled innovation impact ventures to contribute to the national development goals and the SDGs in Tanzania. This is being achieved through the programme’s contribution in addressing the stumbling blocks and gaps in the innovation ecosystem that hinder innovative impact ventures from scaling, while promoting an environment that promotes innovation for development and empowers innovators, entrepreneurs, and enablers.