This study examined the extent at which informal manufacturers’ access Business Development Services (BDS). The study inquired about the extent of access and constraints to such access. The study was carried out in Dar es Salaam and mixed methods approach was used to study the phenomena. Using purposive and simple random sampling, researchers used a sample of 150 respondents from among manufactures and officials from different organizations. Data were collected by the use of questionnaire, interviews and documentary review. The descriptive statistics performed through SPSS were used in analysing quantitative data while content analysis run through MAXQDA10 was used to analyse qualitative data. Because the study was built on the contention that Business Development Services help in improving the performance of businesses, findings revealed that there is limited access to Business Development Services by urban informal manufactures in terms of training, financial assistance, legal related assistance and technical assistance among others which hinder their growth. The sluggish access to these services was caused by financial, information, technical, legislative, cultural and capacity related constraints. The study urged the government and its related organizations to value small start-ups by giving them all their necessary attention if they want the country to be more of an industrialized one. Business Development Services should be extended to these ventures bearing in mind that it is from these informal start-ups that disruptive industries emerge. Thus continuous trainings, financial and technical assistance should be given greater priority to urban informal manufacturers.

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Recently the use of mobile phones has been a widespread phenomenon. Various services have been provided by mobile phones which delivers opportunities to reduce costs and incomplete information dissemination in the agricultural sector and ensure efficient functioning of markets. But in order to successfully use mobile phones for the optimal development of agricultural markets, understanding the determinants of mobile phone usage in marketing agricultural products is crucial. This study aims at assessing the determinants of mobile phone usage for marketing agricultural products of small-scale orange farmers in Muheza, Tanzania using the UTAUT model. The study applies a mixed method approach utilizing questionnaire and focus group discussion. Data were collected from 288 randomly selected small scale orange farmers. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling and content analysis techniques. Findings show that the determinants of mobile phone usage for marketing of agricultural products are Effort expectance, social influence and facilitating conditions. Regarding the usage patterns of mobile phones, results indicate that many farmers own normal mobile phones and use those frequently. Further, the findings indicate that orange farmer’s use mobile phones for communication, money transaction and business purposes. Therefore, the study recommends that extension officers should be role models in using mobile phones in disseminating marketing information to farmers. In addition, technical facilities and support should be established in rural areas. Further, the government should ensure provision of infrastructure and equipment needed in the uptake of ICT by farmers. This study is important as the results provide insights on the determinants of mobile phone usage in marketing of farm produce which will help agricultural stakeholders to come up with strategies to help farmers make better use of mobile phone to enhance their marketing activities.

Despite the growth and expansion of street vending business along with its economic support to the poor urban dwellers, much facts regarding characteristics and general operations of each group is not known. Thus, this study intended to characterize street vendors in Dar es Salaam city, Tanzania, to unveil their characteristics, challenges and needs of each specific category. The study employed a mixed methods approach with a sample of 100 street vendors sampled conveniently. Findings indicate that, street vending business involves individuals of diverse characteristics in terms of gender, education, economic status, marital status, cultural practices among others. It was further revealed that, the operations of street vendors are different and the difference emanate from the nature of what one vends. Lack of training, lack of legal status, lack of recognition by different financial institutions are some of the general challenges however, each group had its pressing challenges. The study concludes that it is important to understand different characteristics of street vendors across the country so that measures taken to help them are relevant to their operations. Findings imply that, when dealing with street vendors, one should look at them differently because they possess different characteristics. Efforts to resolve their challenges thus, should be category specific.

This study assessed challenges to accessing credit financing from Financial Institutions by the urban based street vendors in Dar es Salaam - Tanzania and recommends strategies for ensuring effective access to this crucial service. The study utilised mixed methods approach design and data were collected through interview, questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), review of secondary data, and observation techniques based on the purposive and random sample size of 104 respondents. The quantitative data were analysed descriptively by using Statistical Packages of Social Science (SPSS) while the Qualitative data were analysed content-wise by using MAXQDA software. Findings show that generally vendors were incapable of sufficiently accessing financial support from the financial institutions due to a number of reasons. These reasons include the vendors’ inability to comply with the established procedures for accessing financial support, lack of financial information relating to when, how and where to acquire the financial service, vendors’ inability to afford collaterals against the credit financing as well as too high loans interest rates. Another one is lack of relevant documents by the vendors required for accessing credit financing. In order to resolve the challenges, the researchers recommended equipping vendors with relevant credit financing information, prioritising provision of group loans to vendors as well as organizing the street vendors into groups. Other strategies to consider would be reduction of loan interest rates by the institutions, eliminating bureaucracy in accessing credit as well as engaging in business policy advocacy in favour of the vendors to access financial support.