AU in the Community: TAGDev 2.0 Turns Skills into Enterprise Opportunities for Out-of-School Youth in Manicaland, Zimbabwe

By Tawanda Chiwara

Africa University’s TAGDev 2.0 programme is translating skills development into practical enterprise opportunities for smallholder farmers and out-of-school young people across Manicaland Province in Eastern Zimbabwe, equipping communities with technical knowledge, business skills and start-up support to strengthen livelihoods and build more resilient agricultural enterprises.

Through the Agri-food Systems Community Action Research and Entrepreneurship Development (ASEC) consortium, in collaboration with Magamba Vocational Training Centre and Mutare Polytechnic College, the initiative has so far reached more than 200 out-of-school youths across Mutasa and Chipinge districts.

Rather than pulling the young women and men into a classroom and hoping the lessons travel home with them, the programme brings competency-based and business development training directly into the rural districts—reaching communities in Tongogara Refugee Settlement in Chipinge District and Mandeya, Zindi, and Mundenda communities in Mutasa District.

The enterprises taking root reflect the range of what these communities can grow and raise: broiler and road runner production, fish farming, banana and tomato production, mushroom and honey production, and tree nurseries. The training is deliberately aimed at young women, people living with disabilities and refugees—groups often furthest from formal enterprise support.

Seventy-three percent of the participants so far are young women between the ages of 18 – 35 years.

One example of the programme’s practical impact is the More Effort Group in Zindi Village, Mutasa District, where TAGDev 2.0 start-up kits comprising 25 broiler chicks, 10kg of broiler starter crumbs, 25kg of broiler grower pellets, 75kg of broiler finisher pellets, two 2-litre chick founts, 100g of StressPack, and two 8-litre drinkers, assisted the group to establish and commence its collective broiler-production enterprise, alongside fish production. 

As of August 2026, the group, which has 24 active members and commenced operations on the 19th of February 2026, had produced and sold four batches of 25 broilers each.

For Mutasa District Youth Programmes Officer in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Mr Arthur Mwatsina, the decision to bring training to the districts rather than the other way round is itself part of the impact.

“These trainings are very important and impactful, particularly for young women, as they create opportunities for them to participate in income-generating activities while still fulfilling their responsibilities at home. The training is practical and tailored to provide hands-on skills alongside entrepreneurship knowledge. Bringing it directly to the communities makes it easier for participants to attend, reducing absenteeism caused by family commitments. I hope that more young people across Mutasa will have the opportunity to benefit from it.”

He added that the start-up kits accompanying the training have been just as important as the training itself, “encouraging practical application of the skills acquired and generating greater interest among the trainees.”

Recognising that technical production skills must be matched with sound business practices, the ASEC consortium has incorporated business development support into its community interventions. During a recent visit to Zindi, participants received training on business idea generation, customer identification and validation, financial literacy and financial record-keeping.

“Technical skills alone are not enough to sustain an enterprise. The participants also need to understand their markets, manage costs, keep financial records and make informed production decisions. Integrating business development with technical training helps them turn the skills they acquire into sustainable enterprises and income-generating opportunities,” said Africa University TAGDev 2.0 Business Development and Entrepreneurship Officer, Phamela Dube. 

Beyond enterprise development, Africa University’s TAGDev 2.0 interventions are also extending into climate action and environmental restoration. 

In partnership with Chiedza Community Welfare Trust, the programme is implementing a climate change project across Mutasa District, with approval from Mutare Rural District Council. The initiative seeks to re-green communities through the planting of indigenous trees and establishment of orchards across targeted wards.

The project began with a needs assessment in Domborutinhira involving 60 farmers, alongside representatives from AGRITEX, the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe, local authority representatives and the Environmental Management Agency. This was followed by training sessions on nursery establishment and management, fire safety and orchard management, with 40 farmers reached to date.

Six lead farmers have been selected to represent participating villages and have received starter nursery equipment and horticultural seed. The support includes 5,000 seedling pockets, budding knives, secateurs, and vegetable seed for peas, carrots and onions.

“Through TAGDev 2.0, Africa University and our ASEC partners are demonstrating the potential of university-community partnerships to translate knowledge into practical solutions for rural livelihoods. By combining competency-based training, entrepreneurship development, start-up support, climate-smart practices and continued mentorship, the programme is helping young women and men move from acquiring skills to applying them in enterprises that respond to local opportunities,” the Africa University TAGDev 2.0 program coordinator, Dr Walter Manyangarirwa said.

From poultry to horticulture, nurseries, value addition and climate resilience across participating communities, the initiative reflects TAGDev 2.0’s broader commitment to equipping young people, women, people living with disabilities and other underserved communities with the skills and opportunities to participate meaningfully in Africa’s agricultural transformation.

**Africa University is leading the implementation of the 10-year TAGDev 2.0 Program in Zimbabwe, a collaboration between RUFORUM and the Mastercard Foundation, with its ASEC partners Magamba Vocational Training Centre, Mutare Polytechnic College, Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, the University of Zimbabwe, Great Zimbabwe University and Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe.