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Our vision
To be a leading organisation in developing community capacity initiatives in Zanzibar.
Locally rooted · Partnership driven
Empowered people.
Resilient communities.
We work with communities, government and development partners to expand opportunity and build an inclusive, sustainable future for Zanzibar.
2021Established in Zanzibar
Z0000125562Registration number
2025–2028Strategic Plan period
Who we are
Community development shaped by Zanzibar’s priorities.
Zanzibar Focus Organization (ZFO) is a registered nonprofit civil society organisation based in Mlandege, Zanzibar. We help communities make effective use of social and economic opportunities while strengthening the partnerships and institutions needed for lasting progress.
Our work centres youth, women, persons with disabilities and other groups that face barriers to opportunity.
See how we work →02
Our mission
To empower Zanzibari communities through inclusive and sustainable initiatives that advance education, environmental health, equality and socio-economic resilience.
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Our values
Participation, rule of law, transparency, equality, accountability, effectiveness and efficiency.
What we do
Five connected areas of action.
Our programmes combine practical support, community voice and institutional collaboration.
Flagship programme
MSME Formalisation & Enterprise Development
Helping entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, navigate formalisation, build financial capability and access markets through structured public–civil society collaboration.
- Business skills and diagnosis
- Formalisation support
- Market and finance linkages
Education & Community Development
Capacity-building, youth engagement and locally led initiatives that improve access to knowledge and opportunity.
Youth Empowerment & Participation
Creating platforms for young people to develop leadership, employability, communication and enterprise skills while contributing to Zanzibar’s development.
Climate & Community Resilience
Awareness, restoration and community stewardship supporting healthier coastal ecosystems and resilient livelihoods.
Inclusion, Gender & Advocacy
Advancing participation, rights and economic opportunity for women, youth, persons with disabilities and marginalised groups.
Youth programme
Young people shaping Zanzibar’s future.
ZFO’s youth programme supports meaningful participation, practical skills, employability, entrepreneurship and youth-led solutions to community challenges.
ZFO works with youth organisations and public institutions to expand participation, practical skills, employment pathways and youth-led community solutions.
Active engagementJUVIEKAYouth participation and opportunity-building
Stakeholder engagement in progressMinistry of Youth, Employment and EmpowermentFormal engagement is being finalised
National MSME formalisation
Zanzibar Small Business Formalisation Programme
ZSBFP is implemented under an official Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development and Zanzibar Focus Organization.
The programme provides an integrated pathway from mobilisation and business diagnosis to formalisation, compliance, market linkage, financial inclusion and follow-up.
Planning together at the ZFO office
Our approach
From local insight to lasting impact.
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Listen & mobiliseWe begin with community priorities and bring the right actors together.
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Build capacityWe equip people and institutions with practical knowledge, tools and pathways.
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Connect opportunityWe link communities to services, markets, finance and trusted partners.
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Learn & strengthenWe follow progress, use evidence and adapt for sustainable results.
Governance & management
Leadership committed to accountable service.
ZFO’s Board provides strategic oversight while management leads programme delivery and institutional coordination.
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Dr. Mussa Ali Makame
Chairperson, Board of Trustees
Provides strategic leadership and guides institutional governance and partnerships.
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Haji Miraji Moh’d
Organisation Director
Leads ZFO’s operations, programme implementation and stakeholder coordination.
Khalid Abdallah Omar
Vice Chairperson
Khadija Malik Hamad
Treasurer
Rukia Salim Athumani
Secretary to the Board
Ibrahim Hassan Machano
Board Member · Legal
Ali Khamis Juma
Board Member · Government Relations
Asha Abdallah
Board Member · Gender
Latest activities
Institutional engagement in action.
Recent discussions supporting enterprise formalisation, environmental action and inclusive community development.
Institutional engagement
ZFO engages TRA on small-business formalisation
Discussions with TRA’s Business Facilitation Desk explored tax education, voluntary compliance and practical support for MSMEs under ZSBFP.
Read more →
Prospective collaboration
ZFO and JECA advance discussions in Jozani
The institutions continued preparations for possible collaboration on community-led mangrove restoration and sustainable fisheries under GEF SGP OP8.
Read more →
Institutional engagement
ZFO and MIF explore areas of collaboration
Discussions considered community empowerment, the Children’s Desk initiative and a complementary clean-energy component outside the GEF grant.
Read more →Partnerships for progress
Complex challenges need shared solutions.
ZFO collaborates with government institutions, community organisations, development partners, academia and the private sector to turn good ideas into practical, accountable action.
Start a conversationConfirmed institutional collaborationMinistry of Trade and Industrial DevelopmentCommunity organisationsPrivate sectorDevelopment partners
Governance & accountability
Official resources.
Core documents that guide our mandate, strategy and public accountability.
ZFO Strategic Plan 2025–2028Strategic direction, priorities and implementation frameworkDownload ↓
Registration CertificateOfficial organisational registration recordDownload ↓
Membership Application FormBlank Kiswahili form to print and completeDownload ↓Membership Application FormEditable Word versionDownload ↓
Contact us
Let’s build opportunity together.
Speak with ZFO about partnerships, programmes, community initiatives or institutional collaboration.