MSE growth in Tanzania: Are self help groups the missing support intervention Link? : a case study of Dar es salaam

There is increasing belief within academic and administrative circles that if managed well Micro and Small enterprises (MSEs) could become a gateway to poverty reduction. The main objective of this study was to explore MSE operator’s’ attitude towards ability for self-help groups to complement credit, training, premises, and marketing support interventions in a bid achieve growth. Interviews were conducted to 60 MSE operators based on Dar es Salaam. Using a questionnaire, field data were collected, then tested and statistically analysed. For data analysis, the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software used to generate cross tabulation, frequency distribution tables. and pie bans. Chi- square tests were performed. Qualitative analysis 'has performed Findings revealed that all MSE operators across growth level through effective and efficient coordination of external support share the same view that self-help group can fac1htatc their growth to their immediate levels through effective and crfic1cnl coordination of external support interventions . Results further shows that performance among the tested support interventions varies, with training given the first point. Followed by premises, marketing and credit. in due regard, it was suggested that emancipation of MSEs be internally driven through self-help groups rather than externally driven through Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and/or Community Based Organizations (CBOs) generally, findings appear to support theoretical expectations. However factors other than those studied in this study should be explored in future research works.