From June 9–13, 2025, Leather Cluster Design Workshop was held in Dar es Salaam. The event was organized under the European Union ( EU) funded EU -EAC MARKUP II programme by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the East African Community (EAC), in partnership with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI).
The workshop aimed to strengthen national capacity to design and implement leather sector clusters. It focused on increasing local value addition, job creation, and improving Tanzania’s position in the global leather value chain.
Participants included leather processors, footwear and goods manufacturers, academic designers, distributors, raw hide suppliers, and government officials.
The country currently produces 3 million pairs of shoes annually but imports over 54 million, mostly synthetic or second-hand.
Safari Fungo, EU-EAC MARKUP II National Coordinator in Tanzania, highlighted the potential in local school footwear production. With over 14 million students in pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, domestic demand for school shoes is significant.
A key outcome of the workshop was the initiation of the Dar es Salaam Leather Cluster (DLC). Participants developed a strategic plan, governance framework, and roadmap for formal registration as a cooperative. An interim leadership committee was also elected.
The cluster model is intended to support micro, small, and medium enterprises through shared infrastructure, joint procurement, and improved access to markets—particularly institutional buyers like schools.
