Mr. Japhet Mgema is a Lecturer, researcher, and a Consultant at the Moshi Co-operative University (MoCU), Faculty of Business and Information Sciences, Department of Accounting and Finance. Mr. Japhet received his Bachelor degree in Cooperative Management and Accounting from the Sokoine University of Agriculture, and a Master of Science in Finance and Investment from the Institute of Finance Management, Dar es salaam. Mr. Japhet is currently undertaking PhD studies at the University of Dodoma, College of Business and Economics.
Mr. Mgema joined the Faculty of Business and Information Sciences in 2015 and since then he has been teaching various courses in Certificate, Diploma and Degree programmes which include financial accounting, financial management, cooperative audit and inspection, to mention few. Further, Mr. Japhet has undertaken strategic research and published scholarly articles in peer reviewed journals in his areas of interests which include agribusiness, microfinance and community group development. These scholarly works can be accessed through Google Scholar, ResearchGate, ORCID and LinkedIn. His current research is on digital financial services and the financial performance of financial cooperatives in Tanzania. Mr. Japhet is also experienced in various data analytical tools such as ODK, SmartPLS, STATA and SPSS.
Mr. Mgema has undertaken various consulting assignments in national and international organizations. He was involved in the development of the business plan for the Sikonge Honey and Beeswax Processing Industry in the Sikonge District Council in the Tabora region, Tanzania (2022); development of 14 business plans for rice millers and 4 strategic plans for millers’ associations in Malinyi, Ulanga and Kilombero Districts in Morogoro Region implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) under the Enhancing the Competitiveness of Smallholder Rice Farmers – ECSR project (2020-2021).
In addition, Mr Mgema was involved in the development of business plans for the expansion of the Irrigation scheme and construction of warehouse for UWAWAKUDA – Dakawa, Morogoro (2021-2022); development of the business plan for the construction of the rice warehouse, Bahi district and the proposal for the Dodoma Intensive Cashewnut Improvement Project (DOICIP) financed by TCDC under the Ministry of Finance and Planning (2022) and the preparation of the strategic plan for Kilimanjaro Native Co-operative Union (1984) Ltd (2021).
Mr. Mgema is currently engaged in a 1-year consulting assignment by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Lake Tanganyika project. The project aims to Strengthen Established Community Fisheries Management Areas (CFMA) Cooperatives in Two Wards of Kirando and Mkinga in Nkasi District, Rukwa Region.
Among his administrative works, Mr. Japhet served as a coordinator for the Professional Financial Cooperative Management Programme (PFCMP) (2018-19); a Board member of the Institute of Continuing Cooperative Education (ICCE) (2018-19), and a Regional Programme Coordinator for the Singida and Manyara Regions, Department of Extension and Outreach, (2019 to date).
Mr Japhet has undertaken various international courses in prominent institutions such as Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Gujarat, India – Sustainable Livelihoods and Mainstreaming with Markets-2018, Wageningen University and research, Netherlands – Climate Change Adaptation, Food Security and Natural Resources Management (Feb-2023) and Market Access for Sustainable Trade (Nov-2023).