This is the first of a three-part series of policy briefs presenting findings of the main research report “Institutional and Operational Bottlenecks in Rice Value Chains and Export in Tanzania: The Case of Mbeya Rice Producers and Traders.” Through the EU-ACP TradeCom II Programme, the study is part of the “Targeted support to strengthen capacity of policy makers, exporters, and trade associations to assess and review trade and related economic policies to promote trade competitiveness and diversification for widening trading opportunities with the EU’’ – project implemented by REPOA and ISS-Erasmus.