From volunteer to managing 1,500 partnerships in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. In the often-steep climb up the corporate ladder, stories of women in Tanzania being deterred by the prospect of low pay and failing to progress in leadership are common.

However, what remains less told is that financial rewards are often cultivated through strategic career choices and continuous professional development. Now comes big questions: What's the most strategic path to the top? Could volunteering be the key?

Fresh from college over eight years ago, with a bachelor degree in procurement and logistics management, Ms Nsiande Urassa, now aged 31, followed the traditional career path: find a job, get paid, and move forward.

After various internship programmes and trying out a job at a bank as she navigated the corporate landscape, a question lingered: Is there more to life than just earning a salary?

Then, she decided to retreat, and try a different route - one that many young graduates with high ambitions often overlook - volunteering.

As she reflects on her career journey today, she looks back and says to herself; “My decision was right.”

Nsiande settled and built her portfolio slowly but surely and now she is in charge of administration and procurement at the country’s largest annual conference: Tanzania Health Summit (THS) which convenes close to 1,500 delegates who include scientists, policymakers and healthcare investors and organisations from Tanzania and around the world.

She works all year round but her work climaxes at the end of the year. This year, President Samia Suluhu Hassan graces the opening of the event scheduled for October 1-3, with delegates from 20 countries expected to meet in Zanzibar to discuss the potential of partnerships to improve quality of healthcare.

“These are unique moments when I feel that the skills I cultivated over the years, are put to work,’’ Nsiande told The Citizen in an interview.

She explained that volunteering is a powerful tool for new job seekers on the market, if they dedicate their time and energy to the cause they believe in, develop skills, build meaningful networks, and gain experiences that will serve them well in their professional lives in future.

She says that her curiosity to learn when she joined THS as a volunteer in 2018 has helped her rise her career ladder.

“When I joined THS, I was eager to learn and contribute my efforts to the meaningful work done by the summit in the health sector by learning from my seniors and mentors, Dr Chakou Halfani and Dr Omary Chilo. Through teamwork, I was able to learn new skills, which supported my career growth,” she says.

Today, the summit has evolved into a prominent international event, setting the standard for public health engagement.

Nsiande says she played a key role in the strategic move to make the annual event more inclusive and consistent.

THS has been selected to host the 2028 Priorities Conference through the International Society for Priorities in Health (ISPH), showcasing the country's growing influence in the international health arena.

For Nsiande, such achievement is particularly meaningful. "This will be another milestone in my career. When I was being subjected to learning new things, at times I would think it was taking a toll on me. But now I am learning that I was being prepared to take on bigger decisions," she says, reflecting on her journey from volunteer to a key player in the health summit.

She learned the skills of event planning, logistics, coordination, how best to engage local and international organisations, and how to have clear communication when planning for meetings.

“Sticking to the core values of the organisation, which are trust and transparency, has helped me to be a good problem solver and make good decisions by resolving issues openly by involving both parties in whatever situation,” says Nsiande.

She believes that while her current role offers unique challenges and opportunities, it may not provide the same level of mentorship and hands-on learning experiences gained through volunteering.

“At this moment, I am challenged to make bold decisions. The time to learn this was during my volunteer stage, where the mentors focused much of the time on making me learn and adapt,’’ she explains.

To cultivate a robust partnership base of over 1,500 stakeholders, Nsiande employs effective communication strategies. By clearly articulating the THS goals and benefits to potential partners, she has been able to foster mutual understanding and enthusiasm.

Additionally, building trust through consistent execution and adherence to agreements has been a cornerstone of her approach.

The Covid-19 pandemic

Reflecting on the challenges of organising a conference during pandemic situations, such as what she experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, Nsiande emphasises the importance of adaptability and resilience.

The fear of the disease and the organisation's commitment to participant safety presented significant hurdles. Despite the obstacles, the THS successfully integrated virtual elements into their events, adapting to changing circumstances and leveraging technology to maintain engagement.

“We did not skip any summit event at any point in time. We learnt to adapt and I learnt this as well, that there is always room to make it happen,’’ she said.

While technological barriers and financial constraints posed challenges, the THS focused on contingency planning, flexibility, and a positive attitude, which emerged as key factors in overcoming adversity. By embracing change and applying innovative solutions, the summit was able to navigate the pandemic and continue to achieve its goals.

Working with scientists

One of Nsiande's most significant lessons has been the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Coming from a background of arts and finance, she initially faced challenges working with scientists from vastly different fields.

However, through experience and adaptation, she has learned to appreciate the value of diverse perspectives and the power of collaboration.

Nsiande's contributions to the summit have been instrumental in creating new programmes and national plans for better healthcare.

Since 2014, the summit has disseminated over 1,400 research abstract presentations, half of which have been published in renowned international science journals, earning wider dissemination to the scientists’ work.

This, she says, makes it the largest platform for research and programme dissemination in Tanzania. The focus on research and innovation has significantly improved the effectiveness and efficiency of health interventions across the country.

"I think this is the time to tell any fresh graduate reading my story today that volunteering pays," she says. "You just need resilience and patience."