CSOs propose improvements to Draft Development Vision 2050

Dar es Salaam. Civil society organisations (CSOs) have proposed a number of improvements to the Draft National Development Vision 2050.

CSOs’ proposals were presented on their behalf by a special task force under the coordination of the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) during its meeting in Dar es Salaam with the Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Mr Stanslaus Nyongo, and the committee tasked with drafting NDV 2050.

The CSO task force’s interim chairperson, Mr Lucas Kifyasi, said the team had gone through the draft and came up with several proposals focused on better maternal care to end mother and child mortality during pregnancy and childbirth; guaranteed incomes; affordable universal health insurance; inclusive social security and food security.

CSOs have also proposed that the education sector play a central role in ensuring smooth implementation of NDV 2050, bearing in mind the that the plan will be executed at a time of profound technological advancement in which the country will need to produce expects in various to enable it to keep pace with global development.

Mr Kifyasi said NDV 2050 should highlight the importance of social security for both the formal and informal sectors and affordable universal health insurance for all groups, namely children, the elderly, women, men, youth and persons with disabilities and special needs.

He added that food security and the nation’s ability to feed itself also need to be given priority because they are key to the nation’s productive capacity and productivity.

CSOs have also called for NDV 2050 to put emphasis on guaranteed incomes for people in urban and rural areas, who should at least earn between $8,000 and $12,000 annually so that they can keep up with the rising cost of living.

FCS executive director Justice Rutenge thanked the committee tasked with drafting NDV 2050 for closely working with various development stakeholders, including civil society, since it officially took up its role last year.

“This is a very important process since the plan that is being drafted is meant to enable Tanzania to attain its development vision in the next 25 years. We, in our capacity as development stakeholders, commend cooperation between the government and civil society in the process of drafting the National Development Vision 2050.

“CSOs are at the forefront of reforming and improving policies, laws and governance systems.  Civil society also plays a key role in the provision of social services and disaster relief, creating awareness and encouraging the people – particularly women, persons with disabilities, youth and marginalised groups – to fully participate in development and good governance processes,” Mr Rutenge said.

Speaking during the meeting, Mr Nyongo said civil society has an important role in promoting human rights, equality and societal development in general and thanked CSOs for proposals that were submitted to the committee early last year.

“We promised to work on your proposals and this has diligently been done by our committee.  We have come back to you today when you already have the Draft National Development Vision 2050, which was unveiled in Zanzibar on December 11, 2024.  Our key task today is to listen to what you have to say about the draft,” he said.