How strategic community investments can drive Vision 2050

Arusha. Strategic community investments have a crucial role in driving Tanzania’s Vision 2050, according to a Vodacom Tanzania and Vodacom Foundation executive.

Delivering a keynote speech at CSO Week 2024 in Arusha, external affairs and Vodacom Foundation director Zuweina Farah underlined the need for collaboration innovation and investments that align corporate goals with social impact.

She highlighted the growing trend of corporate foundations taking an active role in community development.

“Over the past decade, these foundations have moved beyond simple corporate social responsibility initiatives to become strategic partners in national development,” Ms Farah said in her presentation before a diverse audience that included government officials and civil society and private sector representatives.

She noted that this shift allows businesses to create "shared value," where their success and community well-being are interconnected.

Through targeted investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic empowerment, corporate entities can foster sustainable growth and equitable prosperity.

A key theme of Ms Farah's address was the importance of co-creation – a process that involves the government, private sector, civil society and local communities working together to come up with solutions that meet the real needs of Tanzanians.

She said co-creation is not a mere buzzword, but a commitment to listening to the voices of grassroots stakeholders and ensuring their input shapes the development agenda, adding that collaboration is essential in today’s interconnected world.

Ms Farah reminded the audience that the challenges Tanzania faces, particularly in achieving Vision 2050, are too complex for any single entity to solve.

Public-private partnerships, cross-sector alliances and grassroots movements are key to unlocking the potential for widespread and lasting impact.

As an example, she pointed to the success of blended finance mechanisms, which combine donor funds with private sector capital to de-risk investments and scale up development projects.

Innovation also featured prominently in Ms Farah’s speech. She urged stakeholders to think beyond traditional approaches and adopt scalable, innovative solutions to address Tanzania’s current and future challenges.

By embedding innovation into their strategies, companies and organisations can be proactive rather than reactive in their investments, ensuring long-term success and impact.

Ms Farah also highlighted the importance of capacity building as a cornerstone of sustainable development.

Empowering local communities through training, technical support and partnerships ensures that the impact of investments continues long after initial projects are completed. This approach helps communities take ownership of their development and reduces dependency on external actors.

Ms Farah reiterated Vodacom Tanzania’s commitment to fostering collaboration and empowering voices through initiatives like DigiTruck, M-mama and the Digital Tanzania project, which have successfully partnered with government and local communities to deliver impactful results.

As the principal partner of CSO Week, Vodacom's involvement goes beyond funding – it is about creating meaningful partnerships that support Tanzania’s Vision 2050.

Through this collective effort, Ms Farah expressed confidence that Tanzania can achieve its ambitious development goals, with community investments serving as a key driver of shared success.