UN calls on Tanzania to intensify collaboration with development partners for Vision 2050

Dar es Salaam. The government has been called upon to deepen its collaboration with development partners, particularly in advancing human capital development and investing in the youth, to realise Vision 2050.

The call emphasises the importance of empowering women and girls and enhancing access to quality education and healthcare services.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Tanzania, Mr Zlatan Milišić, conveyed this message on behalf of the Development Partners Group (DPG) during a dialogue on the technical level themed "Towards Vision 2050: Accelerating Resilience and Inclusive Development in a Time of Uncertainty," held on Friday, February 9, 2024.

"We firmly believe that Tanzania's attainment of comprehensive socio-economic development hinges on our collective efforts to nurture human capital and empower the youth," said Mr Milišić.

He highlighted the necessity of providing enhanced opportunities for women and girls, coupled with improved access to education and healthcare, to foster greater skills and productivity, enabling all citizens to realise their full potential.

Mr Milišić stressed the critical importance of strengthening food systems, aligning with sustainable development goals (SDGs), and addressing multi-dimensional poverty.

"Ensuring food security and improving nutrition are paramount for reducing multi-dimensional poverty and fulfilling the human capital requirements essential for achieving the aspirations of Vision 2050," he expressed.

As chairman of the DPG, Mr Milišić acknowledged the strides made by the government in these areas, citing the Africa Food Systems Summit (AGRF) in 2023 as a platform that underscored the commitment to addressing food system stability.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Dr Natu Mwamba, highlighted the significance of partnerships with development stakeholders in crafting an inclusive and resilient economy aligned with Vision 2050.

She emphasised the need for coordinated efforts, including mobilising concessional resources, to effectively realise the envisaged national priorities.

Dr Mwamba also underscored the potential for Tanzania to become a regional and global breadbasket, albeit underexploited, stressing the importance of accelerating the transformation of the country's food systems to ensure food sufficiency.

“This calls for the need to explore strategies and interventions that will accelerate the transformation of Tanzania’s food systems to ensure food sufficiency. We have many initiatives in place to transform our agricultural sector,” said Dr Mwamba.

In assessing progress towards the National Development Vision 2025, the National Planning Commission Executive Secretary, Mr Lawrence Mafuru, highlighted significant achievements, including economic growth and improvements in life expectancy and children's enrollment rates.

He said the economy is projected to grow at an average of eight percent, noting that 6.8 percent growth was recorded in the last two decades.

Life expectancy rose to 65 years from the previous 52 years two decades ago, as children’s enrollment increased to 69 percent from 50 percent recorded in 2000.