Tanzania has a history of defining national aspirations through development visions. The Development visions are the national road map that guides the country’s economic and social development plans. Since independence in 1961, three development visions have guided the country’s trajectory: The first development vision is, achieving Independence, the second is, Implementing the Arusha Declaration, and of recently, the Vision 2025. Vision 2025 was launched in 2000, and aimed to propel Tanzania into the 21st century with a focus on five key components: high-quality livelihood, peace and stability, good governance, a well-educated society, and a competitive economy. Vision 2025 yielded commendable results. By 2020, Tanzania had transitioned from a least-developed country to a lower-middle-income country, exceeding the vision’s timeline. However, achieving the targeted 6% economic growth of the vision proved challenging, with various factors hindering progress such as the 2009 global economic crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuating fuel prices, climate change impacts, and global conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war. Since we are approaching the end of the 2025 vision. The government is spearheading the process of developing the 2050 vision.

In 2023 during the commemoration of our independence on December 9^th, The President of the United Republic of Tanzania Her Excellency Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan announced the launch of a national initiative to collect public inputs for the development of the national 2050 vision. As mandated the Planning Commission started to oversee the process.

In the efforts to amplify youth voices in the national development plans, UNA Tanzania led a youth consultation in Dodoma to gather youth aspirations to inform the formulation of the Tanzania Development Vision (TDV) 2050. Youth from various organizations such as Action on Disability and Development (ADD) International, Action Aid, Restless Development, Youth of United Nations Associations of Tanzania (YUNA), Pwani Youth Network, Empower Youth Prosperity as well as Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) representing the Coastal Zone, Central Zone, and Southern Highlands Zone participated in the consultation. They generated aspirations around 9 divided themes that included:

1. Good governance & rule of law
2. Education
3. Climate Justice
4. Health
5. Media, Technology & Innovation
6. Gender, Equity & Inclusion
7. Economic Empowerment
8. Peace, stability & unity
9. Art, Sports & Games

The following are some of the highlights of the forged aspirations by the young people.

• To build climate-resilient communities and infrastructure systems by 2050. This would involve investing in resilient infrastructure, improving disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, and empowering local communities to adapt to climate change impacts.
• By 2050 Tanzania should have an education system that focuses on delivering education through a practical learning and competence-based approach, to prepare more skilled labor as per market demand particularly young people who are the majority.
• To achieve a diversified, inclusive, and dynamic economy by 2050, characterized by sustainable growth, job creation, and reduced unemployment rates through targeted policies, investments in key sectors, and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.
• A nation where every citizen regardless of gender, enterprises, and organizations (public & private) has access to digital and the capability to participate and thrive in the digital economy.
• An active and reliable player in the regional and international peace and security mechanisms through diplomacy with the capacity to articulate and promote national peace and security interests.

Young people are key players in shaping the future of our country. Their participation in developing the national development plans is crucial because they have the ability  to propel the nation forward.