UNA Tanzania collaborated with Policy Forumfor the  Breakfast Debate in August focusing on the theme, “Towards Sustainable Development: Reflecting on the 2023 Tanzania Voluntary National Review (VNR) Report. The debate was conducted at the British Council Auditorium in Dar es Salaam with the aim of sharing feedback to stakeholders on what transpired during the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July, deep diving into what Tanzania as a country reported on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Civil Society Organization’s engagement in the process ensuring no one is left behind.

Mr. Joseph Malekia from The National Planning Commission commenced by opening the debate with a presentation describing the entire VNR process to finally summarizing what was reported during the HLPF. He said that, “We are midway to 2030 and only 12% of the goals have been accomplished globally, this shows how much efforts is still required to achieve what we had set in 2015. For Tanzania it was confirmed during the forum that, there has been good progress in goals 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, and 16 and relatively moderate progress in goals 1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17”.

Mr. Joseph Malekia from the National Planning Commission in The Ministry of Planning and Investments under the Prsident’s Office

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion composed of Reynad Maeda; The Co-Convener of The Tanzania Sustainable Development Platform (TSDP) and Executive Director at UNA Tanzania, Stephen Chacha, Co-Convener of  The Tanzania Sustainable Development Platform, Nesia Mahenge, Country Director at CBM International in Tanzania as well as Mr. Joseph Malekia. The panelists shared their experience and lesson learnt from the High-Level Political Forum. During the forum UNA Tanzania together with other members of the TSDP conducted a side event which deliberated on leveraging partnerships to promote meaningful participation in advancing Agenda 2030 by those most at risk. Apart from that UNA Tanzania’s Executive Director was a speaker in several side events including; a side event organized by the governments of Finland and Tanzania with the theme , “Localizing the SDGs: Transformative partnerships to accelerate achievement of the Global Goals at local level”, a side event conducted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development to examine What happens after a community completes a Voluntary Local Review to measure local achievement of the SDGs. On top of that the Director spoke at a VNR Lab conducted by the German Council for Sustainable Development to  share from a stakeholders perspective, how Tanzania VNR process embraced the Whole of Government,  Whole of Society approach.

Panelists from left; Joseph Malekia, Nesia Mahenge, Stephen Chacha and Reynald Maeda

After the panel discussion, the attendees had a chance to explore the subject in a couple of groups before being given the opportunity to share their opinions. Key take aways from the debate include;

• Translating the SDGs into local contexts & local languages is key for the localization of the goals and ensuring the local community is fully on board.
• Realization of the SDGs in Tanzania should not only rely on charitable source of finance. We should focus on unlocking new innovative sources of finance for the SDGssuch as climate finance
• Media involvement in the SDGs is of the essence, to capacitate them to relate reported news with SDGsis crucial in stimulating its implementation.
• Young people have the power to act and mobilize others hence meaningful youth engagement in the implementation of the SDGs is

The Tanzania Youth Forum is an annual platform established in 2022 with the main objective of creating sustainable coordination mechanism between the government and youth through policy and legal frameworks that facilitate an enabling environment for youth inclusion and participation in pioneering the youth agenda in economic, social, political and leadership development sectors. This year UNA Tanzania was among the steering committee which included more than 32 CSOs. The 2023 forum took place on  the 3rd and 4th of  August at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre in Dodoma with the theme ‘Youth Participation in Leadership and Governance for Economic Development’, stressing on the significance of youths’ involvement in decision making and their economic growth. The 2023 forum mobilized more than 500 participants including government representatives, development partners, youth led/youth focused CSOs, inspirational youth leaders, youths in business, representatives from youth political wings, youths interested in international development issues and individual youth between the ages of 15 – 35 from all over Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar. UNA Tanzania moderated a panel discussion on the first day and led a break away session on the second day focusing on the topic ‘Youth Inclusion in Economic Opportunities’.

The panel discussion began with a key note address on Youth Participation in Inclusive Economy for Job Creation by Mr. John Ulanga, The Chief Executive Officer at The Tanzania Private Sector Foundation. He provided a brief overview of the job market and the critical skills required by the job market which included technology, emotional intelligence, data analysis, creativity, leadership and critical thinking skills. In his address Mr. Ulanga put much emphasis on the education system that fosters skills. He said,  “ we need to establish an education system that will focus on creating young people with skills, determination and self-confidence, not a system that puts higher value on obtaining ​​certificates without critical skills”.

Mr. John Ulanga presenting key note address as he opens the panel discussion

The panelists were from diverse areas each stipulating issues on youth inclusion in inclusive economy in their respective areas; Mr. Jeremia Mwambange from the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) highlighted youth economic empowerment policies. Mr. Aloyce Andrew from The Tanzania Commission of Science and Technology called attention to youth businesses & start-ups and Octavian Kimiro from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spotlighted youth and cross border trade (EAC, SADC & AcFTA).

On the second day of the forum UNA Tanzania led a breakaway session with over 170 youth with the aim of obtaining recommendations on how youth inclusion in economic opportunities can be enhanced.

Among other things youth recommended;

• Improved access of information on the available funds for youth economic development
• Reformation of the education curriculum to cater for entrepreneurship skills, digital skills and the 21st century skills required by the job market
• Less bureaucracy and realistic requirements in accessing finances to support youth initiatives
• Ensuring inclusivity for all youth subgroups without leaving behind those residing in villages.
• Access of finance should go hand in hand with training on entrepreneurship skills, financial literacy and business compliance.

One of the paricipants providing his recommendations during the breakaway session

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UNA Tanzania led a discussion on “Empowering Tanzania’s Youth: Unleashing Potential and Fostering Sustainable Development” at The Breakfast Debate organised by UNA Tanzania in collaboration with Policy Forum in July  held at the British Council Auditorium in Dar es Salaam city center. The informal conversation over breakfast provided a space that promoted youth engagements and debate on what it takes to empower the youth of Tanzania to reach their full potential. The debate was one of the avenue UNA Tanzania uses to mobilizes stakeholders together to discuss what works for the youth of Tanzania so as to influence policy processes.

Lucas Kifyasi, The Head of Programs at UNA Tanzania introduced the topic with a focus on; Overview of the Tanzania Youth, Youth Priority, Belief and Aspiration, Barriers towards Unleashing Youth Potential and last but not least what should be done to unleash the potential of Tanzania youth for inclusive and sustainable development.

Lucas Kifyasi, Head of Programs at UNA Tanzania introducing the topic

The debate featured a panel discussion with the following speakers; Ocheck Msuva from Bridge for Change, Mr. Jeremiah Wandili from Wote Initiative for Development Empowerment (WIDE) and Ms. Happy Samuel who is the Youth Development Officer from Ilala District.  The speakers offered in depth assessment of the topic and their recommendations. Mr. Msuva emphasised that it is crucial for Tanzania to have well equipped entrepreneurship centres that will build youth with entrepreneurship skills and make them able to employ themselves. On the other hand Mr. Wandili stressed on the need to create enabling business environment for youth entrepreneurs, “Youth’s businesses are hit with high taxes and many licenses upon establishment which causes early demise. The goverment should learn how to tax youth businessesss in a way that enables youth to start their businesses and keep it running”, he said.

Panelists from left; Ocheck Msuva, Lucas Kifyasi, Happy Samuel and Jeremiah Wandili

Followed by the panel discussion, the participants had a chance to discuss the subject in small groups then the floor was opened for them to provide their two cents. Ms. Josephine Doglas from UNDP spoke about the need for systemic reform if at all full youth potential is to be unleashed. She said that, “Changing the education curriculum alone will not suffice, youth empowerement requires a systemic approach.The government should prioritise reforming the entire education system from the means of instructions, equipments to incentives offered to the teachers”.

Ms. Josephine Douglas from UNDP speaking during the open floor session.

Key take aways derived from the session include;

• Systemic change: Laws, Policies, Plans and their implementation needs a system change. young people in Tanzania crave an enabling environment across political, economic, technological, educational, cultural, and social spectrums to allow them to fit in the rapidly changing world
• Unleashing youth potential needs to go hand in hand with effective implementation of Development frameworks commitment in particular SDGs 4, 5, 8 16 in line FYDP III Objective no 8.
• Building productive capacity of youth, by creating empowerment initiatives, development opportunities and space for engagement is an end in itself, as well as a means to build a better young person to lead and change the community.

UNA Tanzania conducted school visits with the main aim of promoting awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among students of Kibasila Secondary School and Temeke Secondary School. The sessions involved 135 students in total from Ordinary level and Advanced level classes from both schools. In the session a brief concept of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) was provided, how it evolved to the SDGs and the differences between the two.

Ally Mwamzola, Project Officer at UNA Tanzania facilitating the SDGs awareness session at Kibasila Secondary School.

 Further more the students were introduced to the SDGs followed up by a session on the role that students possess in SDGs implementation.The students were encouraged to actively participate in the implementation of the SDGs. Some key roles they can play were identified including; raising awareness at school and in their communities, engaging in school activities such as cleaning and environmental conservation, using innovation and creativity to find sustainable solutions and mobilizing other students to join SDGs related initiatives. The sessions where made more engaging by involving visual games and fun activities  where in the end SDGs champions for each school were obtained.

Ms. Ummilkher Yassin , Advocacy and Communications Officer at UNA Tanzania awarding a badge to the SDG Champion from Temeke Secondary School.

Temeke Secondary School students playing a card game aimed at enhancing SDGs understanding.

Apart from SDGs a special session on climate change was conducted by Haika Simon, the climate resilience officer at UNA Tanzania. This session aimed at raising awareness on climate change as well as accelerate youth engagement in clmate action. During the session students learnt about how climate change occurs, it’s causes, impacts and actions that they as students can take at school and at home to address climate change.

Haika Simon, Climate Resilience Officer at UNA Tanzania leading the climate change awareness session at Temeke Secondary School.

The visits were successful in raising awareness of the SDGs among students from Kibasila Secondary School and Temeke Secondary School. The students gained a better understanding of the global goals and their role as active agents of change. Students were encouraged to take action and contribute to the implementation of the SDGs in their communities.

“We are happy to be visited by UNA Tanzania. They have educated us about the 17 goals of the UN. We have been able to learn what we can do to stimulate the implementation of these goals such as environmental protection in and out of our school. Also, we can motivate others by giving them the education we have received starting from our fellow students in Kibasila and even others outside of Kibasila” Steven Joseph Mosso, The Head Prefect of Kibasila Secondary School.

Steven Joseph Mosso, The Head Prefect of Kibasila Secondary School paying close attention during the session