UNCDF hosts high-level information sharing forum on Tanzania’s evolving development landscape, financing shifts, and Vision 2050

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania invited key development partners to a high-level dialogue and information sharing session to highlight development achievements and progress towards national priorities, as laid out in Tanzania’s ‘Development Vision 2050’, also known as ‘Dira 2050’.

The event brought together senior representatives from government ministries, international organizations, diplomatic missions, private sector actors, and civil society to explore practical pathways for translating strategic ambitions into tangible outcomes, by showcasing past successes with UNCDF.

“This is a strategic moment for us to align our efforts with Vision 2050. Through new development financing frameworks with pillars such as domestic resource mobilization, public private partnership, foreign direct investments, and incorporation of innovative financing models such as municipal bonds and green bonds across all sectors of the economy, we can mobilize resources to support inclusive and climate-resilient development,” said Hon. Ambassador Noel Kaganda, Director of Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania.

In his opening remarks, Hon. Kaganda emphasized the importance of collective action in navigating the evolving global development landscape. He highlighted the need to rethink financing priorities considering changing global spending trends, noting that while the world spends over US$ 2.7 trillion annually on security operations, a fraction of that could end hunger and provide basic healthcare for all.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Fred Msemwa, Executive Director of National Planning Commission said “Dira 2050 is putting the private sector at the center of economic development, and the role of government will be that of a facilitator, enabler and derisking.”

UNCDF has operated in Tanzania for over 40 years, working across sectors to boost economic growth, support micro, small and medium sized enterprises and build resilience to climate change, among others. Leveraging its unique mandate to unlock finance for emerging markets, such as Tanzania, UNCDF played a crucial role in the launch of the Tanga Water Bonds, acting as the lead technical and financial advisor and provider of catalytic funding. The ten-year water infrastructure bonds raised over US$ 20 million of international and domestic capital and was the first listing from a subnational entity in the region, with listings on both the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange and the Luxembourg Green Exchange.

“As we prepare for the mid-term review of the UN Cooperation Framework, today’s insights will help us better align with government priorities and partner strategies. Driving capital flows to the local level and strengthening institutional capacity is essential. The Tanga UWASA Water Green Bond is one of the tangible examples of how innovative financing can support national goals,” said Ms. Susan Namondo, UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania.

The panel discussion featured contributions from Mr. John Viner, Deputy Head of Development Cooperation at the Swedish Embassy and Mr. Samweli Kilua, Country Director for Tanzania at Gatsby Africa, a private foundation that focuses on job creation and economic growth in East Africa. According to Mr Viner, Sweden's new development assistance direction includes a focus on the effective use of resources and guarantee facilities where applicable as a tool to increase private sector investment. Mr. Kilua, urged development partners not to work in silos but to focus on countries’ competitive advantages. He stressed that what works elsewhere may not be effective locally, and initiatives should add value to existing projects.

The event featured a showcase of successful development initiatives led by UNCDF in Tanzania, demonstrating impact across interconnected areas such as climate resilience, financial inclusion for small and medium enterprises, clean cooking energy scales up, public and private investment in agricultural food systems, and large-scale innovative financing mechanisms, including green bonds, ESG-aligned investments, and subnational infrastructure finance models.

Stakeholders were urged to champion innovation, mobilize private investment, and expand successful initiatives that foster inclusive and sustainable progress. As Tanzania works toward its goal of becoming a high-income nation, participants agreed that the unified efforts of the government, development partners, and the private sector will be critical in transforming this vision into tangible outcomes.