The East African Community (EAC) is thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for women and youth-led Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across its eight partner states. This Hackathon is a unique platform to drive regional economic integration by fostering creativity, innovation, and collaboration. If you’re passionate about creating transformative projects, this hackathon provides the perfect stage to bring your ideas to life.

Focused on vital sectors like tourism, agriculture, finance, ICT, logistics, and environmental management, the hackathon invites participants to devise and refine solutions that address critical barriers to regional service trade. Through collaborative efforts, participants will have the chance to design actionable, scalable projects that enhance cross-border service flows, promote economic cooperation, and drive inclusive growth across East Africa.

The hackathon is more than just a competition, it’s a comprehensive learning experience. Participants will receive mentorship, access to essential tools, and networking opportunities to help turn their ideas into sustainable ventures. By joining, women and youth will gain valuable insights and support that can help make a lasting impact on the EAC’s broader economic and social development goals.

This initiative highlights the power of regional collaboration in tackling shared challenges. It recognizes the immense potential of East Africa’s women and youth to shape the future of the region, driving it toward growth and prosperity.

Ready to contribute to East Africa’s future? Apply now for the EAC Hackathon and become part of this transformative journey. Apply here.

UNA Tanzania and Mpwapwa District Unite for Climate Action

In a proactive effort to combat climate change, UNA Tanzania has joined forces with the Mpwapwa District Environmental Management Committee in a collaborative consultative meeting. This partnership focuses on strengthening the ties among district, ward, and village environmental committees to promote sustainability across the community. By nurturing these relationships, UNA Tanzania aims to empower local governance and enhance environmental stewardship for a more resilient Mpwapwa.

The meeting resulted in the formulation of a comprehensive Environmental Action Plan, tailored to address the specific environmental challenges facing the Mpwapwa community. This actionable plan prioritizes sustainable, resilient solutions, with an eye toward fostering a greener, healthier future for the district. The joint effort underscores a shared dedication to social, environmental, and economic sustainability as essential pillars for community development.

UNA Tanzania officials in a meeting with the Mpwapwa District Environmental Management Committee.

UNA Tanzania extends its gratitude to all partners and stakeholders who played a role in this initiative. The unwavering commitment of these participants fuels the organization’s ambition to leave a lasting positive impact. This collaborative work ensures that the concerns and voices of local communities are central to creating sustainable, daily practices.

Training Local Communities in the District on Climate Resilience Actions.

Furthering this mission, UNA Tanzania hosted a hands-on training program for Mpwapwa’s pastoralists, farmers, and social entrepreneurs. The training, focused on strengthening accountability and promoting local governance, tackled urgent climate challenges such as drought and flooding, emphasizing the critical role of access to information in human rights advancement. By fostering informed actions, UNA Tanzania is empowering communities toward sustainable solutions.

UNA Tanzania Team facilitates Capacity-Building Training on Climate Resilience Action for Mpwapwa’s Pastoralists, Farmers, and Social Entrepreneurs at Ng’hambi Village.

The training also spotlighted climate-responsive entrepreneurship, encouraging participants to explore ventures like millet seedling sales, irrigation solutions, and sustainable grazing practices. These initiatives provide economic opportunities while fostering local resilience against climate impacts, advancing food security, and enhancing Mpwapwa’s capacity for sustainable development.

In partnership with Tanzania’s Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), UNA Tanzania has successfully implemented a two-day awareness campaign on voter registration and information updates. This initiative comes as the nation prepares for the 2025 general elections, aimed at empowering citizens in key Dar es Salaam wards, Tandale and Kawe to register, update, or transfer their voter information for the upcoming polls.

The campaign’s first day was spent in Tandale, where outreach teams connected with community members from diverse social groups in workplaces and gathering spots. The team engaged with citizens at local markets, bodaboda stations, shops, and food vendors across six streets: Pakacha, Kwa Tumbo, Sokoni, Muhalitani, Kwa Mtogole, and Kwa Mkunduge. The focus was to reach all demographics and spread knowledge about the importance of accurate voter registration.

UNA Tanzania team educates women entrepreneurs on voter registration, updating, and transferring information in the permanent voters’ register during their visit to Tandale ward.

On the second day, UNA Tanzania teams targeted the Kawe ward, covering four streets: Mzimuni, Mbezi Beach A, Mbezi Beach B, and Ukwamani. Through these efforts, over 1,000 citizens from all two wards, including women, people with disabilities, business owners, and young adults approaching voting age, were educated on the procedures and benefits of registering to vote. The comprehensive sessions highlighted guidelines, eligibility criteria, and potential pitfalls, tailored to empower voters to register and update their information seamlessly.

UNA Tanzania team provides voter registration education to fishermen in Kawe Beach, enhancing their ability to update and transfer voter information in the permanent voter register.

The outreach also stressed the importance of using digital systems to aid voter registration, through Online Voters Registration System (OVRS), making the process accessible and efficient for all citizens. Local government leaders and community stakeholders showed strong support, reinforcing a sense of civic duty and engagement.

UNA Tanzania is proud to support this vital democratic process and remains committed to fostering a culture of accountability and participation. With this campaign, we aim to enhance Tanzania’s democratic foundations, encouraging every eligible citizen to participate actively in shaping the nation’s future.

In collaboration with Forum CC, ActionAid, Save the Children, and PACJA, UNA Tanzania proudly organized the 8th Climate Change Symposium and Expo 2024, which took place on 17^th October 2024 at Dodoma, the event reaffirmed our commitment to sustainable development through climate action and community resilience. This high-profile event provided a platform to highlight climate education, renewable energy, and community-driven solutions as essential components for a resilient Tanzania in the face of climate change.

During the main symposium, UNA Tanzania facilitated the participation of the Agricultural Extension Officer from Mpwapwa Mr. Allan Wilson as a panelist in a panel discussion titled “Localizing Climate Change Response,” Wilson shared insights from the Mpwapwa Climate Resilience Project, underscoring UNA Tanzania’s approach to local climate adaptation strategies that focus on supporting vulnerable communities. This case study highlighted effective practices and community-centered solutions that could inspire wider replication across Tanzania.

Allan William (first from the right) and fellow panelists during the Climate Symposium and Youth Expo in Dodoma.

In addition to the main session, UNA Tanzania hosted a side event titled “Community-Driven Climate Resilience Strategies and Solutions.” The session spotlighted Mpwapwa District’s successful initiatives, emphasizing the vital role of local communities in leading climate action efforts. Attendees engaged in discussions on how local efforts can be strengthened through support from regional and national actors, aligning with UNA Tanzania’s goal of empowering communities as primary agents of change.

UNA Tanzania’s contributions reflect its mission to mobilize resources and foster partnerships for sustainable development in Tanzania. By sharing on-the-ground experiences from Mpwapwa, UNA Tanzania encouraged collaboration among stakeholders to scale up climate resilience initiatives across the country.

UNA Tanzania remains committed to advancing climate resilience through partnerships and knowledge-sharing. With the continued support of allies like Forum CC and other partners, UNA Tanzania is dedicated to a sustainable, climate-resilient future for Tanzania.

UNA Tanzania Join Forces with NBS to Streamline SDG Data Integration and Reporting Systems

UNA Tanzania paid a high-level consultative visit to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). A meeting held on October 11, 2024, at the NBS offices in Dodoma brought together officials from various departments of NBS, along with the Executive Director and several representatives from UNA Tanzania. The meeting aimed to accelerate the integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into Tanzania’s national development frameworks. By focusing on robust digital systems for seamless reporting from local to global levels, this collaboration seeks to strengthen the tracking and accountability of SDG progress across sectors. Streamlining SDG data collection ensures not only efficiency but also clarity in translating these efforts into tangible community outcomes.

A key outcome from the meeting highlighted the importance of harmonizing these digital systems to avoid duplication and improve data coherence. UNA Tanzania recognizes that a more synchronized data approach supports smarter, more strategic progress toward the Global Goals. By reducing redundant efforts, the organization is creating a pathway for impactful community projects and partnerships that directly benefit Tanzanians across various regions.

The Executive Director of UNA Tanzania Mr. Ibrahim Bakari in conversation with a representative from NBS

UNA Tanzania leads th effort to make the updated 2024 National Youth Development Policy more accessible.

Furthering this commitment to partnership, on October 16, 2024, UNA Tanzania joined forces with members of the Tanzania Sustainable Development Platform, including youth-led and development organizations such as Policy Forum, Restless Development, and Pwani Youth Network, to visit the Prime Minister’s Office for Labor, Youth, Employment, and People with Disabilities. This meeting, held at the Ministry of Labor, Youth, Employment, and People with Disabilities, centered on a significant objective: creating a public-friendly version of the National Youth Development Policy 2007, updated for 2024, that will be accessible to a wider audience.

Judith Urio, Head of Youth Development, discusses key strategies to popularize the updated National Youth Policy of 2007 (2024) during a meeting with the Prime Minister’s Office for Labor, Youth, Employment, and People with Disabilities in Dodoma.

Through the coordinated efforts of partner organizations and the Prime Minister’s Office, UNA Tanzania aims to enhance the reach and impact of the Youth Development Policy. UNA Tanzania will continue to collaborate with civil society organizations (CSOs) to facilitate the policy’s popularization and dissemination, making it a valuable tool for youth empowerment and progress in the country.

As UNA Tanzania looks forward, these initiatives hold great potential for fostering a more inclusive approach to national development, creating spaces for young people to participate actively in the country’s growth. By advancing SDG integration and enhancing youth policy accessibility, UNA Tanzania is dedicated to building sustainable pathways for Tanzania’s development.