DODOMA/ZANZIBAR, 12 August 2026 — Tanzania joined the world in commemorating International Youth Day, placing young people at the centre of national conversations on innovation, economic empowerment, health, participation and sustainable development.Under the global theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”—or “Mazingira Tofauti, Malengo Sawa ya Vijana” in Kiswahili—the celebrations in Dodoma and Zanzibar highlighted a powerful reality: while young people may grow up in different circumstances, their aspirations are remarkably similar. Across Tanzania, from Dodoma and Kigoma to Zanzibar, Mara and Mtwara, young people aspire to quality education, decent employment, good health, equal opportunities, peace, dignity and the chance to shape the future. “Our Government is committed to supporting young people in innovation, technology, youth development and economic empowerment because young people are central to the development of Zanzibar,” said H.E. Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, Second Vice President of Zanzibar, setting the tone for the celebrations in Zanzibar.From Dodoma to Zanzibar, thousands of young people joined Government leaders, the United Nations, development partners, civil society, youth-led organizations and the private sector to mark the occasion—not simply as a day of celebration, but as a platform for dialogue, visibility, partnership and action.The celebrations reinforced a shared commitment to ensuring that young people are not viewed merely as beneficiaries of development, but as partners, innovators and leaders capable of shaping Tanzania’s future.In Dodoma, the national commemoration brought together young people from across the country alongside Government officials, UN agencies, development partners and youth organizations. Representing the United Nations, UN Resident Coordinator Susan Ngongi Namondo emphasized that Tanzania has a unique opportunity to turn its youthful population into a powerful engine of development. “Tanzania stands at a defining moment in its development journey. With one of the largest youth populations in our history, our country has a unique opportunity to transform this demographic reality into a powerful demographic dividend—a dividend that can accelerate inclusive economic growth, strengthen national resilience and drive sustainable development for generations to come,” she said.“But a demographic dividend does not happen automatically. It is created through deliberate investments in people, especially young people. It requires investments in education, health, innovation, digital skills, entrepreneurship, decent employment and meaningful participation.”Her message underscored the importance of creating an enabling environment in which young people can acquire the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to contribute to Tanzania’s development ambitions.Speaking at the Dodoma commemoration, Minister responsible for Youth, Hon. Joel Nanauka, applauded the United Nations and development partners for their continued support to Tanzania’s youth agenda and called on young people to seize available opportunities, embrace innovation and take an active role in building the Tanzania they want.“The government alone cannot create the future we want. Young people must also take responsibility, develop their potential and use their creativity to create solutions and opportunities,” the Minister told participants. For young people themselves, the message was equally clear.“Young people have ideas and the energy to make them happen. What we need is access to skills, networks, technology and opportunities to take our ideas to the next level,” said David George, a young participant in Dodoma.The celebrations moved beyond speeches, with young people showcasing innovations, businesses and community initiatives addressing challenges in health, education, technology, entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability.In Zanzibar, the same spirit of youth leadership was evident as young people gathered to celebrate their contribution and discuss ways of strengthening their participation in development.Representing the United Nations at the Zanzibar commemoration, UNFPA Tanzania Representative Mark Bryan Schreiner highlighted the importance of continued investment in young people, particularly in ensuring access to information, skills and opportunities, while enabling them to exercise their rights and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives. “We do not want to be spoken about; we want to be part of the conversation and part of the decisions. When young people are given a seat at the table, we bring solutions from our communities,” said Halima Sharif, a young participant from Zanzibar.Her message echoed the broader call for young people to move from the margins of development discussions to the centre of decision-making.Building momentum beyond the commemorationThe International Youth Day 2026 celebrations were supported by a series of youth-focused engagements designed to move the conversation from celebration to participation, innovation and action.On 8 August in Dar es Salaam, the International Youth Day 2026 Youth Symposium, held under the theme “No Youth Left Behind: Empowering Youth Participation Towards Dira 2050,” brought together young people, Government, the United Nations, development partners and the private sector to explore how youth participation can contribute to Tanzania’s long-term development ambitions.The symposium generated significant interest, receiving 700 registrations within four days. From these, 400 participants were shortlisted to ensure diversity, with 375 ultimately attending, including 75 students from three secondary schools. The programme combined policy dialogue with practical opportunities for youth participation. A Youth Innovation Pitching Session featured eight youth-led solutions spanning artificial intelligence, education, health, agriculture and social inclusion. The programme also featured the Future Lab, Big Conversation panel, Youth in Action, Opportunity Spotlight and Lightning Battles, creating spaces for young people to exchange ideas, demonstrate solutions and connect with opportunities.The symposium featured remarks from UNDP Resident Representative Shigeki Komatsubara, the National Planning Commission and the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Youth Development, reinforcing the importance of connecting youth priorities with national development planning.Discussions highlighted the need to move beyond simply having young people present in development spaces towards meaningful participation, agency and equitable access to opportunities as Tanzania advances towards Dira 2050.

  A notable intervention from a secondary school student on the limited inclusion of younger voices in national decision-making reinforced the importance of extending youth engagement beyond established networks and creating space for younger and underrepresented voices.The symposium also demonstrated the value of connecting dialogue to tangible opportunities. Two participants secured Green Summit tickets during the event, illustrating how youth platforms can create immediate pathways to networks, learning and participation.On 11 August in Dodoma, the momentum continued with a Youth Symposium convened by the United Nations in Tanzania under the leadership of UNFPA, bringing together more than 1,000 young people to exchange ideas and explore solutions for Tanzania’s future.Officially officiated by Ms. Jenifer C. Omolo, Permanent Secretary responsible for Youth in the Prime Minister’s Office – Ministry of Youth, the symposium focused on youth empowerment, meaningful participation, innovation, technology, health and sexual and reproductive health and rights, while highlighting the role of young people in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and Tanzania Development Vision 2050.Dr. Majaliwa Marwa, UNFPA Assistant Representative, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to working with young people as partners, innovators and agents of change.The symposium featured youth-led exhibitions and a dialogue on the International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” providing a platform for young people to share experiences, access information and connect with opportunities. The exhibition area served as an information hub showcasing Government, UN and partner initiatives supporting youth development. Media engagement was also central to the lead-up to International Youth Day, with a press conference bringing together Government, UN and youth representatives to discuss the priorities, achievements and aspirations of Tanzania’s young population, while amplifying youth voices and bringing their perspectives into the national conversation.Together, these engagements demonstrated that youth participation cannot be limited to commemorative events. It requires sustained platforms through which young people can influence policies, access opportunities, develop and scale innovations, and build partnerships with Government, the private sector and development partners.Partnership for a youth-powered TanzaniaAcross both celebrations, the importance of partnership emerged as a defining message. The government provides leadership and policy direction; the United Nations and development partners contribute technical expertise, resources and platforms; the private sector can create pathways for employment and entrepreneurship; civil society and youth-led organizations connect initiatives with communities; while young people themselves bring creativity, energy and solutions.The celebrations also highlighted the broader contribution of young people to Tanzania’s development journey. Across the country, young innovators are developing digital solutions for agriculture, health and education; young entrepreneurs are creating businesses and jobs; young volunteers are strengthening communities; and young advocates are advancing human rights, gender equality and environmental sustainability. These contributions demonstrate why issues such as youth employment, health and well-being, artificial intelligence, digital innovation and civic participation must remain central to national development. They are interconnected building blocks of a more prosperous, inclusive and resilient Tanzania.The celebrations further reinforced the leadership and coordination role of the Tanzania UN Sub-Group on Adolescents and Youth Development, which brings UN agencies together to advance a coherent, youth-focused agenda and strengthen efforts to ensure that the voices of adolescents and young people inform national development priorities.From the dialogue rooms of Dar es Salaam and Dodoma to the vibrant celebrations in Zanzibar, International Youth Day 2026 offered a clear message: investing in young people is not simply a social responsibility—it is one of the smartest investments Tanzania can make.
  As Tanzania advances towards Dira 2050 and the Sustainable Development Goals, empowering young people with education, skills, decent work, health, technology and meaningful opportunities to participate will be essential to building the prosperous, inclusive, resilient and equitable society the country aspires to become.The future is not something young people are waiting for. They are already creating it.

The Integrated Mangroves conservation and beekeeping initiative in Bumbwini, Zanzibar, has demonstrated how climate action, environmental conservation and sustainable livelihoods can go hand in hand, as local communities take practical steps to protect forests while creating new sources of income.The initiative, implemented under the Zanzibar Joint Programme (ZJP), brings together the Government of Zanzibar, the United Nations under the leadership of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and local communities to strengthen climate resilience and promote sustainable natural-resource management. The ZJP is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dar es Salaam through the Tanzania SDG Acceleration Fund.Speaking in Bumbwini, North Unguja, during an event involving local beekeepers, Minister of State in the Office of the First Vice President, Hon. Hamza Hassan Juma, called on communities to strengthen their efforts to address climate change and environmental degradation.He emphasized the importance of community participation in protecting forests, planting trees and adopting sustainable livelihoods that reduce pressure on natural resources.“Communities have an important role to play in addressing climate change and environmental degradation,” the Minister noted, stressing the need for continued collaboration between government, communities and development partners.The initiative has supported local beekeepers with 55 modern beehives, honey-processing equipment and practical knowledge to improve beekeeping and honey production. Beyond income generation, beekeeping provides a strong incentive for communities to conserve trees and forests, since healthy ecosystems are essential for bees and honey production. Through the ZJP, the UN has implemented a wide range of activities involving communities, including forest management, beekeeping and climate action. UNEP Head of Office in Tanzania, Clara Makenya, highlighted the importance of such community-based approaches in tackling climate change. She highlighted that the UN is supporting programmes that connect environmental conservation with livelihoods, enabling communities to benefit economically while protecting the ecosystems on which they depend.“Environmental conservation is increasingly becoming an integral part of development planning. We are working with communities to address climate change while promoting sustainable management of forests and other natural resources,” Makenya said. “We are grateful to the Government and people of Norway for their generous contribution to the Zanzibar Joint Programme, which is helping us turn our shared development priorities into tangible impact at the community level,” she added. The Permanent Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President, Maryam Abdalla Saadala, also underscored the importance of strengthening community forest management and promoting beekeeping as an income-generating activity. She called for continued training to improve beekeeping practices and the quality and value of honey produced.For local beekeepers, the initiative represents more than the provision of equipment. It offers an opportunity to transform environmental stewardship into a sustainable livelihood.In Kaskazini Unguja, the program has advanced community-led mangrove conservation and modern beekeeping as sustainable livelihood pathways. Key achievements include baseline assessments, development of integrated training materials, training of 70 beekeepers and mangrove custodians, cross-learning exchanges with mainland cooperatives, and introduction of digital monitoring systems for nurseries and beehives.Community and district-level equipment support has strengthened local ownership and sustainability of these initiatives.The program also supported gender-responsive land-use planning through Village Land Use Plans, establishing participatory governance mechanisms involving 20 district leaders and supporting consensus-building processes that guide environmentally sustainable land management for nearly 11,000 people in Bumbwini Makoba, Mafufuni, and Kiongwe Kidogo. By encouraging communities to maintain trees and forests, modern beekeeping can contribute to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration and climate resilience while providing households with an additional source of income.The experience in Bumbwini demonstrates the value of locally led climate action: when communities are supported with knowledge, appropriate technologies and economic opportunities, protecting nature can become part of everyday livelihoods.As Zanzibar continues to respond to the impacts of climate change, initiatives such as this show that environmental protection need not be separated from economic opportunity. Healthy forests support bees; healthy bees support livelihoods; and empowered communities can become powerful partners in building a climate-resilient Zanzibar.

The Government of Tanzania, the United Nations, and partners are inviting tech companies to apply for a new programme that will help farmers use phones and data to grow more food and earn more money.Today, at the Nane Nane grounds in Dodoma, the Ministry of Agriculture and the United Nations officially opened the Call for Applications for the Agritech4 Tanzania’ Accelerator. This is a special programme that will pick 10 Tanzanian tech companies that build digital tools especially for farming and agriculture (called "agri-techs") and help them build even better tools for farmers.What is this all about?Many farmers in Tanzania, especially women and young people, face challenges accessing essential services and information, such as loans, market prices, farming tips, inputs like seeds and fertilizers, or weather updates. Tech companies can help solve this with apps and digital tools, but they need support to grow and improve their ideas.That's where the Accelerator comes in. The 10 selected companies will get:Expert coaching to make their business strongerHelp using farm data the right waySupport to get ready for investment and fundingAccess to new tools and partnershipsOn top of this, the three companies with the strongest demos and results will be selected to receive catalytic grant funding to help them grow even faster.Who is behind this?The Agritech4 Tanzania accelerator is part of the Data for Digital Agricultural Transformation (D4DAT) Joint Programme, a partnership between the Government of Tanzania, the United Nations (UNCDF, FAO, and IFAD), and the European Union, which is funding the programme through the Joint SDG Fund.The Accelerator also has support from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT of CGIAR — an international agricultural research organization — through its Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP). A4IP is CGIAR's venture space, built on its research legacy to drive innovation at the nexus of agriculture, environment, and health. A4IP's support for this Accelerator is made possible with funding from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).The overall operations and day-to-day management of the Accelerator, including quality assurance and due diligence, coaching and business support, will be managed by DLab.Why does this matter?When farmers can use good digital tools, they can:Get better prices for their cropsAccess loans and other financial servicesLearn better farming methodsPrepare for problems like droughts caused by climate changeThis is all part of a bigger effort to help Tanzania's agriculture sector use data better, connect different systems together, and work more closely with the private sector.How can companies apply?Tanzanian agri-tech and fintech companies who want to be part of this exciting opportunity can apply now. Women and youth-led companies are especially encouraged to apply.Ten companies will be selected. The future of farming is digital, and it starts here. For more information please contact DLAB:Email: connect@dlab.or.tzCell: + 255625684528  Scan to apply!       

15 July 2026, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. As the world marks World Population Day 2026, the conversation on population is shifting from numbers to people—from demographic trends to the hopes, aspirations and choices of young women and men. This year's global theme reminds us that the future is not determined by population size alone, but by whether young people have the opportunities, rights and support to build the lives and families they envision.This message resonates strongly in Tanzania, where a youthful population presents one of the country's greatest opportunities for concerted investment to drive  inclusive growth for the country's sustainable development. With millions of young people entering adulthood, investing in education, health, skills, employment, gender equality and reliable population data has never been more important.The urgency of these investments is reinforced by UNFPA's Demographic Futures Survey, one of the largest studies of its kind, involving more than 108,000 internet-connected young adults across 73 countries. The findings reveal that young people continue to dream of marriage, parenthood and stable family life. However, financial insecurity, unemployment, housing challenges and uncertainty about the future remain significant barriers to realizing those aspirations. Nearly 88 per cent of respondents said financial security is essential before becoming parents, while 87 per cent highlighted stable employment and 85 per cent emphasized emotional readiness.The survey sends a powerful message: young people are not abandoning family life—they are asking for the conditions that allow them to make informed, voluntary and hopeful decisions about their futures.For Tanzania, these findings echo national priorities. The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania continued to demonstrate strong leadership by integrating population dynamics into national development planning, strengthening demographic data systems and investing in programmes that improve the wellbeing of women, adolescents and young people. Working alongside government institutions, civil society, development partners and communities, UNFPA has remained a trusted partner in ensuring that population data translates into better policies and improved lives.Population data is more than statistics—it is the foundation for planning schools, health facilities, employment opportunities, infrastructure and social protection programmes. Through its longstanding partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS) in Zanzibar, UNFPA has supported Tanzania to strengthen evidence-based planning and demographic analysis.Among these efforts was UNFPA's technical and financial support to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, one of the country's most important national statistical exercises. Beyond supporting census implementation, UNFPA has worked closely with national statistical institutions to disseminate census findings and develop thematic census reports that provide deeper analysis on issues such as population growth, fertility, mortality, migration, ageing, youth, disability, urbanization and gender. These evidence products are helping policymakers, researchers, development partners and local governments better understand population trends, identify population priorities and design responsive development interventions.UNFPA has also supported innovations in population data visualization, including through Geographic Information System (GIS) such as GIS Portal platform and analytical tools that enable planners to make informed decisions aligned with Tanzania Vision 2050, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.Reliable demographic evidence is only one part of the equation. Equally important is investing directly in young people's health, education and leadership.This is reflected in Tanzania's evolving digital landscape. Findings from the 2022 Population and Housing Census Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Analysis show that while mobile phone ownership is now nearly universal, only 14.7 per cent of individuals aged four years and above use the internet, with usage highest among young adults aged 25 to 29 (29.9 per cent) before declining sharply with age. Rural-urban gaps remain wide, with internet use at 27.3 per cent in urban areas compared with 7.7 per cent in rural areas, underscoring that access to information — a cornerstone of informed choice — is still far from equal across the country. Closing this digital divide, particularly for young people and women, will be central to ensuring that population data and the opportunities it unlocks reach every community.Across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, UNFPA works with government ministries, local authorities, youth organizations and communities to improve access to quality sexual and reproductive health information and services, prevent gender-based violence and harmful practices, strengthen maternal health and create opportunities for meaningful youth participation in decision-making.These achievements would not be possible without the strong collaboration between the Government of Tanzania and development partners whose continued investments are helping transform the lives of young people. UNFPA acknowledges the support of partners including the Governments of Canada, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Japan, Switzerland, Denmark, the United Kingdom and other partners who continue to invest in the health, rights and potential of Tanzanian women and young people."Young people are not only the future—they are shaping Tanzania today. By investing in quality population data, education, health systems and youth empowerment, we are creating the conditions where every young person can exercise their rights, realize their potential and contribute meaningfully to sustainable national development. Population data enables smarter planning, but investing in people transforms lives."  — Mark Bryan Schreiner, UNFPA Representative, TanzaniaThe impact of these investments is reflected in the lives of young people across the country.Ashura Mohammed, a 22-year-old from Geita Region, says access to accurate information and youth-friendly services has changed how she thinks about her future. "Young people have dreams, but we also need opportunities and skills. Through programmes supported by UNFPA and its partners, I have gained knowledge about my health, my rights and how to plan for my future. I now believe I can make informed decisions about my education, career and the family I hope to have one day. When young people are supported, we become part of the solution for our communities and our country."As Tanzania commemorates World Population Day, the message is clear: demographic change should never be viewed as a challenge to control, but as an opportunity to invest in people. When young people have access to quality education, healthcare, decent employment, reliable information and the freedom to make informed choices, they become the driving force behind resilient communities, stronger economies and sustainable development. Together, through continued partnership between the Government, UNFPA, development partners and communities, Tanzania is building a future where every young person has the opportunity not only to dream—but to realize those dreams, creating the families they want and contributing to a prosperous nation where every choice counts.