Remarks by Head of UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Ms. Shabnam Mallick | Summit of the Future/Tanzania Development Vision 2050 Youth Consultation | July 3rd, 2024 | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Remarks by Head of UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Ms. Shabnam Mallick | Summit of the Future/Tanzania Development Vision 2050 Youth Consultation | July 3rd, 2024 | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

• Ambassador Noel Kaganda, Director of Department of Multilateral Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation;
• Mr. Joseph Malekia, Senior Economist, Planning Commission, President’s Office;
• Heads and Representative of UN Agencies,
• UN Colleagues;
• Senior Government Officials;
• Members of the press;
• And last but, most important for today: Young People;

Habari za Asubuhi!

I am excited to join you all this morning at such a dynamic and promising event. Firstly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the organizers for their incredible effort in bringing us together for this important consultation. Their dedication to fostering a platform where voices, especially of the youth, can be heard is truly commendable.

Today, as we dive into the Tanzania Development Vision (TDV) 2050, I am filled with optimism. I encourage each of you to channel the discussions and learnings from yesterday's global themes into our national context. Your fresh perspectives are crucial as we aim to integrate these global insights with our local realities, crafting policies and strategies that are both innovative and inclusive.

Today, I invite you to think about how the themes of climate action, technological advancement, and economic equality can be localized to enrich the TDV 2050. How can life in Tanzania…your lives…be better? How can Tanzania harness green technologies? What steps can we take to ensure that economic growth is both inclusive and sustainable? Your answers to these questions will help shape the Tanzania’s development for the next 25 years.

Young people are the catalysts of change around the world. New and disruptive technologies will likely change our world like never before. The young people will naturally surf those waves of change much better than others. Their lack of cynicism and inherent idealism allow them to see the world with fresh eyes, and their energy makes them powerful agents of disruption. A great example is the young Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. As a teenager, she dared to challenge the status quo on climate change, sparking a global movement led by young people demanding action from world leaders. Similarly, Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani activist, defied the Taliban's ban on girls' education, highlighting the power of young voices to disrupt societal inequalities. These are just a few examples of how young people, with their unbridled passion and innovative thinking, can shake up the status quo and create positive change in the world. 

Having said that, it is also expected of young people to realize the limits of change; to weigh short term gains of change with long term consequences; and to work towards positive change and not negative change. 

This consultation serves as a platform for such voices and visions and concerns to play out in a safe, democratic and respectful atmosphere. The policies we craft and the paths we choose should resonate with your aspirations. As the primary stakeholders of tomorrow’s Tanzania, your engagement today is pivotal.

This consultation is also timely for the Summit of the Future at UN HQ in New York this September. The Summit will be a high-level event, bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future. The Summit will adopt the Pact for the Future, which will include a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. 

As the UN family in Tanzania, we are channelling our collective support for young people through the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2022-2027. This strategic framework guides our collaborative efforts to support Tanzania in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of its national development priorities, providing a unified approach that maximizes the impact of our initiatives across all sectors.

Under the UNSDCF, numerous UN agencies are actively collaborating with young people across various areas, including health, agriculture, innovation, economic empowerment, and gender equality. 

Let’s use today’s discussions as a launchpad for action. Engage actively, question critically, and participate passionately.

Asanteni sana!