Catalysing and Scaling Innovation In Tanzania

CATALYSING AND SCALING Innovation in Tanzania: A review of approaches • CONTEXT
1. CONTEXT
1.1 The innovation
ecosystem in Tanzania
Successful innovation ecosystems comprise multiple
players – including the government, the private
sector, research institutions, innovation hubs, civil
society, and the innovators themselves – developing
strong connections and contributing resources,
knowledge, and skills that together influence the
creation of new solutions.
Tanzania is home to an increasing number of
dynamic individuals and institutions who make up
the country’s flourishing innovation ecosystem.
A network of innovators, entrepreneurs, tech
businesses and hubs have come together to
promote their services, host events, and put
themselves on the map. Yet without a supportive
environment, even the most innovative ideas will
struggle to scale and grow. Although the ecosystem
is gaining momentum and becoming more active
and connected, it is still in its early stages. In
order for it to transition to a mature ecosystem, a
concerted effort is needed to improve the flow of
information, create better linkages between actors,
strengthen the policy environment, and build the
capacity and resources of key institutions as well
as the business and technical capacity of the
innovators themselves.
In an early-stage ecosystem, hubs play a crucial
role in incubating and accelerating innovative
ideas and building entrepreneurship skills. In Tanzania,
new hubs are popping up every day: whereas in
2011, Buni Hub, Kinu Hub and Mara Space 5 were
the three main physical spaces that provided
support to entrepreneurs, there are now more than
40 hubs across the country. Local, community-driven
initiatives, such as Sahara Sparks 6 and Smart Lab 7 ,
that provide support to start-ups and connect them
with the private sector have emerged. The Annex to
this report provides an overview of the different types
of support mechanisms that are present in Tanzania.
Despite the proliferation of new hubs, many of them
struggle with generating cash flow and a sustainable
business model to support their activities. At the
same time, the services that they provide are not
always well aligned to the needs of the start-ups,
and the public and private clients they serve. Many
5
https://
maraphones.com/
philanthropy/B
6
www.
saharasparks.com
7
http://smartlab.
co.tz/
HDIF
Below
A woman
experiencing
Virtual Reality
(VR) at Innovation
Week 2018, with
OnaStories, a
media production
company that
uses VR for
immersive
storytelling
in Tanzania.
10