Catalysing and Scaling Innovation In Tanzania

CATALYSING AND SCALING Innovation in Tanzania: A review of approaches • Voices from the ecosystem
HDIF
3.4 Strengthening the
innovation ecosystem
In addition to supporting innovators, many
programmes also provide support to help strengthen
the innovation ecosystem and the actors within
it, including hubs, incubators, universities, and
research institutes. There was consensus amongst
those that we interviewed that ecosystem support
is important and necessary, but there are differing
opinions on how this should be achieved. Most
innovation ecosystem support focuses on a specific
national innovation ecosystem, but there are also
funders supporting hubs across regions, such as the
AfriLabs network. National innovation ecosystems
are naturally linked to each other and to the global
ecosystem as many donors and investors operate
globally or regionally in multiple countries.
Our interviewees generally agreed that it is easier
to support the ecosystem from within than from
outside. Any programme attempting to influence
the Tanzanian innovation ecosystem needs to make
a long-term commitment to embedding themselves
in it to create connections, trust, and understanding.
Having implemented a similar programme in a
neighbouring country does not guarantee it will
work in Tanzania. As with everywhere in the world,
factors such as culture, religion, and the prevalence
of feature phones can have a significant influence
on how an activity will work in Tanzania and how it
could be designed.
A nascent innovation ecosystem can feel disjointed
with many stakeholders acting in silos according to
their own goals and agendas with little cohesion
and collaboration. In the ‘Finance for Innovation’
workshop, participants agreed on the need for
a neutral convener to bring different actors and
interests together and coordinate activities to address
gaps in the ecosystem and ensure that resources are
used most effectively.
3.4.1 A crowded market
Many Tanzanian ecosystem actors we spoke to felt
that donor-supported innovation programmes and
activities are competing with the local ecosystem
by replicating innovation support activities that
are already provided by local players. There is space
in the market for everyone, but donor-funded
Above
D-Tree
International's
'Moby App'
aims to reduce
the burden of
paper-based
reporting and
improve tracking
of mother-baby
pairs in health
facilities.
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