Investing in Social Innovation and Technology in Tanzania

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Investing in Social Innovation and Technology in Tanzania • SUMMARY OF RecommendationsS U M M A RY O F R EC O M M E N DAT I O N S1Invest in the ecosystemTake a systems approach to designing and implementing innovation investmentsInvest strategically in innovative individuals and networksAddress the skills gap that create bottlenecks in the ecosystem and empower youth tobe drivers of innovationUse universally agreed definitions and jargon-free frameworks and tools to buildinnovation-related skillsDesign inclusive activities for healthier and more diverse networks.2Customise approaches to enable innovationsTailor funding and support mechanisms to meet the needs of industry sub-sectorssurrounding specific innovationsInvest in and encourage collaborative innovationsMake learning a legitimate, acceptable outcome for innovations in an early-stage innovationecosystem.3Learn, share, and adaptSet clear targets, timelines, and decision-making processes to facilitate strategic and timelyadaptationInvest in systems that support evidence and learning, including flexible and adaptable staffingand financial structures.6
Investing in Social Innovation and Technology in Tanzania • INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONOver the last decade, the Government ofthe United Republic of Tanzania and itsdevelopment partners have significantlyexpanded access to basic social servicesand progressed the country aggressively towardsachieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)and their successors, the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals (SDGs). Primary school enrolment has reached94 per cent 2 , and the proportion enrolled insecondary school is steadily rising; deaths from malariahave halved, HIV prevalence has stabilised, and infantand child mortality rates have declined. Nevertheless,widespread poverty still persists and Tanzania isgrappling with the significant challenges associatedwith delivering services designed to alleviate povertyand support economic empowerment.In November 2015 during the inauguration of thenew Parliament, President John Pombe Magufuliemphasised the urgent need for Tanzania to industrialisein order to create jobs for millions of young Tanzaniansand to build a modern economy for the country andits people 3. For the country’s young people to play arole, however, they need to be equipped with the rightskills and entrepreneurship opportunities to help thecountry to achieve its vision. Yet unemployment ratesare high, and limited resources within the educationsystem mean few leave school with the skills thatemployers are looking for.Addressing the challenges facing Tanzania isimpossible without widened participation in socialinnovation. To pave the way for this, significantinvestments in resources that nurture the skill setsof individuals and teams are essential. Furthermore,investment in institutions to drive change at anational level, support for infrastructure and policy areall needed to strengthen the innovation environment.The country has a long and vibrant history ofharnessing creativity and entrepreneurialism to propelsocial impact and progress. With the right support,including both skills and resources, ideas can flourishand grow from basic concepts to innovations at scale.The innovation ecosystem in Tanzania has developedrapidly over the past five years with increasingnumbers of individuals and institutions stepping upand becoming more active, visible and connected thanever before. During this time, the country’s rankingin the Global Innovation Index 4 has climbed 27positions (from 123 in 2013 to 92 in 2018) – a remarkableachievement for a country lacking a strong innovationenvironment. New start-ups and hubs are croppingup every day and there is a growing awareness of therole that innovation can play in finding solutions tolarge and pervasive development challenges. WhilstTanzania has progressed, the innovation ecosystem isstill in its early stage where institutions are constrainedby limited resources and competing priorities.The Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF)is a programme that aims to accelerate humandevelopment through driving innovative solutionsto improve the quality, value for money andsustainability of basic services in the education,health, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)sectors. This report shares the lessons we havelearned and makes recommendations based on ourexperiences of identifying and nurturing diversetalent, and supporting a new generation to drivesocial innovation in Tanzania. We believe thesereflections have a broader applicability for fundersand policymakers in similar countries.The report makes a number of practicable andactionable recommendations based on HDIF’scollective insights that aim at removing barriers toscaling innovation. It is not a full innovation ecosystemanalysis or a complete compendium of findings andrecommendations to build Tanzania’s innovationecosystem. Instead, it builds a compelling case forvarious types of investments in innovation andtechnology in Tanzania if investors and policymakers:Invest in the ecosystem: Understand the uniqueactors and networks that rapidly change as theyadapt to the evolving innovation ecosystem;Customise approaches to enable innovations:Provide finance and technical assistance to help tailormechanisms throughout the innovation process; andLearn, share, and adapt: Empower an internaland ecosystem culture of learning to strengtheninnovators, local institutions, and investors.2www.epdc.org/sites/default/files/documents/EPDC%20NEP_Tanzania.pdf3http://dicotaus.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Tanzania%20Industrialisation%20Journey,%202016%20-%202056.pdf4https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/gii-2018-report7
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