Tanzania’s Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Felister Mdemu, has urged Community Development Officers to intensify efforts in educating the public particularly women, youth, and people with disabilities about the 30 percent public procurement quota reserved for special groups.
Speaking in Iringa on July 10, 2025, while inaugurating a capacity-building workshop for Community Development Officers, Ms. Mdemu emphasised the vital role of the sector in transforming communities across the country.
“This is a cross-cutting sector with the power to change lives,” she said. “Community Development Officers must lead from the front. We must ensure that no group is left behind. Provide them with the necessary knowledge and guide them to take advantage of the 30 percent procurement share set aside by the government.”he added
The workshop, attended by officers from various districts in the Iringa Region, aims to strengthen awareness and participation of marginalised groups in public procurement processes an initiative seen as key to unlocking inclusive economic development.
Iringa's Acting Regional Administrative Secretary, Venance Ndiyagundula, thanked the central government for organising the training, describing it as timely and impactful.
He pledged that regional authorities would closely monitor the implementation of the knowledge shared to ensure its effective translation into practice.
Juliana Kibonde, Assistant Director in the Department of Gender Development, explained that the training is designed to build the capacity of Community Development Officers to mobilise and mentor citizens especially those in special groups on entrepreneurship and business readiness.
“This is about empowering communities to become economically active,” said Kibonde. “By equipping officers with the right tools, we are enabling more inclusive participation in national development.”
Several participants expressed appreciation for the training and committed to applying the knowledge in their daily responsibilities.
They echoed a common view that empowering special groups through access to government tenders is a transformative strategy that can accelerate community-level growth and national economic resilience.