Dr. Bravious Kahyoza, Economist, FMVA(Financial Modeling Analyst), CP3P
When a country ranks globally in technical expertise, the story is not about prestige — it is about economic capability. That is why Tanzania’s entry into the world’s top 10 countries in the number of Certified Public-Private Partnership Professionals (CP³P) is more than a technical milestone. It reflects a deeper transformation in how the country is preparing for economic growth in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy.
According to the 2026 global ranking by APMG International, Tanzania now ranks ninth worldwide in the number of CP³P-certified professionals. The country stands ahead of Kenya and emerges as the leading country within the East African Community when it comes to building technical capacity in public-private partnerships.
The certification programme itself was developed in collaboration with the World Bank and other development partners to equip professionals with the expertise required to structure, negotiate and implement complex infrastructure partnerships between governments and private investors. Since its launch in 2016, the programme has become one of the most recognised global standards for PPP expertise.
For Tanzania, therefore, the ranking is not simply about professional accreditation. It reflects the country’s growing ability to manage sophisticated infrastructure investments — the kind that increasingly define national competitiveness.
The changing nature of economic competition
For decades, economic success was largely associated with the availability of natural resources or the size of public spending. Countries rich in minerals, oil or land often assumed they possessed inherent advantages.
However, the global economic landscape has changed dramatically. Today, competitiveness is increasingly determined by innovation, productivity and institutional capacity. Infrastructure development — particularly in sectors such as transport, energy and digital connectivity — requires not only financial resources but also highly specialised expertise.
This is where PPPs have become particularly important. Governments around the world are increasingly turning to partnerships with the private sector to finance and manage large infrastructure projects. But PPPs are complex arrangements involving sophisticated financial models, detailed contracts and long-term risk allocation mechanisms.
Without adequate expertise, countries can easily enter agreements that fail to deliver value for money or that place disproportionate risks on the public sector.
The CP³P programme was designed to address exactly this challenge by equipping professionals with the knowledge needed to structure PPP projects properly. Tanzania’s growing number of certified experts therefore represents an important investment in national capacity.
Local expertise as a pillar of economic sovereignty
One of the most important implications of this milestone lies in the concept of economic sovereignty. In many developing economies, critical infrastructure contracts have historically been negotiated with heavy reliance on foreign consultancy firms. While such expertise can be valuable, over-dependence often limits the ability of governments to develop their own technical capacity.
Increasingly, economists and policy analysts argue that sustainable economic development requires countries to build internal expertise capable of designing financial models, drafting contracts and negotiating investment agreements on equal footing with global investors.
In this sense, local content does not begin only at the construction stage of a project.
It begins much earlier in the boardrooms where financial structures are designed and contractual obligations are negotiated.
A country that lacks the ability to analyse financial models or evaluate risk allocation frameworks may struggle to secure favourable terms in large infrastructure deals.
By contrast, countries with strong technical capacity are better positioned to protect national interests while still attracting investment.
Tanzania’s rise in CP³P expertise therefore reflects an important shift towards strengthening this internal capability.
The role of knowledge management in PPP success
Several Tanzanian academics and practitioners have highlighted the significance of knowledge in managing PPP projects effectively.
Dr Jasinta Msamula of Mzumbe University emphasises that knowledge management is a critical component of successful PPP implementation. According to her, it is impossible to manage knowledge that does not exist in the first place.
She argues that financial expertise alone cannot guarantee effective PPP management unless it is combined with specialised PPP knowledge — something the CP³P programme aims to provide.
Similarly, Dr Abihudi Bongole from the University of Dodoma believes the certification carries significance not only for individuals but also for national development. In his view, the success of long-term national ambitions such as Vision 2050 will depend on how effectively the country prepares and utilises its own experts.
Another scholar, Dr David Rwehikiza of the University of Dar es Salaam, describes PPP certification as the “engine” that drives successful infrastructure partnerships. He argues that professionals equipped with such expertise are better positioned to design balanced contracts that benefit both investors and the public.
Institutional leadership and policy commitment
Beyond individual expertise, institutional leadership has also played an important role in strengthening Tanzania’s PPP capacity.
The Public-Private Partnership Centre has been central to this effort. Under the leadership of its executive director David Kafulila, the centre has prioritised the development of local expertise in PPP project preparation and negotiation.
Mr Kafulila notes that when he assumed office two years ago, only a handful of professionals in Tanzania had completed the full CP³P certification. Today, the number has grown significantly, with experts drawn from various government ministries, agencies and local government authorities.
This approach ensures that PPP expertise is not concentrated in a single institution but distributed across the public sector, strengthening the government’s overall capacity to prepare and manage infrastructure projects.
The expansion of such expertise is particularly important at a time when Tanzania is implementing major infrastructure initiatives and positioning itself as an investment destination in East Africa.
Human capital and economic transformation
The importance of investing in human capital has also been highlighted by several practitioners in the field of finance and infrastructure.
Dr Edward Makoye argues that the readiness of a country for economic transformation can often be measured by the extent to which it invests in building technical skills among its professionals.
According to him, the rapid growth of CP³P-certified experts indicates that Tanzania is laying the intellectual foundation required to support large-scale economic expansion.
He believes that such progress places the country in a stronger position to pursue ambitious economic targets, including the long-term aspiration of achieving a trillion-dollar economy.
Likewise, Dr Suleiman Kiula sees the milestone as evidence that Tanzania is gradually emerging as a serious PPP market. In his view, the growing pool of certified professionals will improve project preparation standards, reduce risks and increase investor confidence.
The challenge ahead: turning knowledge into impact
Despite the significance of this progress, the real challenge now lies in translating expertise into tangible outcomes.
Training professionals is an important step, but it is only the beginning. The true test lies in whether these experts are given meaningful roles in the design, negotiation and management of national infrastructure projects.
If the country succeeds in integrating its growing pool of PPP specialists into government decision-making processes, the benefits could be substantial. Better project preparation can reduce delays, improve financial sustainability and ensure that infrastructure investments deliver maximum economic value.
Moreover, stronger internal expertise allows governments to engage investors from a position of confidence rather than dependence.
A defining moment for Tanzania’s economic identity
The global economy is evolving rapidly. The 20th century was largely defined by competition for natural resources and industrial capacity. The 21st century, by contrast, is increasingly shaped by knowledge, innovation and productivity.
Countries that succeed will be those that invest not only in infrastructure but also in the human capital required to manage it effectively.
Tanzania’s growing presence among the world’s leading CP³P countries therefore carries an important message. It signals that the country is beginning to recognise that expertise not merely capital will determine its place in the global economic landscape.
The ranking itself is significant, but what matters even more is what comes next. If Tanzania continues to invest in knowledge, empower its experts and strengthen institutional capacity, this milestone could mark the beginning of a new phase in the country’s economic transformation.
In the end, infrastructure projects may build roads, ports and power plants. But it is expertise that builds nations.
