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The Government and the World Bank have completed key technical preparations for a programme expected to unlock investment, improve infrastructure and create more job opportunities for Tanzanians, particularly young people along the Central Corridor.
Known as the Catalyzing Jobs and Resilient Growth in the Central Corridor Multiphase Programmatic Approach (KAZI MPA), the programme is being positioned as part of Tanzania’s broader efforts to turn strategic infrastructure and economic corridors into engines of employment and private-sector growth.
The latest discussions were held at the Ministry of Finance’s Treasury Square in Dodoma, where senior government officials and a World Bank delegation reviewed the results of their joint preparations and agreed on the next steps towards completing the programme.
The meeting was led by the Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office–Planning and Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission, Dr Tausi Kida, who represented the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Dr Natu El-Maamry Mwamba.
At the heart of the programme is the need to make economic growth more meaningful to citizens by expanding opportunities for employment, investment, production and trade.
KAZI MPA is expected to support development of infrastructure and a more conducive business environment along the Central Corridor, potentially making it easier for businesses to move goods, access markets and participate in regional trade.
For young Tanzanians, the employment component will be closely watched, particularly at a time when creating productive jobs remains a major development priority.
The programme also seeks to strengthen the participation of the private sector, reflecting the government's recognition that sustainable job creation cannot depend on public-sector employment alone.
A stronger private sector could provide additional opportunities for young people through businesses, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, services and other economic activities linked to the Central Corridor.
The corridor is strategically important to Tanzania because it provides a major route for the movement of goods and services between the country and neighbouring markets.
Better infrastructure and business conditions could therefore have wider economic benefits beyond the corridor itself.
However, the ultimate measure of the programme will be its impact on ordinary citizens.
This means that implementation will need to translate planned investments into visible improvements in transport and other infrastructure, lower business costs, increased investment, stronger local enterprises and decent employment opportunities.
The programme is also expected to contribute to the implementation of Tanzania Development Vision 2050, particularly the goal of building a productive, inclusive and resilient economy that allows more citizens to participate in economic activities.
The government delegation included Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office–Regional Administration and Local Government, Adolf Ndunguru; Acting Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Nsubil Joshua; Deputy Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Agriculture, Prof Peter Msoffe and Eng Athumani Kilundumya; and Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission, Sosthenes Kewe.
Also participating was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Agness Meena.
The World Bank delegation was led by Binyam Reja, Practice Manager for Transport in Eastern and Southern Africa.
The completion of the technical preparations represents a significant step towards implementation of KAZI MPA.
The next challenge will be ensuring that the programme moves efficiently from preparation to implementation and that its benefits reach businesses, workers and communities along the Central Corridor.
For Tanzanians, particularly young people seeking employment, the success of KAZI MPA will ultimately be judged not by the size of the programme on paper, but by the number of real economic opportunities it creates and the extent to which it improves livelihoods.
