Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian chief executives are maintaining a cautiously optimistic outlook while tightening risk controls and recalibrating investment strategies in response to mounting global uncertainty, as geopolitical tensions and rising energy costs reshape the operating environment.

Speaking during a CEO roundtable dinner in Dar es Salaam under the theme “Managing risks and opportunities: Leading through global uncertainty,” business leaders and economists said companies are increasingly balancing growth ambitions with resilience, as external shocks test the durability of Tanzania’s economic momentum. Despite global headwinds, confidence in the domestic economy remains firm.

IMF resident representative for Tanzania, Mr Sebastian Acevedo, said growth is expected to remain strong at around six percent, supported by stable fundamentals and commodity performance. “There’s still a lot of uncertainty but we are working under the assumption that disruptions will be short-term and temporary,” he said, adding that Tanzania is “not going to be immune,” but remains on a positive trajectory.

Corporate leaders, however, acknowledged that the global environment has become more complex, particularly with rising fuel prices and supply chain disruptions. Oryx Gas Tanzania Managing Director, Mr Araman Benoit, said energy markets are increasingly influenced by geopolitical dynamics rather than traditional fundamentals.

“The big effect is of course the price gasoline has increased a lot, jet fuel has doubled, and freight premiums have gone through the roof,” he said. He noted that businesses are now operating in a context where volatility is amplified by global conflict and speculative trading.

“A lot of parties have more interest in developing an economy of war rather than an economy of peace,” Mr Benoit said, warning that such dynamics are likely to sustain upward pressure on costs and logistics. As a result, companies are becoming more deliberate in how they deploy capital.

PwC Tanzania country senior partner, Ms Zainab Msimbe, said firms are not retreating from growth but are taking a more measured approach to investment decisions. “This optimism is not shifting to pessimism, but it is leading to more cautious decision-making,” she said, noting that many companies are prioritizing liquidity and risk management.

According to Ms Msimbe, a growing number of firms are slowing large-scale investments while strengthening their financial positions. “Around a quarter are already speaking about a slowdown in large investments, with a focus on ensuring sufficient cash,” she said, adding that executives are increasingly focused on navigating immediate challenges.

That shift is also reshaping strategic priorities, with more firms turning to regional markets as a source of growth. “Over 50 percent are exploring new markets within the region,” Ms Msimbe said, citing Kenya, Uganda and South Africa as key destinations.

Partnerships and collaboration, she added, are becoming central to expansion strategies in an uncertain global environment. For industry leaders, the current volatility underscores the importance of balancing long-term vision with operational agility.

Knauf East Africa CEO, Mr Christoforos Stamoulakatos, said companies must rethink how they approach risk and opportunity in a world where disruptions are becoming the norm rather than the exception. “The safest shield is the long-term strategy, and the second thing is the agility to operate day-to-day,” he said, arguing that traditional planning cycles are increasingly inadequate in a rapidly shifting environment.

He emphasized the need for organizations to continuously reassess assumptions and remain flexible in execution. At the operational level, firms are also reinforcing core business fundamentals to withstand shocks.

“We don’t take for granted that we will get supplies on time, in full, and at the price we budgeted,” Mr Stamoulakatos said, pointing to ongoing supply chain disruptions and cost pressures. Even so, business leaders stressed that Tanzania’s long-term prospects remain intact, provided the country continues to strengthen its economic foundations.

Mr Acevedo highlighted the need for greater investment in human capital and a more enabling environment for private sector growth. “Tanzania has a very young and rapidly growing population, and if you don’t train them properly they will not be able to integrate productively into the job market,” he said, calling for policies that support skills development and job creation.

As global uncertainty persists, the consensus among CEOs is clear: growth opportunities remain, but success will depend on disciplined execution, strategic flexibility and the ability to navigate an increasingly unpredictable world. .

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Commissioner General, Mr Yusuph Mwenda, has delivered a stern warning to tax evaders in the Lake Zone, stating that while they may attempt to evade detection, they will ultimately not escape accountability.

He also issued a one-month deadline to a contractor delaying completion of TRA office construction project in Sengerema. Mr Mwenda said during a meeting with taxpayers in Bunda District, Mara Region, that the authority will take legal action against individuals and businesses involved in tax evasion.

He said tax evasion undermines fair competition and affects compliant taxpayers. “We will find tax evaders wherever they are.

You cannot evade taxes forever; one day we will catch you,” Mr Mwenda said, urging the public to report offenders. He also warned traders involved in smuggling through the Sirari border and other entry points, saying enforcement has been strengthened to curb illicit trade.

Mr Mwenda said TRA remains committed to improving relations with taxpayers by addressing challenges and enhancing the business environment. He noted that while Tanzania has more than 30 million people in the workforce, only about eight million are registered taxpayers, stressing the need to widen the tax base.

Commissioner for Domestic Revenue, Mr Michael Muhoja, said TRA will continue expanding tax education programmes to improve voluntary compliance. During his visit to Mara Region, Mr Mwenda also toured the Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere Museum in Butiama, where he called on citizens to uphold a culture of tax compliance, saying it reflects values promoted by the country’s founding leader.

He laid a wreath at Mwalimu Nyerere’s grave in tribute. In Mwanza Region, Mr Mwenda inspected the construction of a TRA office in Sengerema District and issued a one-month deadline to contractor C.

F. Builders Ltd to complete the project.

He said delays in completing the office were affecting service delivery. The contractor had originally been expected to complete the project by the end of 2024. Mr Mwenda warned that failure to meet the new deadline would lead to further action, including a review of the company’s eligibility for other TRA contracts.

He also directed that no new contracts be awarded to the firm pending an internal performance assessment. C.

F. Builders Ltd Director, Mr Fred Chacha, said the company would complete the project within the stipulated timeframe.

.

The Prime Minister recently told Parliament that the government was mooting legislation that would turn college and professional certificates into loan collateral for graduates. This is in order to address a major hurdle cited by many loan seekers, especially the youth and those in low-income categories, that financial institutions impose hard conditions on them before they can issue loans.

These conditions include the need to have collateral in the form of immovable property or assets, the most common of which is real estate. Many are knocked out of access to loans because they do not have certificates of title to land.

In most cases, they do not have land. In some cases, they may have land, but it may not be officially planned, surveyed and carrying a certificate of title.

Financial institutions prefer the latter, when somebody is seeking a loan. The second complaint is about the high cost of borrowing which, what with soaring interest rates, ostracises the poor out of access to finance to develop their businesses.

The gap between deposit rates and lending rates is considered astronomical. Poor loan uptake is not an outcry for loan seekers only.

Lenders thrive on people taking loans and repaying them. That is how they make their money.

Indeed, we are witnessing a major drive by financial institutions and mobile services providers, encouraging people to take up loans, against their salaries, pension payments, or any expected future income, including the purchase of phone airtime and bundles. Some lenders, including predatory ones (“mikopo kausha damu”), are happy to lend against movable assets such as furniture or motor vehicles.

There also peer to peer lenders (P2P), who may not demand collateral. On its part, the government has been working on expanding the range of assets that can be accepted as collateral.

These have included, Certificates of Customary Right of Occupancy (CCRO) in rural areas and residential licences in unplanned urban areas. In encouraging land owners who are hesitant of taking up a formal title, the argument has been that, with a title, one can easily get access to finance.

The government has also been purveying low interest loans to the youth from 10 percent of the “own revenue”, of local government authorities. Nevertheless, it is important to realise, as I was told decades ago by a Bank Manager (NBC, Ubungo), that the possession of collateral alone is not adequate to allow one to borrow.

At that time, my collateral was one that is recognised as cash collateral, a certificate of a fixed deposit which could cover the loan I was seeking. The manager insisted that there were other conditions to consider, including what I wanted to do with the borrowed money.

Conditions for borrowing are usually summarised into the five C’s of credit. They used to be three.

Now they are five, though some experts extend them to seven. We will stick to five.

First is “Character”; covering the personality of the potential borrower and their credit history. In countries where people live on debt, like the United States, you have active credit rating bureau ranking you on your past taking and repaying loans.

A strong history of on-time payments indicates good character. There are people, in our part of the world, who consider loans to be income.

These may not have a good reputation. Even defaulting on a phone debt can tarnish your credit rating; not to mention defaulting on credit card.

Second, is “Capacity” to repay the borrowed money; from your various sources of income, or from the proposed project for which the money is being borrowed. Lenders need to assure themselves that you have the capacity to meet your loan obligations.

Your debt-to-income ratio, employment history, and income stability are assessed. Third is “Capital”.

Many times, before you are given a loan, you may need to put down a deposit equivalent to a percentage (say, 25 percent) of the amount you aim at borrowing. Or, you may have to prove that you have other “Capital” which includes savings, investments, or down payments.

Large capital contributions reduce lender risk. Fourth is “Conditions”, in the economy, such as interest rates, and fiscal and monetary policies.

This includes the purpose for which the loan is being taken, given the economic climate. Last, but not least, is “Collateral”, a valuable asset tendered by the borrower, that the lender can fall back to (seize or foreclose, and sell), in case the borrower fails to repay the loan.

Examples, include land and buildings, motor vehicles, secured lines of credit; and, inventory, machinery or accounts receivable. Collateral must have value in the market.

So, our graduates and young people in general, have a task of making themselves credit worthy, which includes using the borrowed money prudently and productively, ensuring that it is paid back. .

On April 13, Orca Energy Group announced that it had agreed to sell its Tanzanian business, including the Songo Songo gas field operated through PanAfrican Energy Tanzania Limited, for a nominal consideration of $10 a number that appears absurd but in reality signals something more consequential: not the absence of value, but the accumulation of risk, uncertainty, and unresolved conflict that reshaped how that value is understood. Songo Songo is not a marginal asset.

For more than two decades, it has underpinned Tanzania’s domestic energy system, supplying gas for power generation and industry while generating substantial revenues for the Government through taxes, royalties, and profitsharing. This is not an asset that simply lost value, but one whose commercial logic became difficult to sustain within the regulatory and contractual environment that evolved around it.

What is being transferred is both a producing gas field and a relationship that broke down. The Production Sharing Agreement signed in 2001 functioned for most of its life as intended balancing investor returns with state participation.

However, as the licence approached its October 2026 expiry, alignment gave way to tension. Orca’s position, now forming the basis of international arbitration proceedings reportedly valued at up to $1.2 billion, is that state actions disrupted the project’s economic equilibrium.

The Government’s position, though not yet publicly detailed, will almost certainly rest on its sovereign right to regulate a strategic resource in the public interest. These are not trivial arguments.

They sit squarely within the core doctrines of international investment law: fair and equitable treatment, legitimate expectations, and the limits of regulatory power. Tribunals resolve these disputes through examination of conduct whether actions were proportionate, consistent, and undertaken in good faith.

While those legal questions will take time to resolve, the commercial reality has already shifted. Orca has chosen to exit.

The buyers Taifa Gas Tanzania Limited (49 percent) and UAEregistered Amber Energy Investment LLCFZ (51 percent) are not acquiring a clean, conventional asset. They are stepping into a structure carrying ongoing obligations, unresolved negotiations, and dispute exposure, the contours of which will depend on how rights and liabilities are structured under the transaction.

This is where the conversation must shift from transaction to strategy. First, arbitration does not disappear with a change in ownership.

The treatment of ongoing claims raises legal questions around standing, assignment, and treaty protection. What is more likely is not prolonged litigation but a negotiated outcome.

The risk is not that a settlement occurs, but that it occurs without clarity on what Tanzania is conceding, preserving, or redefining in the process. Second, control matters.

A majority stake held by an international investor whose ownership and financing structure is not yet fully transparent raises governance questions. Tanzania’s legal framework, including the Petroleum Act 2015 and oversight by institutions such as the Fair Competition Commission and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, gives the Government both the authority and responsibility to ensure visibility before approving the transaction.

Third, and most importantly, the licence itself. There is a persistent assumption that longstanding operators have a right to renewal.

They do not. Under Tanzanian law, extension is not automatic.

It must be applied for, negotiated, and approved. What the new owners are acquiring is not certainty, but an opportunity to negotiate and this is where Tanzania’s leverage is strongest, before approvals are granted.

What failed in the final years of this asset’s lifecycle was not alignment of interests, but clarity of process. Licence discussions appear to have drifted until positions hardened.

Stabilisation provisions, designed to provide investor certainty, are now being tested in arbitration. Regulatory actions are interpreted through the lens of dispute rather than engagement.

That is not a sustainable model for the next phase of Tanzania’s gas sector. What is required now is not approval of a transaction, but the design of a framework one that defines how extensions are negotiated, how fiscal and regulatory changes are managed, and how disputes are resolved before they escalate.

The deeper question this deal raises is not about Orca, but how Tanzania intends to manage strategic assets in a world where capital is sensitive to risk. Increasing Tanzanian participation in key sectors is a legitimate objective, but ownership is not governance and a deal is not a strategy.

A $10 transaction does not mean an asset is worthless. It means something in the system around that asset stopped working.

The opportunity now is to fix it. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s National Arts Council has moved to end confusion in the beauty pageant industry by confirming who holds the mandate to send a national representative to Miss World.

The clarification follows uncertainty after multiple organisers appeared to claim links to Miss World. At the centre is 361 Degrees Africa, led by designer Mustafa Hassanali, which organises Miss World Tanzania and will send this year’s representative.

Basata Acting Executive Secretary Edward Buganga said the mandate is governed by strict international licensing. “This is not an open space.

361 Degrees Africa is the only recognised holder,” he said. The issue intensified after Basila Mwanukuzi transferred Miss Tanzania rights from The Look Company to Lamata Village led by Lea Mwendamseke Lamata, raising questions over which global contest the winner would join.

Historically, Miss Tanzania fed directly into Miss World under Hashim Lundenga. That link has now been severed, aligning Tanzania with global practice where a single licensed entity controls representation.

Basata said other pageants can operate but cannot send contestants to Miss World. The move is expected to bring clarity, protect credibility and strengthen Tanzania’s competitiveness internationally under Hassanali’s stewardship.

.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania names four teams for East Africa Netball Club Championships in Nairobi This year’s East Africa Netball Club Championships will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from May 10 to 16, bringing together top clubs from across the region in a highly competitive showdown.

The dates were confirmed yesterday by Tanzania Amateur Netball Association (Chaneta) chairperson Stella Maclean Mwangomale in an interview with The Citizen. Mwangomale said Tanzania will be represented by four teams: Magereza, Jeshi Stars, JKT Mbweni and Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA).

She explained that Tanzania Mainland champions Tamisemi were initially expected to take part, but have withdrawn from the competition and will be replaced by IAA. According to her, alongside Tanzania, participating teams will come from Uganda, Zanzibar and hosts Kenya.

However, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo are yet to confirm their participation. Mwangomale stressed the importance of early and serious preparations, saying they will be key if Tanzanian teams are to compete effectively and raise the national flag high.

She urged the selected clubs to intensify training with the aim of winning the title for the first time in the history of the competition. “Our teams need to start preparations early.

They must show their strength in this competition. We want to make history by winning the trophy,” she said.

The tournament is expected to offer an important platform for exposure, allowing players to test themselves against some of East Africa’s best talent while gaining valuable international experience. For Tanzania’s representatives, the event goes beyond routine competition.

It is an opportunity to demonstrate growth, improve tactical discipline and build confidence ahead of future continental assignments. However, the challenge will be significant.

Kenyan and Ugandan clubs have historically dominated regional netball, setting high performance standards that other nations continue to chase. With pride and reputation at stake, Tanzania’s four representatives now face the task of turning preparation into results.

If they deliver, Nairobi could mark a defining moment for Tanzanian netball on the regional stage. .

Arusha. A dispute has emerged between the National Housing Corporation (NHC) and its tenants here in the city after the state-owned developer issued a 90-day notice requiring them to vacate properties earmarked for redevelopment.

About 90 tenants living and operating businesses in NHC houses along Nyamezi and Sokoine streets have been asked to leave between April 1 and June 30 to pave the way for a modern real estate project. However, the tenants argue that the notice period is too short, given their long stay in the area, some spanning more than four decades, and are calling for an extension to at least 18 months to enable them to secure alternative premises.

“We are ready to comply with the law and vacate, but the time given is too short considering how long we have been here. It is not easy to find both business and residential premises within this period.

We ask NHC to consider a more humane approach and grant us more time,” said one tenant, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The area slated for redevelopment comprises about 40 commercial shops and 50 residential units in the city centre, making it a key location for small businesses and long-term residents.

Another tenant, who runs a retail shop, said the abrupt relocation risks disrupting business operations and could lead to financial losses. “I obtained goods on credit expecting to repay suppliers through sales.

If I am forced to move within this short period, I may fail to meet my obligations, and that will affect both me and those I owe,” the tenant said. NHC Arusha Regional Manager, Mr Nistas Mvungi, declined to comment on the matter, referring inquiries to the corporation’s head office.

In response, NHC’s Head of Public Relations, Mr Muungano Saguya, said the redevelopment project is intended to modernise the area in line with the growth and status of Arusha City, with long-term benefits for tenants and the wider public. He said the corporation’s projects are designed to provide improved business environments and that current tenants would be given priority once the development is completed.

“When NHC undertakes redevelopment of its properties, whether in Arusha, Dodoma or Dar es Salaam, the law requires a minimum notice of 30 days under the Rent Restriction Act of 1999. By issuing a 90-day notice, we are going beyond the legal requirement to give tenants sufficient time to relocate,” he said. Mr Saguya added that, under existing tenancy agreements, the corporation has the authority to terminate contracts where necessary in pursuit of broader development interests.

He maintained that the project would accommodate more occupants than the current structures while enhancing the city’s outlook, noting that Arusha hosts key regional, national and international offices. .

Dar es Salaam. Former Chief Justice Ibrahim Juma and Tanzania’s Mufti, Abubakar Zubeir, have commended the formation of the commission investigating events before and after October 29, saying it has enhanced the country’s international standing.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, April 14, 2016, Prof Juma said the commission demonstrates Tanzania’s capacity to address its own challenges with transparency and professionalism. “The establishment of this commission shows that we have strong institutions capable of handling complex matters openly,” he said.

He said that global expectations remain high, noting that the commission’s report must reflect international standards. “We are sending a message to the world that we can resolve our own challenges and find lasting solutions,” he emphasised.

Backed by experienced experts Prof Juma noted that the commission comprises highly qualified experts from diverse fields, highlighting its chairperson, Othman Chande, as a figure with extensive international experience. He said Justice Chande previously led investigations into the death of former United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjalld, as well as incidents in Sudan’s El Fasher region.

According to Prof Juma, the chairperson has directed members to ensure the report aligns with international standards rather than relying solely on domestic legal frameworks. He further pointed to the commission’s independence in collecting evidence, noting that members have visited all affected areas and engaged with victims, bereaved families and those whose relatives remain unaccounted for.

Mufti expresses confidence For his part, Sheikh Zubeir said he has strong confidence in the commission, citing the competence and diligence of its members. “I see a high level of professionalism.

I am confident the commission will deliver good results and place the country in a better position,” he said. He said that he had personally presented his views to the commission and was satisfied with its approach.

Sheikh Zubeir also commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for establishing the body, describing the move as a wise decision aimed at uncovering the truth and ensuring justice. Deadline extended This comes at a time when the commission’s mandate has been extended to April 24 to allow for the completion of its work.

The extension is intended to facilitate thorough analysis of the evidence collected and to give forensic experts time to examine newly submitted materials. The move has been welcomed by the international community, including the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Commonwealth .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s beekeeping industry is expanding as demand for natural products rises and local firms invest in processing and exports.

Producers are shifting from selling raw honey to supplying processed and branded products for international markets. Tanzania International Bee Co.

Ltd, which produces the Jambo Asali brand, is among firms involved in this shift. Its chief executive, Mr Musiba Kitema (pictured), said the sector is focusing on quality and market access.

“For many years Tanzania produced honey, but much of the value was captured elsewhere,” he told The Citizen. “What we are doing now is changing honey from a raw commodity into a certified Tanzanian brand that can compete in Europe, the Middle East and beyond.

” Available data shows that Tanzania produced 33,861 tonnes of honey in 2024, but only 951.6 tonnes were exported. Government estimates put annual production potential at 138,000 tonnes.

Analysts say limited processing, fragmented supply chains and inconsistent quality have constrained growth. Mr Kitema said international buyers require traceability and compliance with food safety standards.

“Today, a buyer in Europe wants a clean product, tested product and traceable product,” he said. Support from development programmes and financial institutions is also contributing to the sector’s growth, helping firms invest in processing and access markets.

Mr Kitema said his company benefited from the Samia Innovation Commercialisation Fund, enabling it to expand operations and reach export markets. “That support changed our trajectory,” he said.

Official data show Tanzania earned Sh69.1 billion from honey exports between 2021 and 2024. A trade analyst, Dr Brian Tweve, said exporting processed honey could increase earnings. “When you export a finished consumer product, you create more jobs in packaging, logistics and branding,” he said.

.

Dar es Salaam. Speakers at The Citizen Rising Woman Zanzibar Edition 2026 have said accelerating women’s economic inclusion is central to driving sustainable growth, stressing that investment in women must now be matched by stronger implementation of existing policies.

The discussion, held under the theme “Give to Gain”, brought together policymakers, financial institutions, development experts and private sector actors, who agreed that women’s participation in the economy remains a key driver of productivity, inclusion and long-term development. Opening the session, moderator Miss Nafisa Jidawi said the event marked a shift towards framing women’s empowerment as an economic strategy rather than a social agenda.

“This is a declarative direction that when we invest in women, it is not just a social agenda. It is an economic strategy,” she said, adding that such investment unlocks productivity and builds more resilient economies.

She cited data from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the World Bank (2024), which shows persistent gender gaps in employment and education in Zanzibar and Tanzania. The figures indicate that only about one in two women in Zanzibar are employed compared to three in four men, while unemployment among women remains significantly higher, particularly in urban areas.

Responding on education reforms, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Dr Bwana Hamid Adam Ahmed, said the education system is shifting from content-based learning to competence-based learning. “In the new system, we are moving from a content-based curriculum to a competence-based curriculum so that learners can apply what they learn,” he said.

He noted that the reforms introduce vocational pathways in secondary education to ensure students, especially girls, graduate with practical skills. “For example, in Zanzibar we have prioritised tourism, the blue economy, mobile repair and business skills so that a student leaving school has something they can do,” he said.

Executive Director of the Zanzibar Economic Empowerment Agency, Mr Juma Burhan, said government empowerment programmes are designed to support women through targeted financing and inclusion mechanisms. “When women do well in business, they create jobs, pay taxes and contribute to export growth,” he said, adding that such programmes are designed to strengthen the wider economy.

He said even interest-free lending models form part of a long-term investment approach to national development. Director of Credits at Azania Bank, Ms Esther Piani, said financial institutions are addressing barriers that prevent women from accessing credit.

“One of the main challenges is collateral, financial literacy and confidence,” she said. She noted that the bank has introduced tailored products for women.

“We have created group lending models where women guarantee each other, and we also accept informal collateral,” she said. She said that financial literacy programmes and market linkages are helping women grow beyond subsistence-level businesses.

“We encourage women to start small and grow. Women are very reliable borrowers and their repayment behaviour is strong,” she said.

Development Advisor and Delivery Manager at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Ms Laya Guide, said global evidence shows that investing in women creates strong multiplier effects across society. “If you invest in a woman, you have invested in a community,” she said.

“The impact extends to households, neighbours and entire societies.” She said the main challenge is not the availability of policies but their implementation.

“We have very good policies, but the issue is implementation,” she said, adding that women must also be supported to fully utilise available opportunities. She stressed the importance of mentorship and workplace systems that support women through different life stages.

“When women return from maternity leave, they should be welcomed back and supported. They should not feel they have missed out,” she said.

She also called for stronger mentorship structures. “When women see others succeeding, they believe they can succeed too,” she said.

Mr Burhan said Zanzibar already has strong inclusion frameworks and funding mechanisms targeting women, youth and persons with disabilities. “The policies are already there.

The challenge is execution,” he said. He added that strengthening implementation systems is now the priority to ensure policies translate into measurable economic impact.

The discussion concluded with a shared view that women’s economic inclusion is not only a social goal but a key driver of economic growth, with speakers calling for stronger coordination between government, financial institutions and development partners to turn policy commitments into tangible outcomes. .