Why CSO Week 2025 will focus on ‘Pathways to Progress’
Foundation for Civil Society executive director Justice Rutenge addresses a news conference in Dar es Salaam ahead CSO Week 2025 to be held in Arusha from June 2 to 6. Others (from right) are Stanbic Bank Tanzania head of public sector, business and commercial banking Doreen Dominic, CSO Week 2025 Steering Committee chair Nesia Mahenge and Tanzania Bora Initiative deputy executive director Ismail Biro. PHOTO | CORRESPONDENT
What you need to know:
- FCS executive director Justice Rutenge says Tanzania’s civil society must step forward and reimagine the country’s development future
Dar es Salaam. “Pathways to Progress” will be the theme of this year’s CSO Week, which will bring together at least 500 development stakeholders from across Tanzania and beyond at Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha from June 2 to 6.
Addressing a news conference in Dar es Salaam, Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) executive director Justice Rutenge said with the upcoming launch of Vision 2050, Tanzania’s civil society must step forward and reimagine the country’s development future.
“Tanzania’s civil society has been well represented in shaping Tanzania’s development future. Through CSO Week 2025, we want to ensure that we align vision with action and create bold partnerships to ensure that progress is not just promised, but delivered to all Tanzanians. This will be in line with this year’s theme of "Pathways to Progress", which underscores civil society's commitment to collaborative, inclusive and sustainable development,” he said.
CSO Week 2025 Steering Committee chair Nesia Mahenge, who is also CBM Tanzania country director, highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement involving the government, private sector, development partners and society in general.
“As the Steering Committee comprising 26 civil society organisations, we have continued to strengthen partnerships in the delivery of CSO Week. We have teamed up with key private sector partners such as the Vodacom Foundation Tanzania, Stanbic Bank and Aris Insurance and development partners, including the European Union, Ford Foundation, Wilde Ganzen, TradeMark Africa, UK International Development and the Swiss embassy in Tanzania,” she said.
Stanbic Bank Tanzania head of public sector, business and commercial banking Doreen Dominick spoke of the private sector’s pivotal role in supporting domestic-driven development in its work and through CSO Week.
"We are honoured to join hands with civil society for the fourth year in a row and make CSO Week 2025 a reality. Stanbic Bank Tanzania is committed to promoting Tanzania’s development. This is evident, for example, through our work under the business incubator that builds the capacity of youth and women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses; on financial literacy and inclusion and in our financial advisory services,” she said.
Closing the conversation, Tanzania Bora Initiative (TBI) deputy executive director Ismail Biro, who is also a member of the CSO Week 2025 Steering Committee, highlighted the importance of giving space to youth voices during next week’s event.
“Nurturing youth innovation, advancing gender equality and ensuring inclusivity during CSO Week 2025 is critical to its success. Through its participation, TBI will help elevate youth voices, advocate inclusive governance and influence policy in ways that reflect the experiences and aspirations of marginalised communities,” he said.
