HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION FUND (HDIF) LAUNCHES INNOVATION WEEK IN TANZANIA

Faraja Nyalandu - Executive Director of Shule Direct speaking on entrepreneurship and its' challenges in Tanzania and promoting self employment during the Innovation week organised by Human Development innovation Fund (HDIF) in Dar es Salaam earlier this week. From left Benedict Tesha - Founder of Jamaa Technology, Nisha Ligon - CEO of Ubongo Limited, Taha Jiwaji - CEO of Bongo Live and Co Founder of KINU.

Benedict Tesha - Founder of Jamaa Technology speaking on entrepreneurship and its' challenges in Tanzania and promoting self employment during the Innovation week organised by Human Development innovation Fund (HDIF) in Dar es Salaam earlier this week. From left Nisha Ligon - CEO of Ubongo Limited, Taha Jiwaji - CEO of Bongo Live and Co Founder of KINU and Faraja Nyalandu, Executive Director of Shule Direct.

Dr Jacqueline Thomas, senior Scientist at Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) speaks about the Kigamboni sludge treatment plant during the Innovation Week that was organised by Human Development Innovation Fund earlier this week in Dar es Salaam.

Mr. David McGinty, Team Leader of Human Development Innovation Fund ( HDIF) speaks during the innovation week that was held at Nafasi Art Space in Dar es Salaam.

Andrew Mahiga, Managing Director at Maanisha! speaks on Innovation during the Innovation that was held at Nafasi Art Space earlier this week in Dar es Salaam. To the left Gadi Ramadhani ( An artist), Paul Ndunguru ( An artist at Alama) and to the far right is David McGinty, Team Leader at Human Development Innovation Fund ( HDIF)

David McGinty, Team Leader at Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) creating an object with match sticks and a match box that was an exercise during the innovation week held at the Nafasi Art Space earlier this week.

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The Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) convenes entrepreneurs, researchers, academics, creatives & development professionals to collaborate and create social impact through innovation.

Last week, HDIFcollaborated with BUNI Innovation Hub, KINU Innovation Hub, DFID, World Bank, Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Deloitte and Nafasi Art Space to curate a series of interactive events, exploring innovation in research, development, entrepreneurship, technology and the arts. Individuals and organizations shared their insights on innovation respective to their field of expertise for audiences and collaborators from across sectors. This inaugural Innovation Week was designed to catalyze on the innovation process in Tanzania and provide inspiration and connections to individuals and organizations on innovation.

HDIF challenges Tanzanians to implement and scale innovative ideas for more positive sustainable development impact and remove barriers to reach innovation.Over 500 Tanzanians participated in the week-long events that offered interactive seminars, workshops and trainings. David McGinty, HDIF Team Leader commented, ‘We wanted to inspire the current and future leaders in Tanzania to take risks on new ideas, collaborate across sectors, and transform Tanzania through the scaling of innovation.’ He explained ‘Strengthening Tanzania in innovation is a way to create growth, raise the global profile of Tanzania, and tackleTanzania’s social and economic challenges.’

Dr. Donath Olomi, Partner of Tanzania Renewable Energy Business Hub was a panelist during the week. He said ‘I have been genuinely surprised at the attendance throughout this innovation week. It is clear that Tanzanians believe they have potential innovative ideas and are looking for partners, be it in the private or public sector, that can nurture and support their ideas as they develop.’ He added ‘Events like these will help stimulate cross-sector collaborationsin Tanzania to innovate and find profitable ways of addressing key issues in Tanzania.’

Tanzania ranks 123 out of 143 countries according to the Global Innovation Index 2014. Despite its many endowments, Tanzania remains a poor country by both local and international standards. A mapping study conducted by Sosthenes Sambua, Executive Director of Tanzania Entrepreneurship and Competiveness Center (TECC)indicated that the lack of competitiveness in Tanzania is attributed to three factors. The first is lack of innovation policy comprehensive enough to catalyze innovation system in the country. The second factor is lack of linkages between industry, academia and government. The third factor is inadequate funding available to commercialize innovative ideas. Mr. Sambuasays‘Platforms like the Innovation Week that bring together policy makers, private sector actors &entrepreneurs from across all sectors, creates dialogue that will help lead to new orimproved policies that will catalyze the innovation system in Tanzania.’

HDIF was launched to fund innovative and sustainable solutions to create social impact in education, health and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) across Tanzania. The second funding round is scheduled for mid-2015. Guidelines and important dates will be posted on the HDIF website www.hdif-tz.org.