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From Grassroots Conversations to National Dialogue: How EU-backed “Dira Mtaani” Success Story Grew Beyond Expectations to Amplify Youth Voices on Tanzania’s Future

How do young Tanzanians envision the future of their country? Through “Dira Mtaani: Vijana Wanasemaje?”, the EU Delegation to Tanzania and The Chanzo brought conversations on Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050 directly to underserved communities in and around Dar es Salaam.

Dira Mtaani Participants
© European Union, 2026.

 

“Dira Mtaani: Vijana Wanasemaje?” (“Vision in the Community: What Are the Youth Saying?”) is a youth dialogue initiative funded by the EU Delegation to Tanzania and implemented by The Chanzo, an independent digital media platform,  between January and March 2026. 

The project was designed to bring discussions on Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050 (Dira 2050) directly to underserved communities and create space for young people, particularly those often excluded from formal policy conversations, to share their experiences, aspirations and ideas for the country’s future.

Through four community-based dialogue sessions held in and around Dar es Salaam, in Chanika, Kibaha, Mbagala and Vikindu, the initiative engaged more than 40 young people from diverse backgrounds, including informal workers, small business owners, students and unemployed youth.

Rather than using a formal debate format, the project adopted an informal and conversational approach that encouraged open discussion and honest storytelling. Participants explored issues such as unemployment, corruption, access to opportunities, entrepreneurship, culture, social values and the challenges facing young Tanzanians in their daily lives.

One of the project’s strongest achievements was its ability to connect national development conversations with grassroots realities. Across all locations, many participants admitted they had limited awareness of “Dira 2050” before the dialogues, yet they demonstrated a strong willingness to engage in discussions about Tanzania’s future and their role in shaping it.

The initiative also achieved strong visibility through digital storytelling and media outreach. Through articles, videos and social media content produced by The Chanzo and amplified by EU channels, the project generated more than 268,500 views and engagements across platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and X.

Importantly, the impact of “Dira Mtaani” has extended beyond the initial EU-supported phase, demonstrating both sustainability and growing momentum. The Chanzo has since secured support from Twaweza East Africa, a regional civil society organisation that promotes citizen engagement, accountability and public participation across East Africa. The CSO was inspired by the initiative’s potential and decided to continue and expand it at a larger scale, into other parts of Tanzania, ensuring that more communities can participate in these important youth-led conversations.

The project has also influenced engagement at the national level. Recently, The Chanzo conducted a sit-down interview with Professor Kitila Mkumbo, Tanzania’s Minister for Planning and Investment, where questions and concerns raised during the “Dira Mtaani” discussions were directly put to him. The interview was co-hosted by Khalifa Said, journalist at The Chanzo, and Baruani Mshale, moderator of the “Dira Mtaani” talks, and repeatedly referenced insights gathered during the community dialogues, helping ensure grassroots youth voices were brought directly into national conversations on Vision 2050.

By creating an inclusive platform for dialogue and linking community perspectives with policymaking spaces, “Dira Mtaani” has demonstrated how locally rooted engagement can strengthen youth participation, foster meaningful discussion and contribute to more inclusive development processes in Tanzania.