Global Impact Transformation (GIT) joined young people, entrepreneurs, innovators, government leaders, civil society and development partners at the International Youth Day 2026 Symposium organized by UNDP Tanzania, a dynamic platform focused on strengthening the role of young people in shaping Tanzania’s journey towards Dira 2050. The symposium was anchored around a powerful shift in thinking: moving beyond youth participation towards youth ownership. Rather than viewing young people simply as beneficiaries of development, discussions positioned them as leaders, innovators and partners whose ideas, decisions and actions will be central to Tanzania’s transformation over the next 25 years. The day was officially opened by Dr. Kedmon Elisha Mapana, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office, who called for young people to be placed at the centre of the country’s transformation. The symposium also featured contributions from Shigeki Komatsubara, UNDP Resident Representative in Tanzania, Gilbert Wigama of the National Planning Commission, and young change makers already developing solutions and enterprises across the country.

Youth voices at the centre: Shaping Tanzania’s development journey towards dira 2050

By Communication team

For GIT, the symposium strongly reinforced a principle at the heart of its youth empowerment approach: young people must not only participate in development, they must have the voice, skills, confidence and opportunities to help shape it.

The symposium brought this principle to life through youth enterprise pitches and strategic FUTURE LAB sessions, where young people shared ideas, explored solutions and engaged on the opportunities and priorities that matter to their future and Tanzania’s journey towards Dira 2050.

These engagements demonstrated the importance of creating platforms where young people can turn their voices into action, ideas into solutions, and innovation into economic and social opportunities, while contributing meaningfully to the decisions and development pathways that will shape their future.

As Tanzania looks towards Dira 2050, preparing young people for rapidly evolving economic and technological realities will be critical. GIT believes this requires stronger connections between education, employability, entrepreneurship, Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital innovation, leadership, financial inclusion and mentorship, particularly for young people whose access to these opportunities remains limited.

This vision is at the heart of GIT’s  signature program Vijana Impact Hub, which equips young people with practical and future-ready skills while connecting them with mentorship, innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities. Through its school and community-based platforms, GIT is also working to bring these opportunities closer to young people at grassroots level.

Beyond Dialogue: Young People Bringing Ideas and Solutions Forward

The symposium moved beyond speeches and provided young people with interactive spaces to share ideas, demonstrate solutions and engage directly with leaders and development stakeholders. Youth enterprise pitches showcased entrepreneurial ideas and emerging solutions, while the FUTURE LAB sessions created space for participants to explore Tanzania’s future, identify priorities and contribute practical perspectives towards Dira 2050.

Participants also heard from key leaders, including Dr. Kedmon Elisha Mapana, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office; Shigeki Komatsubara, UNDP Resident Representative in Tanzania; and Gilbert Wigama of the National Planning Commission, alongside young changemakers who shared their experiences, ambitions and solutions.

The discussions consistently reinforced the need to move from simply inviting young people into development spaces to giving them meaningful roles in shaping solutions, influencing priorities and contributing to Tanzania’s long-term development.

A major milestone of the symposium was the presentation of the Tanzania Youth Declaration 2026, bringing together the priorities and aspirations expressed by young people for Tanzania’s journey towards Dira 2050.The Declaration gave the day’s conversations a collective direction, moving from individual perspectives and discussions towards a unified youth voice that can inform wider national development conversations.

For GIT, this was particularly significant. Meaningful youth participation should not end when an event closes. Young people’s experiences, ideas and proposed solutions must be connected to the policies, programmes, investments and decisions that will shape their future.

With Dira 2050 representing a 25-year national journey, today’s young generation will not simply inherit its outcomes; they will be among the entrepreneurs, innovators, professionals, community leaders and decision-makers responsible for bringing that vision to life.

Partner with us to bring youth empowerment closer to communities, unlocking access to skills, technology, entrepreneurship, mentorship and leadership opportunities that enable young people to thrive. Contact us: info@globalimpacttransformation.org