Shinyanga, 27th June 2025 — WAYDS Tanzania was honored to participate as a key facilitator at the Shinyanga Annual NGOs Forum held at Katemi Hotel, under the insightful theme:
“A Five-Year Review on NGOs' Contribution to National Development – Achievements, Challenges, Opportunities, and Prospects.”
The event brought together vibrant minds from across the civil society spectrum to reflect, strategize, and ignite new collaborative energy for the development sector. Gracing the occasion was Hon. Julius Mtatiro, District Commissioner of Shinyanga Municipal, whose powerful opening remarks emphasized the urgent need for NGOs to explore alternative sustainability models, embrace peacebuilding roles, and serve as guardians and educators within their communities.
As a proud contributor, WAYDS Tanzania facilitated a pivotal session titled “Policy Influence and Strategic Partnerships,” led by our esteemed Director, Mr. Charles Deogratius. His presentation underscored the growing importance of NGO involvement in local policy formulation, especially in shaping budget priorities to better align grassroots initiatives with Tanzania’s national development vision.
“If we want sustainable impact, we must move from the margins to the table where decisions are made,” Mr. Deogratius emphasized.
He further championed peer-to-peer collaboration among NGOs, stressing that joint implementation, cost-sharing mechanisms, and manpower pooling are not just cost-effective but also amplify impact and foster innovation through shared learning.
In a moment that resonated deeply with forum participants, Mr. Deogratius challenged the sector to rethink its funding paradigms:
“We must stop designing our programs around donors’ wallets. Instead, let’s develop solutions rooted in community ownership, local resources, and strategic partnerships. That’s how we sustain impact.”
The forum concluded with renewed momentum toward strengthening networks, promoting community-led development, and deepening the role of NGOs in national transformation.
