News

By Jackson Isdory, CMU

In reaffirming their longstanding partnership, the Embassy of Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), and the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) have  signed a SEK 78 million (equal to TZS 18.8 billion) grant agreement for a research programme to advance sustainable and inclusive development in Tanzania.

The signing ceremony, held on 28 November 2028 at UDSM, brought together top officials, scholars, and diplomats to celebrate and reflect on the international collaboration for academic and research for societal advancement.

UDSM Vice Chancellor, Prof. William A. L. Anangisye said the six-year program, titled Research and Innovation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development in Tanzania, aims to bolster the country's multidisciplinary research and innovation capacity, contributing to achieving the United Nations Agenda 2030 for sustainable development.

“This partnership continues transforming the University of Dar es Salaam into a hub for research and innovation, responsive to Tanzania's development needs and aligned with our Vision 2061, which aspires to position our institution as a world-class university responsive to development needs”, said Prof. Anangisye.

Prof. Anangisye expressed his gratitude for Sida's enduring support, which has significantly enhanced the University’s research and training capacities since 1998. "With this new agreement, we will focus on multidisciplinary research and innovation to address critical challenges in Tanzania and contribute to global development goals."

Emphasis on gender equity and capacity building

Prof. Anangisye highlighted the program’s emphasis on gender equity and capacity building, noting the remarkable achievements of previous Sida-supported projects. “These projects trained 126 scholars (64 PhDs, 48 MAs, and 14 postdoctoral fellows) while enhancing UDSM's infrastructure with over 1,400 pieces of cutting-edge research equipment”.

Prof. Anangisye also called for Sida to extend its support for the social sciences, law, and humanities to create a more comprehensive research framework.

Meanwhile, Her Excellency Charlotta Ozaki Macias, the Swedish Ambassador to Tanzania, reaffirmed Sweden’s commitment to fostering sustainable development through education and research.

She said that the achievements of the past decades reflected the University of Dar es Salaam's commitment to excellence. This new phase aligns with Sweden's priorities of fostering sustainable and inclusive development through research, capacity-building, and gender equity.

“We are confident that the program will yield transformative results for Tanzanian society and beyond. The six-year program (2024–2030) will focus on multidisciplinary research in priority areas while fostering inclusive community engagement” she said.

She added that the key objectives include enhancing research capacity, improving infrastructure, and ensuring the societal impact of research outputs”, she said.

Creating solutions to societal challenges

Prof. Nelson Boniface, UDSM Deputy Vice Chancellor-Research, emphasised the program's potential to elevate the University’s research profile and foster impactful collaborations.

"The new program is a testament to UDSM leadership in research and innovation. It will strengthen partnerships with local, regional, and international stakeholders while creating solutions to societal challenges”, said Prof. Boniface.

He added that the programme will support postgraduate training, improve research infrastructure, and foster community engagement to ensure that research outputs address societal needs with a gender-sensitive approach.

Dr. Merezia Wilson, the Coordinator of the Sida Program at UDSM, underscored the new initiative's strategic importance. "The program will strengthen postgraduate training, improve the research environment, and enhance the impact of research outputs. We are particularly proud of the program’s commitment to ensuring that at least 50% of postgraduate trainees are women”.

Dr. Eva Ohlsson, the Counsellor for Research Cooperation at the Swedish Embassy emphasised the importance of mutual learning and innovation. "Our partnership with UDSM demonstrates the power of international collaboration to address pressing global challenges. The program aligns with Agenda 2030 and underscores the role of research in achieving sustainable development”.

Prof. Donatha Tibuhwa, UDSM Director of Postgraduate Studies, noted that the grant would enhance training and expand opportunities for scholars across multiple disciplines.

"This support is a game-changer for postgraduate training at UDSM. It will enable us to train the next generation of researchers equipped to tackle issues such as gender equity, community engagement, and innovation”, she said.