Dar es Salaam. Under the calm skies of Arusha, more than 650 board chairpersons and chief executives from across Tanzania’s public sector gathered at the Simba Hall of the Arusha International Conference Centre with a single question in mind: how can public institutions better serve the nation in an era of rapid change?
It was more than just another annual meeting. The CEOs Forum 2025, held from August 23 to 26, became a platform for bold thinking, a space where performance, innovation, and accountability converged.
Leaders reflected on past reforms and looked ahead to a new set of challenges facing the public sector, from fiscal constraints to digital disruption and growing public demand for transparency.
At the heart of this year’s forum were nine strategic resolutions adopted to guide institutional transformation across the board.
These include strengthening expenditure controls while promoting innovation; reviewing ICT regulations to accelerate digital adoption; aligning institutional strategies with Dira 2050 “Tanzania Development Vision” 2050; and reviewing policy and legal frameworks to remove operational bottlenecks.
Also adopted were resolutions focused on enhancing performance measurement for all public entities, including non-commercial ones; investing in research to drive data-based decision-making; reducing reliance on central government budgets; initiating sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting starting from FY 2025/26; and renaming the forum to “C-CEOs Forum” beginning in FY 2026/27 to reflect the joint leadership of board chairpersons and chief executives.
The first resolution, improving public resource management through tighter expenditure controls and innovation, tackles long-standing inefficiencies that persist in some government institutions.
It emphasizes the need to shift from compliance-based budgeting to performance-oriented resource management.
Innovation is not treated as a buzzword, but as a mechanism for redesigning service delivery models, embracing technology, and unlocking greater value from limited resources.
Closely linked to the call for innovation is the second resolution, which urges regulators overseeing ICT to reassess existing digital governance frameworks to reduce bureaucratic barriers.
This resolution recognizes that for public institutions to digitize and modernize effectively, the regulatory environment must move from one of control to one of enablement.
A more agile ICT framework would allow public entities to adopt emerging technologies faster, streamline internal systems, and improve responsiveness to citizen needs.
From digital transformation to long-term planning, the third resolution focuses on aligning institutional strategies with Dira 2050 ‘Tanzania Development Vision 2050’.
It represents a significant strategic shift, requiring institutions to anchor their plans within national priorities, focusing on inclusive growth, sustainability, and socio-economic transformation.
It reflects a growing consensus that institutional impact should not be measured in isolation but in terms of contribution to the broader development agenda.
To support this alignment, a fourth resolution calls for a comprehensive review of the policy and legal frameworks that guide institutional operations.
Many public entities still operate under outdated regulations that limit flexibility and efficiency.
Institutions are now expected to identify these constraints and propose reforms that would create a more enabling operating environment.
The fifth resolution turns attention to performance measurement.
The Treasury Registrar’s Office has been tasked with enhancing assessment indicators, particularly for non-commercial public institutions.
This move acknowledges the diverse roles public entities play, especially those that deliver public goods rather than profits.
It also reflects a more sophisticated approach to evaluating success, one that balances financial outcomes with social value.
Supporting better performance is the sixth resolution, which encourages institutions to invest in research and data analysis to drive evidence-based decision-making.
This marks a critical shift away from planning based on precedent or assumption.
With better data, institutions can set realistic goals, respond more effectively to emerging challenges, and measure progress with greater precision.
Financial sustainability is addressed in the seventh resolution, which urges institutions to reduce reliance on the central government budget.
Instead, they are expected to develop and expand internal revenue streams to support operational independence.
This resolution speaks directly to the need for financial resilience and a new model of public sector accountability, one that rewards innovation and sound financial management.
In keeping with global standards, the eighth resolution introduces a new reporting requirement: beginning in FY 2025/26, public institutions will be expected to report on sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance.
This signals a shift in how institutions are evaluated, not only by their financial results, but also by their environmental and social impact.
It also aims to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public trust.
Concluding the reform package is a symbolic yet important ninth resolution: renaming the forum from the “CEOs Forum” to the “C-CEOs Forum” starting in FY 2026/27.
This change reflects the joint leadership roles of board chairpersons and chief executives, and underscores the importance of unified, collaborative governance at the highest levels of public institutions.
The renaming also signals continuity, a commitment to deepening reforms that began in earlier years.
Treasury Registrar Nehemiah Mchechu reported that over 95 percent of the 2024 resolutions had already been implemented.
Those earlier commitments focused on strategic planning, governance, overseas investment, contributions to the national budget, human capital development, and completing pending reforms.
“We have seen a real transformation over the past year. Institutions have not only embraced long-term planning but have also taken steps to diversify revenue and strengthen governance systems. This momentum must continue with the new set of resolutions,” Mr Mchechu said.
Opening the 2025 forum, His Excellency Vice President Dr Philip Mpango urged public institutions to enhance the quality of locally produced goods and services, strengthen accountability in managing public resources, and increase collaboration with both domestic and international partners.
He emphasized that transparency and effectiveness are critical for sustaining public trust.
“The government expects public institutions to set the benchmark for quality and integrity. Effective management of resources and transparency is crucial for sustaining public trust,” he said.
Closing the forum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy Hon Dr Doto Biteko challenged public institution leaders to convert the Sh86.29 trillion invested in public entities into tangible economic growth and improved living standards.
His remarks underscored the need for performance-driven, accountable leadership.
“Citizens expect you to transform their lives. When we talk about poverty, the government must lead in eradicating it. You have a duty to raise living standards by making institutions efficient and accountable,” he said.
