Organizing Partner: Supported by

2nd Tanzania Social Entrepreneurship Forum

on: The importance and impact of social

networks in influencing social

entrepreneurship sector in Tanzania.

Post Forum Report BUNI HUB, Costech , Kijitonyama Dar es Salaam

May, 29th 2015

www.facebook.com/tasef.org

“Social Network is central to social change and Social Entrepreneurship. It is a

critical factor for mobilizing resources, support and acceptability of the Social

Enterprising projects and ideas”

Zabron Kengera, Lecturer University of Dar es Salaam

The second Tanzania Social Entrepreneurship Forum on “the importance and impact of social networks in

influencing social entrepreneurship sector in Tanzania” was organized by TASEF (The Tanzania Social

Entrepreneurship Forum) in great collaboration with Reach for Change Tanzania and highly supported by

other partners such as Buni Hub Dar es Salaam who hosted it in their venue, Plan B solutions who covered

the media production, TrueMaisha Training Co. Limited who participated much in the program design

together with Apps & Girls.

The event held at Buni Hub space in Dar es Salaam brought together 70 people from 30 different

organizations from Dar es Salaam who have different mission around Tanzania social development. This

combination was made to practically prove the networking process among social change makers in Tanzania

specifically in influencing social entrepreneurship sector.

Apart from all the participants 3 key note speakers were featured in this event: Mr. Zabron Kengera, a

lecturer from the University of Dar es Salaam working in project planning and strategic management

introduced the forum’s theme, Mr. Peter Millaga the Country Director of Investours who stood as a social

entrepreneur case study from Tanzania and Mr. Costantine Deus Shirati the researcher and communication

officer at Science, Technology and Innovation Policy research Organization (STIPRO) who analyzed the theme

.The forum closing remark was done by Mr. Peter Nyanda the Country Manager of Reach for Change Tanzania

whereas Erick Chrispin the chairman of TASEF Introduced the event and made a welcoming note to

everyone.

Moreover the event was well moderated by Abella Bateyunga a member of Change Tanzania in great

collaboration with Shamsa Jamardin Akukwet a member of Zalendo Tanzania.

This event is among the series of Tanzania social Entrepreneurship Forums which happens every end of each

month throughout a year to discuss different themes around social entrepreneurship and innovation as a

way to advocate for and promote social entrepreneurship and innovation approach in intervening the

prevailing social issues in Tanzania. These events also are made as platforms for connecting different social

change stakeholders in Tanzania through the networking sessions so as to team up the process of influencing

positive change in Tanzania.

THE EVENT

COMMENT:

For us, a social entrepreneur is person creating a startup to solve a social problem (in our case that improves the

lives of children)

Josephine Msambichaka, Program manager, Reach For Change Tanzania.

FORUM PROGRAM

The main forum’s theme had been formulated by TASEF team with the main

goal of promoting the network and connection among social development

stakeholders in Tanzania. The program was made of three sessions i.e.

speakers presentations, plenary discussion and networking. However the

presentation session was made up of four subtopics out of the main theme

which was; “The importance and impact of networks in influencing social

entrepreneurship sector in Tanzania”.

The 2nd Tanzania social entrepreneurship forum took almost 3 hours from

16.00pm to 19.00pm to its closure whereas networking was the closing

session.

Together with our key note speakers, this event became a platform for our

partners to show case their services by sharing with participants through

presentation and promotional materials. Reach for Change Tanzania is one

among the partners who did a marvelous presentation of their mission to

support social entrepreneurs who solve children issues in Tanzania. Buni-

Hub our host partner got an ample time to describe what they do to

Tanzanians in promoting innovation on Information Technology at their

creative space (Hub) in Dar es Salaam.

The event has significantly influenced many attendees to value the

importance of connecting with other stakeholders when it comes to

fulfilling and achieving their social development missions in Tanzania

context.

“The arrangement of topics around the main theme during this forum

has been insightful and the skills redelivered are very relevant to our

context.

Participant.

“I have managed to connect with new customers during networking

session in the forum; I think this is an important place for entrepreneur

to hang out too.”

Participant .

COMMENTS

PLENARY SESSIONS

The first welcoming note of the second Tanzania Social Entrepreneurship

Forum was set on by Erick Chrispin the Chairman of TASEF and Managing

Director of TrueMaisha Training Co. Limited before the astounding moderation

of Abella Bateyunga in great collaboration with Shamsa Jamardin Akukwet.

Apart from sharing the importance of this forum to promote and advocate for

social entrepreneurship and innovation approach in Tanzania, Erick insisted

participant to understand the event’s main theme and take advantage of an

event to network and connect with right stakeholders.

Mr. Zabron Kengera the lecturer from University of Dar es Salaam, specialist in

project management, strategic planning creativity, innovation and resource

mobilization described the concept of social networks that is a description of

the social structure between actors, mostly individuals or organizations. He

shared more on its importance and what to do so as to network at personal

level. With lots of relevant examples from his personal experience he was able

to make the audience understand the whole concept of social networks in

relation to social development in Tanzania.

Peter Millaga the Country Director of Investours Tanzania, a social enterprise

with a mission to reduce poverty in Tanzania through offering free-interest

micro loans to very young entrepreneurs in Tanzania stood as a case study

during this event. He shared a lot on how social networks has moved Ivestours

mission to higher success in Tanzania. Their connection with Maisha

Microfinance and Covenant Bank in serving young entrepreneurs in Dar es

Salaam was among his relevant examples on the case. Investours case was a

good example to validate what the previous speaker presented.

It was Costantine Deus Shirati the researcher and communication officer at

Science, Technology and Innovation policy research Organization (STIPRO)

marked the end of key-note speakers presentations by analyzing the social

network concept at expatriate level where he instead that social networks

results to social capital which is one of the major business catalysts. He also

shared the importance of developing social networks where he insisted to look

at it as a social capital and form of investment in development which will

always have Return on Investment (ROI)

Peter Nyanda the Country manager of Reach for Change Tanzania was the very

last speaker in this event who did a closing remark. He thanked all the speakers

and participants for a vibrant discussion but also insisted everyone to take

his/her part in building our society since poverty level is growing if you think of

the interlocking of different pressing social issues within our society and world

at large.

PARALLEL SESSIONS

The agenda was organized around the main theme (The

importance and Impact of Social networks in influencing Social

Entrepreneurship in Tanzania). Apart from networking session,

there were hot discussions through questions and answers

around the following topics:

Social networks in relation to social development project

management plus its meaning &

How social networks influence social entrepreneurship

specifically in Tanzania

Tanzania Social Entrepreneurship Forum

COMMENTS:

I am encouraged by this forum and I am certain that this is what the community need.

Participant________________________________________________________________________________

I suggest forum like this to reach many entrepreneurs in Tanzania with insistence of women entrepreneurs

through their associations

Participant________________________________________________________________________________

Key note speakers did a great job, their presentation had a lot for Tanzania entrepreneurs to learn and apply in

their initiatives.

Participant________________________________________________________________________________

As social develop stakeholders in Tanzania we need to join power in organizing more forums of this kind for they

are helpful in promoting development.

Participant ________________________________________________________________________________

ORGANIZERS

Is a nonprofit organization with a mission of

promoting and advocating for social

entrepreneurship and innovation approach in

Tanzania.

Urafiki Flats, Block E, No. 11, Ubungo

P. O. Box 13186

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Tell: +255 (0) 653 808 032

Email: tasef.info@gmail.com

Website: www.facebook.com/tasef.org

2nd Tanzania Social Entrepreneurship Forum

on: The importance and impact of social

networks in influencing social

entrepreneurship sector in Tanzania.

Keep in touch for the next

forum!

www.facebook.com/tasef.org

Organizing partner: Supported by: