The call comes as Tanzania advances plans linked to its Development Vision 2050, which aims to transform the country into a high-income and industrialised economy.
Experts say stronger investment in project preparation, including feasibility studies, legal assessments and financial structuring, is critical to attracting credible investors and ensuring projects become commercially viable.
Speaking to the ‘Daily News’, Executive Director of the Public-Private Partnership Centre, David Kafulila, said an effective PPP framework depends on legal reforms, institutional capacity building, public awareness and access to financing through a dedicated facilitation fund.
According to him, Tanzania has already made progress in strengthening its PPP environment, including reforms aimed at reducing bureaucratic delays in project approvals.
Kafulila said the government, through the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General’s Office, is working on improving the legal framework governing PPP projects following directives from President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
He added that PPP investments have grown significantly in recent years. Signed projects, which were previously valued at about 2.5 trillion Tanzanian shillings and 1 billion US dollars, have expanded to around 11 trillion shillings under the current administration.
Major projects linked to PPP arrangements include port infrastructure developments, operations involving the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority, logistics facilities in Ubungo and commercial infrastructure projects in Kariakoo.
However, analysts say financing gaps remain a major challenge, particularly in preparing projects before they are presented to investors.
Chief Executive Officer of Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company Limited, Elibariki Ndossi, said properly prepared PPP projects help align private sector investment interests with national development priorities while reducing delays during implementation.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of the Tanzania Bankers Association, Tuse Joune, said banks are facing a shortage of bankable PPP projects and called for stronger investment in project preparation to encourage long-term financing.
The Tanzania Private Sector Federation also urged the government to expand budget allocations for PPP development, arguing that well-prepared projects could attract larger private sector investment and strengthen Tanzania’s investment reputation.
Notes to Editors
– – The story highlights a structural constraint: early-stage financing (feasibility, legal, financial modeling) typically represents >80% of investment viability—this asymmetry is critical context.
– — Reported PPP growth (2.5T → 11T TZS) signals momentum, but does not necessarily reflect execution or completion rates—avoid overstating success.
– The call for a PPP facilitation fund aligns with global best practice (e.g., Kenya, South Africa), suggesting Tanzania is converging toward standard infrastructure financing models.
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