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 EVENT

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 forums 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.
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 forums 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. BuniHub 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.

COMMENTS
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 .

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 events 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

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

Tanzania Social Entrepreneurship Forum

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

Organizing partner:

Supported by:

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