Regional and National Public-Private Dialogue Structures in Tanzania: Design, Agenda and Challenges

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to analyse the design of regional and national public-private dialogue (PPD) structures in Tanzania, and  investigate their main agendas and challenges. The study adopted a qualitative approach that entailed 83 in-depth interviews with senior  government officials, representatives of the East African Community (EAC), private sector organisations (PSOs), and development  partners. The findings indicate that while the EAC Secretariat and the Regional Summit provided a platform for member states to  dialogue on regional issues, the private sector agenda was aligned to the EAC agenda through the East African Business Council (EABC),  and regional and national PSOs. However, the private sector-driven PPDs, which included informal forums, prioritised agendas that  interested their members. The identified PPD platforms faced challenges of resource limitations; inappropriate design, coordination and  representation; inadequate link between regional and national PPDs; inadequate link between sectoral and formal PPDs; and inadequate integration of gender and youth issues. Overall, the study indicates that PPDs create a platform for integrating formal and informal  actors into governance processes, especially where both formal and informal systems are functioning together. It recommends bridging  the gap between public policy imperatives and the private sector views by encouraging a diversity of voices, and fostering a broad range  of interactions through informal and formal PPD structures.