President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete meets with members of the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Managemet (CPTM) team

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete talks to  members of  the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Managemet (CPTM) UK and Tanzania hubs comprising of a vocal Point Team and resource group members after completing their

three day  planning meeting for the Global 2013  Smart Partnership Dialogues to be held next year in Dar es salaam. President Kikwete hosted the group on Friday night at the State House in Dar es salaam. (Photo by State House)

Background story

Tanzania will host the next Smart Partnership Dialogue that is scheduled to take place from 24th to 28th May, 2013 in Dar es Salaam. President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who had  had agreed to host the event  during the last dialogue that took place in Putrajaya, Malaysia in June, 2011  -  branded the Langkawi International Dialogue, flagged off  National launch on  Tuesday May 29, 2012 at the Karimjee Hall grounds in Dar es salaam.

The Smart Partnership Dialogues are a brainchild of the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Managemet (CPTM)  which is the social and scientific interlinkage arm of the Commonwealth, that has since 1995 undertaken in collaboration with willing national partners to provide a forum that cuts across the east-west, have, have not’s and the developed and developing dichotomy for the discussion of topical subjects in a conducive inclusive, open dialogue. Inspired by the increasing need to ensure a win-win interrelationship between actors, the CPTM, in collaboration with the host country undertake to provide an ambient setting where individuals from all walks of life and professions can meet and hold serious discourse on selected subjects every two years.

To ensure that these dialogues are successful, a two pronged approach is utilized. The first is when the host country convenes a National Dialogue. This involves the gathering together of different sectors of the host community and coming up with a topical issue that is not just locally relevant, but which resonates internationally and merits a grander discourse and focus. The second is when the Host country in collaboration with the CPTM plan for, invite participants and hold an international open dialogue on the selected topic, in essence, host aSMART DIALOGUE.

As hosts, the kicking off of the National Dialogue was  very crucial. It is a means for creating National and International awareness of the next host of the Dialogue and avails the opportunity to announce the dialogue venue, topic and dates.

The Host and Patron Advisor for the 2013 |Smart Partnership Dialogue, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania  during the official launch of preparations for the 2013 Dialogue and introduced  the Theme for the Dialogue (Leveraging Technology for Africa’s Socio-Economic Transformation) had announced the date for the Dialogue (24th to 28th May, 2013) and the venue (Dar es Salaam) issue a holistic invitation to both the citizens of Tanzania as well as the International Community at large, and share his vision for the Dialogue.

The Dialogue has been branded the GLOBAL 2013 SMART PARTNERSHIP DIALOGUE in anticipation of interest the chosen theme is likely to raise. Technology is a global phenomenon, a global concern, a global topical issue. It is therefore more than likely that a Dialogue on Technology for development shall merit global attention and have a global audience/participation.

The Execution of the preparation will be undertaken under the guidance of the Chief Secretary who is the Convener of the Dialogue. The Chief Secretary will be supported by a National Steering Committee that comprises of Permanent Secretaries from All Ministries as well as Representatives of Keyline Sectors both on Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

A Focal Point Team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will spearhead the logistical and liaising activities necessary for the successful execution of the Dialogue. The Team will over time incorporate Members from different Links

A Resource Group with an Advisory role comprising of key members of the Academia, Business and Corporate Community, Youth, Labour, Culture, Industry and Media has been set up under the leadership of Professor Samuel Wangwe.

Following the National Launch,  followed  contact with different Links within Tanzania who will in turn be linked with counterparts interested in participating in the Dialogue in 2013. A National Dialogue to discuss the theme will follow thereafter.

Other African countries that have hosted the Smart Partnership Dialogues include Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho and Uganda that has hosted it twice. Other countries include Barbados, and Malaysis that has hosted the dialogue nine times.