The Tanzania World Food Programme (WFP) Innovation Unit is dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration among various stakeholders in the food ecosystem to ensure a sustainable, nutritious, and accessible food system for all. Tanzania's food system faces multiple challenges, including climate change, limited infrastructure, and socio-economic disparities, which call for innovative and collaborative solutions

The objective of this half-day workshop is to bring together key actors from the Tanzania food ecosystem, including government agencies, NGOs, private sector organizations, farmers, and researchers, to identify challenges and opportunities in the Tanzania food system space. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, we aim to create a platform for knowledge sharing and collective action that will lead to sustainable solutions and a better future for all Tanzanians.

1. Strengthened collaboration and knowledge sharing among key actors in the Tanzania food ecosystem

2. Identification of priority challenges and opportunities in the Tanzania food system space

3. Development of innovative and sustainable solutions to address identified challenges

4. DEstablishment of a platform for ongoing collaboration and action among workshop participants

The workshop brought together 45 individuals from the following areas:

• Government agencies

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

• Private sector organizations and start-ups

• Farmers and farmer associations

• Researchers and academic institutions

The following methodology was utilised:

• Participants were divided into groups based on the role they play in the food system space – Production, aggregation, processing, distribution, and consumption.

• They were then asked to perform a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis in the food system space they primarily operate in.

• The participants were then given time to visit other groups and propose additions

• The groups then selected a representative to present a summary of the SWOT analysis

• Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: The workshop highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders in the Tanzania food ecosystem. Participants recognized that by working together and sharing their expertise, resources, and best practices, they can collectively address the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities in the food system space. Going forward, there is a need to establish platforms and networks that facilitate ongoing collaboration, information exchange, and joint problem-solving

• Innovation and Technology Adoption: Participants acknowledged the potential of innovation and technology in transforming the Tanzania food system. Embracing technological advancements, such as climate-resilient agricultural practices, precision farming, and post-harvest handling technologies, can significantly improve productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance market access. It is crucial to invest in research and development, promote technology transfer, and provide training and capacity building to enable the adoption of innovative solutions throughout the food value chain.

• Strengthening Resilience: Climate change emerged as a significant threat to the food system, with participants recognizing the need for climate adaptation and resilience-building measures. Building the resilience of farmers, processors, and distributors to climate shocks, such as droughts and floods, should be a priority. This can be achieved by promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, access to climate information and early warning systems, and developing climate risk insurance mechanisms. Strengthening the integration of climate change considerations into policies and regulations is also essential.

• Policy and Regulatory Support: The workshop highlighted the importance of supportive policies and regulations to enable a thriving food ecosystem in Tanzania. Participants emphasized the need for policy that promotes access to finance for farmers, simplifies taxation processes, and incentivizes private sector investments in the food system. Strengthening regulatory frameworks to ensure food safety, quality standards, and consumer protection was also highlighted as a priority.

Moving forward, it is essential to translate the learnings from this workshop into actionable steps. This can be achieved through the following:

• Forming working groups or task forces of diversified actors (government agencies, NGOs, private sector organizations, and research institutions ) focused on specific challenges or opportunities identified during the workshop.

• Promoting platforms or networks for ongoing collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint initiatives among the stakeholders. Such as the SDG2 WhatsApp group

• Encouraging investment in research and development, innovation, and technology adoption throughout the food value chain

• Promoting capacity building and training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of farmers, processors, distributors, and other stakeholders.

• Advocating for supportive policies, regulatory reforms, and incentives that create an enabling environment for a sustainable and inclusive food system.

By implementing these strategies and maintaining momentum through continued collaboration, Tanzania can achieve a more resilient, productive, and sustainable food system that addresses the challenges and harnesses the opportunities in the food ecosystem.