Programs
Our leadership and governance programs, projects and events aim to improve good democratic governance through public policy outcomes, citizen-centred solutions and public leadership.
Our work serves and supports civil societies, governments and private sector players and other institutions that fall within the ambit of governance to become more citizen-centred and to ensure that people can lead safer, freer, and more prosperous lives.
AFRICA YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (YOULEAD AFRICA)
Unlocking youth leadership potential.
YouLead is a flagship Youth Leadership Program working to unlock youth leadership potential for a prosperous region by identifying, recognizing, connecting and fostering cooperation among Africa’s vibrant and influential young leaders and their initiatives.
It is a joint initiative of MS TCDC and the East African Community (EAC). H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, former President of Tanzania is YouLead’s current Patron.
YOUTH HUB ARUSHA
An engaging space to unlock youth-led solutions.
In a bid to reach more young people at community level in addition to the YouLead program, the Hub is created to connect youth in our community to youth power, network, potential and prompt change.
The Hub is a platform driven by young people to facilitate social, experience-based and youth centered solutions to the challenges faced by young people.
Youth Hub Arusha welcomes youth from all walks of life from 18 - 35 years to be members.
RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM - SCHOLARS IN RESIDENCE
Fellowship residencies are an arrangement where a selected fellow or a group of fellow is admitted to reside at the campus for a determined number of days, weeks or months. In the present-day residence model, during their residence period, fellows undertake their chosen residence assignments in collaboration with MS TCDC Faculty and use some of their residence time to reflect on their own career and personal advancement plans. They get involved in designing and facilitating training, seminars and conferences, share experiences, and connect with and utilise the networking opportunities that we offer.
ACTIVISTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM
Dedicated space for transnational collaborators to build collective power.
The Activist in Residence program is a month-long engagement bringing together progressive organizers, theorists, writers, artists, activists, and/or other practitioners looking for a quiet and safe space to strategize on advancing radical values and building power together across borders.
THE AFRICAN DIGNITY INDEX
Towards a measure for dignity in the continent.
A Pan African tool for Measuring Human Dignity based on the African Union Agenda 2063 Youth Governance Architecture Studies, Continental Studies on Youth Inclusion in the Africa Free Trade Area Agreement processes.
The ADI intends to base its indicators on three thematic areas, namely:
- Human Dignity - the dignity of all African humans everywhere on earth.
- Human Development.
- Peace and Justice for all Africans.
DATA DRIVEN ADVOCACY
Enhancing the vitality of civil society in the civic arena.
Through this project, we aim to provide leadership and a safe space to rights-focused NGOs to sustain their engagement and evidence-based advocacy, especially on digital and physical protection skills.
The goal is to help build institutional capacity, improve the quality of engagement with duty bearers and contribute to more inclusive, data-driven, human rights-focused policymaking. Through awareness creation and support for actors in policymaking processes we aim to build civic agency.
REBUILDING THE CIVIC SPACE
Enabling citizens to reclaim, defend, and expand the frontiers of civic space.
CISU aims to amplify the voices of frontline civil society members with an emphasis, on women and young people who are active social media users to influence power structures through a meaningful online presence.
The project will strengthen the use of alternative civic and political spaces/platforms for citizens in Zimbabwe and Uganda. To achieve this, it will empower citizens to engage with people in power through online platforms, virtual organising, participating, and communicating their concerns without hindrance.
CLIMATE SMART AGRIBUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Transforming agriculture through skills development.
In response to climate change effects, food insecurity, and unemployment, the project aims to strengthen the capacities of African agricultural societies and institutions in the agribusiness economy to expand agricultural production, processing and marketing.
UHURU FORUM
Where ideas are refined into practicable solutions.
This is an annual gathering that convenes civil society organisations to discuss issues pertaining to the civic space, and moot solutions to the dysfunctional status of social infrastructure in Africa, and the path to resilient communities, responsive civil society, and responsible states.
This forum supports reflection on the progress made and the challenges encountered over the previous year while providing clarity around what the future of civic space should look like, and how that journey should be charted.
THE ARUSHA DEBATES
Homegrown solutions to Africa’s problems.
Arusha Debates seeks to highlight pressing continental development issues that require policy attention and financial investment and to generate insights into how to make social and economic development a reality for ever greater numbers of Africans.
Every debate explores:
- A problem that if solved would lead to improvements of African lives.
- Examine the pros and cons of current efforts to solve such problems and put forward different alternative approaches to solving them.
YOULEAD SUMMIT
Building a One Young Africa.
YouLead Summit is YouLead’s annual climax event providing a forum for young leaders to craft responses to challenges and opportunities facing African youth and work toward solutions for a prosperous continent. The summit focuses on two programmatic areas: Youth in Politics and Youth in Business and Enterprise.
KNOWLEDGE ART AND NETWORKING (KAN) FESTIVAL
Where Pan-Africanists meet.
A platform for development stakeholders from all walks of life, to meet and reflect on Pan African matters that have the potential to impact the growth and development of our immediate communities and by extension on a larger scale on the African continent.
KAN aims to stimulate the community that attends each Festival to play an active role in identifying and advocating for clear tangible movement in terms of development gains.