By Business Insider Correspondent
The Public-Private Partnership Centre (PPP Centre), in collaboration with the World Bank, is rolling out a three-tier certification programme aimed at strengthening Tanzania’s capacity to design and manage high-impact PPP projects.
The initiative – part of the Centre’s legal mandate – targets public officials involved in infrastructure and service delivery, equipping them with internationally accredited skills to prepare investment-ready projects that reduce reliance on government development budgets.
Structured across three levels – Foundation, Project Preparation, and Project Management and Operation – the programme ensures participants build progressive expertise across the entire PPP lifecycle.
The second phase of training, focused on Project Preparation, was conducted in Arusha in early June. Over ten days, 80 public servants from institutions across Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar participated in intensive sessions.
They were assessed by the globally recognised APMG certification body, with successful candidates earning intermediate-level certification in PPP project preparation.
Dr. Suleiman Kiula, Acting Head of the Project Appraisal Unit at the PPP Centre, opened the session by emphasising the programme’s alignment with the country’s broader development ambitions.
“This is the second phase of our 2025 training series, following sessions in August 2024 and April this year,” Dr. Kiula said. “So far, 90 out of 180 participants have passed the APMG exams. Our goal is to create a pool of skilled professionals who can deliver quality projects while leveraging private sector innovation and financing.”
He noted that this drive to enhance human capital supports Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2025–2050, which aims to transform the country into a USD 1 trillion economy with a per capita income of US$ 4,500–7,000.
“To reach that target, PPPs must become a core tool in our development strategy. Under the leadership of Executive Director David Kafulila, the Centre is facilitating that transformation,” Dr. Kiula added.
Jan Willem Middelburg, Director of the Netherlands-based Cybiant and lead trainer for the programme, commended the PPP Centre’s commitment:
“Managing complex PPP projects requires certified, knowledgeable professionals. Tanzania is investing in the right kind of human capital to fast-track national development.”
Participants described the training as “eye-opening,” noting it deepened their understanding of global best practices and the critical missteps governments must avoid when structuring public-private partnerships. As Tanzania positions itself for rapid economic growth, the PPP Centre’s training initiative is poised to be a game-changer in building a robust pipeline of transformative, investment-ready projects.
