4^th September 2023 – On Tuesday 5th September 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture, Tanzania, together with the African Agricultural Transformation Initiative (AATI) will launch the Agriculture Transformation Office (ATO). The ATO will support the transformation of Tanzania’s agriculture into an inclusive, sustainable, and knowledge-driven climate-resilient sector. The launch of the ATO, which will take place on the sidelines of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF) Summit in Dar es Salaam Tanzania, will be led by Hon. Mohammed Bashe, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Abdallah Ulega, Minster of Livestock and Fisheries, and Ms. Safia Boly, Executive Director, African Agricultural Transformation Initiative (AATI).

The ATO will promote the transformation and growth of the agriculture sector in Tanzania through visioning and strategy operationalization, enhance the Government’s capacity in implementing the Agricultural Transformation Master Plan, and support the effective and efficient implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Master Plan through flagship implementation and delivery. The office will also support in capacity building (including digital capabilities and tools) and deploy monitoring and evaluation tools.

The side event on 5^th September, 2023 will reflect on the status of the agricultural sector and ways in which the newly developed ATO will advance the efforts of the Government. The launch event will also raise awareness about Tanzania’s efforts to accelerate the transformation of its economy through the strengthening of its institutions and engagements with the private sector, and improve knowledge sharing and learning about the challenges, opportunities and the way forward for agricultural transformation.

Also in attendance at the event will be Hon. Omar Said Shaaban, Minister of Trade and Industrial Development, Tanzania, Hon. Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, Minister of State, President’s Office, Labour, Economy and Investment, Zanzibar, Hon. Suleiman Masoud Makame, Minister of Blue Economy and Fisheries, Zanzibar, Hon. Henry Musa Kpaka, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sierra Leone, and founding partners of the AATI: Mr. Obai Khalifa (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), Dr. Donal Brown (IFAD), Dr. Agnes Kalibata (AGRA) and Mr. Omid Kassiri (McKinsey and Company).