Dar es Salaam. In a significant move to bolster sustainable development and climate resilience in Tanzania, President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb yesterday, May 15, 2025, unveiled the Green Catalyst Initiative, an ambitious innovation program aimed at transforming the country’s forestry value chain.
Launched at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) during Innovation Week Tanzania 2025, the initiative is a collaborative effort between the Embassy of Finland in Tanzania and UNDP Tanzania through its FUNGUO Innovation Programme, and is funded by the Government of Finland.
The launch event brought together policymakers, innovators, development partners, and private sector stakeholders, all united in the belief that forests, and the innovations built around them, can be a cornerstone of Tanzania’s sustainable future.
The initiative joins a growing list of international collaborations under the FUNGUO Innovation Programme, which is also supported by the European Union, the UK government, and other partners. It is expected to significantly boost Tanzania’s green economy by promoting inclusive innovation ecosystems.
In his keynote address, President Stubb emphasized the critical role of innovation in tackling the world’s most pressing challenges, particularly the climate crisis.
“You can’t regulate yourself out of the climate crisis. You can’t pay yourself out of it either. You have to innovate yourself out of the climate crisis,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to do here today.”
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The Green Catalyst Initiative aims to empower Tanzanian startups, entrepreneurs, and youth to bring fresh, sustainable solutions to the forestry sector. It will provide funding, mentorship, and platforms for collaboration across public and private sectors, focusing on forest conservation, value addition, and rural job creation.
Since yesterday, interested startups and entrepreneurs have been given the opportunity to submit applications to be part of the program, after which a selection process will be conducted to identify the eligible beneficiaries.
President Stubb drew from his experience to highlight the importance of governments creating enabling environments for innovation rather than attempting to dictate winners in the marketplace.
President Stubb, who returned to politics in 2024 after serving at the European Investment Bank (EIB), drew from his experience to highlight the importance of governments creating enabling environments for innovation rather than attempting to dictate winners in the marketplace.
“I think young entrepreneurs and start-ups are truly leading the way in shaping the future of, for instance, the forest industry, which we are talking about here today,” he said. “You bring the fresh ideas and agility and a completely new way of thinking that’s key to steering the sector towards a more sustainable future.”
With 75 percent of Finland’s landmass covered by forest, Stubb pointed to his country’s forest sector as a global example of how traditional industries can be revitalized through technology.
“The Finnish forest sector is a prime example of how innovation can revitalize traditional industries and address pressing global challenges such as climate change,” he noted. “Our forest industry has been innovative in many fields of business, and companies have created new products and innovations on their own and with partners, for example, in wooden construction.”
UNDP Tanzania Deputy Resident Representative, John Rutere, who also spoke at the event, lauded Finland’s support and expressed optimism about Tanzania’s growth potential.
“Tanzania is poised to become the largest economy in East Africa within the next decade,” Rutere said. “Unlocking the innovation in this sector will be a key to not only preserving biodiversity and boosting rural livelihoods, but will also play a very pivotal role in accelerating this development for Tanzania.”
He highlighted Tanzania’s youthful population as a vital asset: “Tanzanians and the youth in Tanzania are very vibrant and remain a key resource to unlocking this development potential.”
“Therefore, I urge all the key players, including our development partners, to foster more programs that are geared towards supporting young people. And I’m very grateful, Mr. President, for the support and for the encouragement you have shown to the young people.” Rutere concluded.
