One of the most significant highlights of Innovation Week Tanzania 2025 was the official launch of the Green Catalyst Initiative, led by H.E. Alexander Stubb, President of Finland. The launch marked a milestone in Tanzania’s journey toward green, inclusive, and innovation-driven development, signalling the deepening partnership between Finland and Tanzania in driving climate-smart economic transformation.

In his keynote address, President Stubb drew parallels between Finland’s rise from an agrarian economy to a global innovation hub and Tanzania’s current position as an emerging leader in Africa’s innovation landscape. “What matters is not where you start, but the ecosystems you build,” he said. “Tanzania is at a turning point. With its young population, natural resources, and creative spirit, it has the potential to lead in sustainable innovation.”

With a symbolic gesture, President Stubb launched the Green Catalyst Initiative’s First Call for Funding Applications -an ambitious programme implemented by UNDP through the FUNGUO Innovation Programme and funded by the Government of Finland. The initiative offers catalytic funding and tailored support to MSMEs working in Tanzania’s forest-based value chains. Its goal: to drive green job creation, promote circular economies, and strengthen climate resilience through innovation.

“This is not just about forestry,” President Stubb noted. “It’s about ensuring that climate action and economic development go hand in hand and Tanzanian innovators are central to that mission.” The launch was met with widespread enthusiasm. Ambassador Christine Grau of the European Union highlighted the initiative as an example of how climate diplomacy and local innovation can work together. “Through the FUNGUO Programme, we’ve invested over TZS 15 billion to build a more inclusive and sustainable innovation ecosystem,” she said.

As UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative John Rutere concluded, “The Green Catalyst is more than a funding opportunity it’s a platform for transformation. It shows that with visionary leadership and the right support; Tanzania can build a greener and more prosperous future.”
The session was a strong testament to how global partnerships can seed local impact and why innovation, when rooted in inclusion and sustainability, holds the key to Tanzania’s next chapter.