The Tanzania Partnership Program (TPP) is a long-term partnership platform that advances evidence-based, partnership-driven approaches to sustainable community development. Through collaboration among local and international institutions and organizations, TPP connects community development, research, and education to improve livelihoods, strengthen local capacities, and advance knowledge and practice in sustainable development.
Established in 2008 as an initiative of Michigan State University (MSU) in partnership with the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), TPP brings together rural communities, universities, government institutions, development organizations, and donors to address locally identified development priorities. Beginning in the pilot villages of Naitolia and Milola, the program has expanded to serve seven rural communities across two regions of Tanzania - Arusha in the north and Lindi in the south.
Since its inception, TPP has integrated community development, collaborative research, and education across sectors including health, food security, education, livelihoods, water, and environmental resource management. Through sustained partnerships, these efforts address immediate development needs while generating knowledge, strengthening institutional collaboration, and building the local capacities and systems necessary to sustain improvements in community well-being and resilience. The program also seeks to develop and advance approaches to sustainable community development that can inform and inspire similar initiatives in other contexts.
Mission
To co-create sustainable solutions, strengthen capacities, and foster partnerships that build resilient communities, while advancing the role of universities in transforming lives and improving community wellbeing.
Strategy
TPP recognizes that sustainable development requires integrated approaches, long-term partnerships, and strengthened local capacities. We bring together communities, universities, governments, development organizations, private sector actors, and donors to address locally identified challenges and emerging opportunities.
Our strategy connects community development, collaborative research, and student learning to generate evidence, inform practical solutions, and strengthen individual and institutional capacities. Through these mutually reinforcing activities, TPP advances knowledge and practice while building the partnerships and local capacities needed to sustain development outcomes over time.