THE Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) plans to initiate an inclusive consultations process on the future global development agenda.

"The consultation process needs to address the new and emerging issues and should be inclusive, balanced, bottom-up and broad based dialogue," remarked Dr Oswald Mashindano from ESRF at a press conference held yesterday in Dar es Salaam.

He said the ESRF was commissioned by the President Office, Planning Commission (POPC) to facilitate inclusive consultation process to be undertaken at sub-national or zonal level to stimulate debate on the desired development agenda.

Dr Mashindano said the idea is aimed at capturing the voice and ideas of the entire public, the youth, children and the under represented, the poor and vulnerable. The seven centres where the consultative workshops will be carried are in Mwanza in the Lake Zone, drawing participants from Kagera, Mara and Geita regions.

The Northern Zone centre will be in Arusha while in Central Zone, the centre is in Dodoma, while Mbeya serves for Southern Highland Zone. Other centres are Mtwara for the Southern Zone, Shinyanga for the Western Zone and Morogoro representing the Eastern Zone.

In view of the timeline and available resources, Dr Mashindano said a total of 30 participants will be deployed in each zone to represent Civil Society Organization (CSOs) and Local Government Authorities (LGAs).

Tanzania has made considerable progress in achieving the MDGs related to primary education (MDG2), gender equality (MDG3), some targets on combating the spread of HIV and AIDS (MDG6) and few indicators under environmental sustainability (MDG7).

However, the government was still struggling to achieve most targets of ending extreme poverty (MDG1) and maternal health (MDG5). The post 2015 development framework then should consolidate and build the achievements attained, reduce dependency on foreign aid by maximizing the mobilization and use of domestic resources, partnering with the private sector.

Speaking at the launch of the National Consultation Process on the Tanzania Post 2015 Development Agenda last month, Chief Secretary Ambassador Mr Ombeni Sefue said the process should enhance human resource capacities in areas critical to development, improve infrastructure and business environment.

He added that the new global development framework and agenda put in place risks, threats and challenges of an economic, environmental and social nature.