About VVOB in Tanzania

VVOB – education for development began working in Tanzania in 2025. Together with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Agency for the Development of Educational Management (ADEM), we focus on strengthening school leadership through a blended Continuous Professional Development approach to improve teaching and learning at secondary level. 

The Context in Tanzania 

Since 2005, Tanzania has implemented a Competence-Based Curriculum in secondary education. The curriculum requires teachers to promote practical skills and learner-centred approaches rather than rote memorisation. However, translating these reforms into classroom practice depends heavily on effective school leadership. Yet many school leaders are appointed without adequate preparation, and women remain underrepresented in leadership positions. These gaps make it harder to translate policy into classroom practice. Professionalising school leadership is therefore critical to support teachers and ensure reforms reach every learner. 

Our Solution 

VVOB partners with ADEM and the MoEST, Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) and PO-RALG to embed school leadership professional development into national structures. Working together with the African Centre for School Leadership in the Leaders in Teaching initiative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, our work focuses on: 

  • Developing and delivering continuous professional training for 12,000 head teachers and deputy school leaders using a blended continuous professional development approach. 
  • Strengthening leadership capacity to guide teachers in implementing the Competence-Based Curriculum. 
  • Promoting opportunities for women in education leadership. 
  • Building capacity for data-driven decision-making in schools.  

Evidence of Success 

Partnerships are the key to our success in advancing quality education. 

"This partnership (VVOB and ADEM) marks a milestone in our national efforts to professionalise school leadership. By providing secondary school leaders with structured, high-quality training aligned with national priorities, we are laying a foundation for sustainable improvement of teaching and learning. We are proud to work with VVOB and other partners in ensuring that every Tanzanian learner is guided by empowered, competent, and visionary school leaders."

Dr Maulid J. Maulid Chief Executive Officer ADEM

By 2031, the programme will reach school and education leaders across all secondary schools in Tanzania—around 6,000 institutions—through blended professional development. This will benefit an estimated 2.8 million students. To sustain this impact, Tanzania also collaborates with the African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL), linking national reforms to regional exchange and evidence-building. 

The Opportunity 

Tanzania is VVOB’s newest country of operation. By starting with school leadership, we can work with the government to put lasting support structures in place for Head teachers, their deputies and education officers. Through the African Centre for School Leadership, Tanzania can also exchange lessons with other countries, making sure progress at home contributes to, and benefits from, wider learning across the continent. 

Partners 

Guided by our values of quality, integrity, respect, commitment and innovation, we work with: 

  • Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) 
  • Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) 
  • Presidents Office Regional and Local Government (PO-RALG) 
  • Agency for the Development of Educational Management (ADEM) 
  • African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL) 
  • Mastercard Foundation (through the Leaders in Teaching initiative) 
  • Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) 
  • Education Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA) 

Join Us

Our work in Tanzania is only beginning. If you are a capacity building institution, policymaker, researcher, or organisation interested in strengthening school leadership and sharing evidence across borders, we invite you to connect with us. 

Contact us