A growing call to centre children’s voices in national development planning took shape during the breakfast debate convened by Policy Forum in partnership with Save the Children and the Tanzania Sustainable Development Platform (TSDP).

The discussion, framed around the theme “Leave No One Behind: Stakeholder Engagement in the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and Accountability for Child Rights within the SDGs,” brought together civil society actors, policy experts, and development partners to reflect on Tanzania’s progress and gaps in integrating child rights into its sustainable development agenda.

At the heart of the debate was a child-led perspective emerging from the 2023 VNR process, which underscored both progress and persistent inequalities affecting children across key sectors.

Barnabas Kaniki, Technical Specialist from Save the Children, highlighted that while Tanzania has made strides in aligning its national frameworks with the Sustainable Development Goals, children’s lived realities continue to expose gaps in implementation. Their perspectives pointed to systemic challenges across critical goals, particularly in health, education, gender equality, and economic opportunities.

In health, children raised concerns about access to quality services, especially in underserved communities. On education, the focus extended beyond enrolment to the quality of learning, with participants noting that many children still face barriers to completing primary and secondary education.

Gender equality emerged as a cross-cutting issue, with girls disproportionately affected by early pregnancies, limited access to education, and social norms that restrict their opportunities. Meanwhile, discussions on decent work revealed anxieties about the future, as young people face limited pathways into secure and dignified employment.

Children’s contributions also brought urgency to climate action, with young voices increasingly aware of environmental degradation and its direct impact on their futures. They called for stronger inclusion in climate decision-making spaces, emphasizing that policies often overlook those most affected.

Equally significant were concerns linked to peace, justice, and strong institutions. Participants noted shrinking civic space and the limited involvement of civil society and child-focused organizations in national accountability processes, including the VNRs themselves.

“The question is no longer whether children should be included, but how meaningfully their participation is structured,” one presenter noted, stressing that engagement must go beyond symbolic inclusion.

Judith Urio, Coordinator of TDSP, reflected on the 2023 VNR pointed to important lessons for Tanzania moving forward. Stakeholder engagement, while improving, remains inconsistent and often excludes grassroots actors. The presentations emphasized the need for more transparent, inclusive, and participatory processes that allow children and civil society to contribute throughout the policy cycle, not just during reporting phases.

Another key takeaway was the importance of tracking child rights within the SDG framework. Presenters argued that without deliberate indicators and monitoring systems focused on children, their needs risk being diluted within broader national statistics.

As Tanzania prepares for future reviews, the debate closed with a strong call for accountability mechanisms that are both inclusive and responsive. Civil society actors urged the government and partners to institutionalize child participation, strengthen data systems, and protect civic space to ensure that no child is left behind.