Dar es Salaam, Tanzania –In the bustling landscape of Tanzania’s economic development, Tulalumba H. Mloge, with a strong track record in agricultural planning and stakeholder engagement, continues to shape key initiatives in the sector. This seasoned professional, born in 1975, has established an impressive career characterized by diverse experience and a steadfast commitment to ethical leadership..
Currently serving as the Principal Executive Assistant to the CEO at AGCOT Centre Limited, Mloge is at the forefront of shaping the nation’s agricultural corridors. Her responsibilities are vast, encompassing the oversight of all strategic issues for the CEO and their engagements, alongside leading the pivotal Partnership Department. Recently, she played a crucial role in coordinating the drafting of the ambitious SAGCOT 5-Year Strategy, a blueprint for Tanzania’s future agricultural growth. Furthermore, Mloge is the guiding hand behind the preparation and attendance of high-level governance meetings, including Board and Funder meetings, and critical engagements with Development Partners and the Tanzanian government. Her leadership extends to overseeing the recruitment and relationship management of partners within AGCOT Centre’s Partnership Department, and she frequently steps in to represent the CEO in high-level and strategic discussions.
Mloge’s journey to her current influential position is paved with significant achievements at SAGCOT Centre Limited, where she held several transformative roles. From April 2018 to August 2023, she served as the Mbarali Cluster and Partner Manager, a period defined by remarkable growth and innovation. During this time, she successfully onboarded over 150 partners to the SAGCOT initiative, significantly expanding its reach. One of her most impactful initiatives was the “farmer to farmer” program, which empowered approximately 600 avocado farmers in the Njombe and Ruvuma regions to produce high-quality seedlings and plant 600 acres in a single season. This monumental success was a direct outcome of the Nanenane 2019 side event she meticulously organized and coordinated in Mbeya.
Beyond individual farmer empowerment, Mloge was instrumental in establishing and managing six strategic value chain partnerships within the Mbarali Cluster. She oversaw the development and presentation of reports from these partnerships in crucial Cluster Review Meetings. A champion for Small and Medium Agricultural Enterprises (SMEs), she developed and implemented an engagement strategy that saw at least two SAGCOT partners secure substantial funding, including a USD 70,000 grant from USAID and a TZS 3 billion loan from TADB. Mloge’s exceptional ability to forge strong relationships extended to regional leadership across Mbeya, Songwe, Songea, Rukwa, and Katavi, where her efforts led to the signing and implementation of the Mbarali Cluster Compact Agreement.
Her strategic vision also played a major role in opening up new avocado markets for Tanzania in India, China, South Africa, and the USA, a feat achieved by coordinating the team responsible for Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). Mloge’s expertise was also recognized on a regional scale, as she was a key member of the EAC community team that developed the regional seed potato strategy. Always an innovator, she developed an investment tracker used to identify and escalate constraints and bottlenecks faced by partners and value chains to relevant institutions and policymakers, working hand-in-hand with the SCL Policy and Cluster team. Her networking prowess is evident in the strong relationships she cultivated with various government agencies, including TIC, TANTRADE, TBS, and TRA, among others. Mloge also meticulously prepared vital Monitoring and Evaluation reports, including quarterly technical progress reports and event summaries.
Prior to her role in Mbarali, Mloge was the Ihemi Cluster Manager from September 2017 to April 2018, supporting the implementation of the Ihemi Cluster Development Framework (Iringa and Njombe Regions). Here, she oversaw partner engagement to identify and prioritize key challenges and opportunities for SAGCOT intervention, bringing together crucial stakeholders to address these issues. She also managed and convened value chain strategic partnerships, overseeing report development and their presentation in Cluster Review Meetings. Mloge’s contributions extended to the development of an online platform for the SAGCOT initiative, aiding in data collection from value chain partnerships. Her ability to engage with high-level delegations, including USAID Directors, Permanent Secretaries, and Ministers, further highlights her influential standing. She also actively mobilized stakeholders and oversaw the implementation of their commitments during Cluster Review meeting preparations.
From March 2015 to August 2017, Mloge served as Partnership Coordinator at SAGCOT Centre Limited, where she was instrumental in developing the Partner Management and Administration Unit. She co-developed essential tools like investment trackers and investor decks used to monitor investments and progress. Mloge was responsible for overseeing and managing the comprehensive SAGCOT partners’ information and contact databases. Notably, she managed the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Tanzania and Unilever. She also oversaw and supported the team that produced a critical report on infrastructure and nutrition challenges in tea-growing areas, a report that directly led to the Tanzanian government forming the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA). Mloge provided crucial support to the CEO in drafting the Nutrition Road Map, a collaborative effort with the Prime Minister’s Office and GAIN. She worked closely with the Head of Cluster in developing the Ihemi Cluster, preparing key documentation and identifying contributing stakeholders. Her efforts also guided SAGCOT Centre to prioritize the Ihemi Cluster through a well-supported Cluster Selection Workshop. Mloge led the preparation and incubation of SAGCOT’s strategic SME engagement, successfully securing buy-in from board members, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments, and various SME development experts in Tanzania. She also diligently oversaw the Partnership Department’s activity trackers, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and annual work plans and budgets.
Mloge’s foundational contributions at SAGCOT Centre Limited began as an Executive Assistant from March 2013 to March 2015, where she managed senior management team engagements, particularly for the CEO and Deputy CEO. She oversaw all routine correspondence, including letters, emails, and documents, and was responsible for collecting and analyzing information. Mloge meticulously prepared high-level governance meetings such as Board Meetings and Funder Meetings, and contributed to events such as Green Growth meetings. She also organized high-level partner meetings on behalf of SCL, collaborating with international organizations like Grow Africa, WEF, and various ministries. Her support to the CEO extended to policy analysis and government engagements, preparing and following up on high-level committee meetings like the Partnership Accountability Committee (PAC) and Leadership Round Table meetings. Mloge played a pivotal role in initiating, structuring, and incubating the Policy Analysis Group (PAG), which has since become a prominent forum for agricultural policy discussions in Tanzania. She successfully supported the CEO in recruiting and handing over the SAGCOT Centre Secretariat role for PAC and PAG to the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), ensuring the sustainability of their policy work. Furthermore, she built strong relationships with senior officials from numerous ministries, including Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Foreign Affairs, Land, TAMISEMI, Industry and Trade, and the Ministry responsible for Investment. She also coordinated and mobilized smallholder farmers in the Southern Corridor, particularly in Njombe Region, who are now champions of improved agricultural technologies such as quality seed potatoes, fertilizers, and agrochemicals.
Before her impactful work in Tanzania’s agricultural sector, Mloge gained international experience at the Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in Berlin, Germany, where she served as a Coordinator for Tanzanians Living in Germany and Translator from November 2008 to March 2011. In this role, she successfully supported the Head of Mission (HoM) in forming the Tanzania Diaspora Organisation. She developed and managed a database of Tanzanian diasporas in Germany, handling their affairs related to policy and social issues concerning Tanzania’s economic development, which led to the formation of the Tanzanians’ Association in Germany (Umoja wa Watanzania Ujerumani, UTU). Mloge also provided crucial support to the HoM’s engagements and participation in high-level events like the World Economic Forum (WEF) as part of the Presidential delegation, and public-private events such as Green Week. She assisted the Consular Department with visa preparation and other immigration procedures. Mloge successfully developed and managed an asset coding system for the Tanzania Embassy in Berlin and, demonstrating unwavering trustworthiness, was responsible for handling translation and interpretation services for the Embassy in English, German, and Swahili.
Mloge’s early career also includes a significant stint at Klippstein GmbH in Stuttgart, Germany. From November 2007 to July 2008, she was a Project Coordinator tasked with developing a market strategy for introducing an organic products portfolio at Klippstein GmbH’s canteen chains. This groundbreaking strategy made Klippstein the first company to offer organic food in communal feeding in 2008. Her work involved assessing customer acceptability and pricing of organic products and analyzing the costs associated with their introduction, including human resources, storage, and sourcing. She also meticulously assessed the handling of organic products in compliance with German regulations and laws. During the same period, she also served in a supervisory capacity for the Management of Cold Meals and Catering Staff, overseeing the purchase of ingredients, meal preparation, and sales to 500–600 customers daily. She maintained meticulous records of suppliers and their performance, focusing on timely delivery, product quality, and price stability. Mloge also took on the crucial role of instructing catering trainees, maintaining updated records for strategic human resources decisions, and coordinating trainee performance management systems. She identified and assessed their training needs, providing valuable advice on Human Resources Development and Planning.
Tulalumba Mloge’s impressive career is underpinned by a robust educational background, holding a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Management (2012) and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Agricultural Economics (2008), both from the University of Applied Sciences Nuertingen-Geislingen, Germany. She is fluent in English, German, and Swahili and has professional experience in both Germany and Tanzania.
Beyond her professional roles, Mloge is an active member of several key organizations, demonstrating her commitment to national development and community engagement. She is a member of the Membership Committee of the Board of Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), a member of the Potato Council of Tanzania, and a representative of Tanzania on the Committee of the Regional Potato Platform (Jumuiya Potato Platform). Notably, she is also the founder and former leader of the Tanzanians’ Association in Germany – Umoja wa Watanzania Ujerumani (UTU).
Tulalumba H. Mloge’s extensive experience, strategic leadership, and unwavering dedication continue to make her an indispensable asset in driving Tanzania’s agricultural growth and fostering key partnerships on both national and international fronts.