On 21 January 2026, the Ifakara Health Institute convened an Ambition Workshop with global consulting firm ReD Associates at its Mikocheni Main Conference Hall in Dar es Salaam. The session marked the start of a broader Partner Organizational Effectiveness (POE) engagement aimed at strengthening institutional development and long-term strategic positioning.

The workshop brought together members of Ifakara’s Management Committee, Unit Heads, and Senior Scientists alongside ReD Associates consultants. Designed as a highly participatory, discussion-led session, the three-hour workshop provided space for reflection, dialogue, and shared learning.

At the core of the discussions were Ifakara’s history, ambitions, and existing capabilities, offering participants an opportunity to take stock of where the Institute has come from and where it seeks to go. Through a series of short exercises and small-group discussions, participants explored how Ifakara can better harness its strengths to meet current and future goals, while remaining responsive to a rapidly evolving global health and research landscape.

The session also set the foundation for a shared understanding of the goals and expectations of the POE engagement. In addition to examining internal capabilities, ReD Associates will, over the coming weeks, support Ifakara in assessing future funding opportunities that align with the Institute’s mission and strategic priorities.

By creating a structured pause for reflection and collective ambition-setting, the Ambition Workshop underscored IHI’s commitment to continuous institutional growth, strategic clarity, and organizational effectiveness—key elements in sustaining its impact in health research and innovation in Tanzania and beyond.