The fourth president of Tanzania, His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is a graduate of economics from the University of Dar es Salaam. He has served in many party, military, and government positions, including the Tanzanian ministerial portfolios of Finance, Water, Energy and Mineral Resources, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He has also served as the chairperson of the African Union in 2008–2009 and the chairman of the Southern African Development Community Troika on Peace, Defence, and Security in 2012–2013. HE Kikwete's extensive experience in international peacebuilding, and his commitments to the use of natural resources to improve human health and livelihoods, reflect the core of the Global Water Partnership's values and work.
During his tenure as president, His Excellency Kikwete launched Tanzania’s Water Sector Development Programme (WSDP) 2006 – 2025, which aims to develop a sound water resources management and development framework in all nine Tanzanian river basins, and to promote good governance of water resources in a sustainable manner for the various competing uses throughout Tanzania.