DAR ES SALAAM: ORGANISATIONS across Africa have been urged to rethink how they attract and retain talent as workplace expectations continue to evolve.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam, Absa Bank Tanzania Director for People Function and Culture, Patrick Foya, said the traditional Employee Value Proposition (EVP) model must shift from promises on paper to lived employee experiences aligned with business strategy.
“For years, EVP focused on pay, benefits and training. Today, it is about lived experience — how careers grow, how leaders lead and how purpose shows up daily,” Mr Foya said.
He stressed that EVP should be treated as a strategic capability rather than a human resources slogan.
Mr Foya identified three forces reshaping workplaces globally — career growth, well-being and artificial intelligence (AI).
He said employees increasingly favour organisations offering clear progression pathways and internal mobility. At the same time, employers must embed sustainable performance models, strengthen managerial capability and prioritise mental health.
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On AI, he urged organisations to redesign work around skills to ensure technology enhances productivity rather than overwhelms staff.
In January 2026, parent company Absa Group was recognised as a Top Employer for the fifth consecutive year across six African markets.
Locally, Mr Foya said Tanzania’s labour market is shaped by three key trends — skills and employability, retention pressures and work–life balance.
“These realities make EVP practical, not theoretical,” he said, noting that competitive sectors such as banking are experiencing increased voluntary turnover.
He said Absa Bank Tanzania is implementing a phased approach to embed EVP into daily operations, beginning with an audit of employee experience and the rollout of a digital HR policy assistant.
The bank will also strengthen managerial capability, enhance internal mobility systems and refresh employer branding to reflect measurable outcomes.
Mr Foya said organisations that apply the same discipline to people strategy as they do to financial strategy will be best positioned for long-term growth.
“Tanzania’s most successful organisations will be those that intentionally build people, not just hire them,” he said.