Forum on International Social Policy: Helsinki,17th March

2010

Social Policy in a Globalizing World: Voices From Tanzania

TANZANIA IN 2010 AND BEYOND: The Role , Work of and Challenges of NGOs in

the Country

A PAPER PRESENTED BY Ms THEOFRIDA A, KAPINGA EXECUTIVE SECTRETARY TANZANIA COUNCIL

FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT [TACOSODE]

Basic Facts About Tanzania

Location:

• In East Africa boarders with Kenya (NE) and Uganda (NW) Rwanda & DRC (W), Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique (S) and Indian Ocean on the Eastern part.

• Member of EAC as well as Southern African Development Community (SADC) etc.

Basic Facts cont…Population: 37,8 million

• Area: 945 203 km2– Human Development Index (HDI): 0,467 – Rank: 159th out of 177 countries – Life expectancy at birth: 51,0 years– Adult literacy rate (% age 15 and older): 69,4– GDP per Capita (PPP US$): 744– (Source: UNDP 2008)

Historical Development of NGOs

• The emergence of NGOs in Tanzania started way back before colonial era, where there were Voluntary Organizations/groups which were formed by the community along tribal basis to help them in time of need especially funeral arrangements and costs related thereto- {it is a common practice for Tanzanians to be buried at their place of birth} and other community needs.

• Other Associations were formed for sports and other recreational activities.

• Even at that time the contribution of NGOs in development of the country could be seen. A notable Association by the name Tanganyika African Association (TAA) which was later transformed into a political party -Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) which fought and won Tanganyika’s independence in 1961.

Low pace of NGOs Development • Colonial government came along with their

NGOs to help their government, local NGOs were suppressed

• Soon after Independence the local thrust for group organization slowed down possibly after realizing that the common enemy that brought them together has gone! Now celebration!

• The political environment not supportive for group organization- nationalism

The Period of Mushrooming of NGOs

• In 1974 on wards the economic crisis due to price increase in oil, drought, Uganda-Tanzania war, structural adjustments – retrenchment, Government stopping to be employer etc – made people organize into poverty alleviation groups/organizations. Thus by 1980’s the country had registered over 3,000 NGOs local, national, and international.

Registration

• Registration for such organizations could be done under three different legislations Society’s ordinance under the Ministry of Home Affairs; Trustee’s Ordinance under the Ministry of Justice and Companies’ Ordinance under the Ministry of Industry and Trade

The Contribution of NGOs

• NGOs have played significant roles in changing social, economic and cultural understanding in the country in recent times.

• One of the success stories is the TGNP role in influencing gender budget in the National Budget an example which many countries are trying to emulate.

• NGOs have played many roles, but let us look at the following areas where we think their existence has had a big influence:

• POLICY ISSUES Gender and Budget• e.g. TGNP’s role in influencing gender

budget in the National Budget Also almost in every major decision involving policy at least gender has been included

National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (MKUKUTA

• The first phase of this strategy has just ended and NGOs have reviewed the success and failure of the implementation during the first phase and has advised the government on what has to be done to improve implementation of the second phase in all clusters as follows:

-Cluster (i) review Mining Act with the intention of improving earnings to the government from this source. Currently its contribution to the national income is about 3. 7%

• Review labor laws especially in the area of expatriates and locals (which areas need expatriates?)

Cluster (ii) look in the health sector the issue of motivating employees and retention of services of those still needed in the sector, Free food for primary school children should be included in the phase ii so as to improve performance of these children, Provide for the people with disability all basic support needed including infrastructure

• Cluster (iii) Strengthen PETS to include all public assets. Capacitate citizens to know their basic rights down to the village level.

• Prevention and Combating corruption be strengthened (they had 6137 cases of corruption in 2008 but they managed to prosecute only 37 cases about 0.6%).

• More money should be allocated in the budget for these three clusters so as to have the desired results.

• Education and Girl Child

NGOs have spearheaded the campaign for the availability of quality education to all with special emphasis on girl child and children with disabilities.

• At least we now have higher rate of girl children being enrolled for higher education and as for those with disability, schools are being constructed to cater for special needs and their enrollment is also encouraging

• CIVIC EDUCATION

Educating people on their rights to vote

• Encouraging women to vie for positions in the forthcoming elections so as to make the 50% women and 50% men in parliament a reality and not just a political slogan

• General voter and civic education to the public voter and civic education to the public

• HealthNGOs are playing key role especially in Preventive Health- public education on HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Breast Cancer etc; Home based care for AIDS patients

• Land Policy

Led by Hakiardhi an NGO working on Land issues NGOs have been providing public education on Land Policy and Act with the aim of ensuring that community get their rights they so deserve in times when government takes people’s land for public use or investment

.

• Land formalization Program popularly known as MKURABITA that strives to ensuring that customary ownership of Land as well as informal business of the poor should be formalized

• Good Governance NGOs have been Conducting Public

Expenditure Tracking and inform decision makers on the findings but also advocate for actions to correct the situation

Public education to fight corruption Watchdog to Government, the Parliament,

the Judiciary Advocating for space for free media

• COOPERATION WITH DONORS

Donors have opened their doors to invite NGOs on almost all issues concerning aid either in the form of Government Budget Support or debt relief. Always NGOs have had their contribution valued by these donors.

• COPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT

Generally there has been a good atmosphere for NGOs collaboration with the government

• In MKUKUTA for example, NGOs are represented in all the three sectors and even in the current review stage the government has seen it fit to involve NGOs for their contribution. During mid term review of the budget and General Budget Support Annual Review NGOs are also invited and their contribution taken into account

• At local government level local NGOs are invited at the full council meetings, and at the Council Management Team two representatives of PLHIV are appointed as members of the Council Multi Sector Aids Committee (CMAC).

• At a higher level in the Tanzania Country Coordinating Mechanism (TNCM ) for Global Fund for Aids, TB and Malaria NGOs are represented.

Challenges

• Over-reliance on Donor funding hence making NGOs work not sustainable, NGOs becoming reactive to funding opportunities

• areas in which CSOs have done valuable work in

• Tanzania – in health, micro-finance and human rights

• the recently enacted Non-

• Governmental Organizations Act; Societies Act; The Trustees’ Incorporation Act; the

• Companies Act (Act No.12 of 2002) which governs companies limited by guarantee