Five Non-Governmental Organizations selected from over 300 proposals submitted by civil society organizations (CSOs) in Tanzania were awarded grants for civic engagement by the World Bank. The five CSOs were invited to a Grant Signing Ceremony organized on April 25, 2005. The Grant amounting to US$ 34,000 (over Tshs. 34 million) is part of the Bank’s Financial Year 2005 Small Grants Program in its first year of implementation in Tanzania. The CSOs which were awarded the grants are: the Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Network (AFNET); Catalyst Organization for Women Progress in Zanzibar (COWPZ); Rulu Arts Promoters; Pangani Women Development Agency (PAWODEA); and The Presidential Trust Fund for Self Reliance (PTF).
Emmanuel Malangalila, Ag. Country Manager said in his opening remarks at the signing ceremony, “Civic Engagement gives voice to the concerns of primary and secondary stakeholders, particularly poor marginalized population and helps to ensure that their views are factored into policy and program decisions. To this effect five civil society organizations (CSOs) were awarded grants for civic engagement”.The projects to be supported are in line with the World Bank’s efforts in the areas of:
-- Governance;
-- Gender and
-- Microfinance.
1. Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Network (AFNET) signed a Grant Letter of Agreement in the amount of US$ 6,830.
The mission of AFNET is to contribute to the well being of the Tanzanian community through various interventions geared towards empowering community members to identify their own socio-economic problems and in finding solutions for identified problems in Dodoma.
The objective of the grant is to support AFNET build capacity of local reporters from 66 wards in the districts of Dodoma Urban; Dodoma Rural; Kongwa, Mpwapwa and Kondoa, Dodoma Region in good governance skills so they can monitor developmental and democratic issues in their areas and report them effectively in a biweekly community newspaper - Sauti ya Dodoma.
2. Catalyst Organization for Women Progress in Zanzibar (COWPZ) signed a Grant Letter of Agreement in the amount of US$ 3748.
The mission of the Catalyst Organization for Women Progress in Zanzibar (COWPZ) is to contribute towards improvement of the women cooperative society of Muyuni village to ensure their rights by providing equitable, accessible support to raise their income generating activities.
The objective of the grant is to support the Catalyst Organization for Women Progress in Zanzibar undertake project activities that will target an education and communication campaign towards male leaders in an attempt to improve community-level politics so that more women can be brought onto decision-making bodies in communities. This will ensure that women can present their views on village development priorities in a rural district of 2,500 people in Zanzibar. Women will also be mobilized to participate.
3. Rulu Arts Promoters signed a Grant Letter of Agreement in the amount of US$ 7020.
The objective of the grant is to support Rulu Arts Promoters undertake project activities that will train and mobilize leaders, councilors, elders and others at the village level in participatory problem-solving so that they can more actively participate in district-level planning processes.
The mission of Rulu Arts Promoters is to assume responsibility for the promotion of democracy in Tanzania, sustainable human rights culture, good governance, HIV/AIDS health care, culture/arts and poverty alleviation. Rulu Arts promoters strive to empower the local communities within Mkuranga ward, Tambani ward and Vikindu ward; “Mkuranga district” Coast region in Tanzania with up to date living skills for the betterment of their life and sustainable development.
4. Pangani Women Development Agency (PAWODEA) signed a Grant Letter of Agreement in the amount of US$6,882.
The mission of Pangani Women Development Agency (PAWODEA) has a role to play as an input into the PER process by implementing a pilot project with the main objective of tracking government pro-poor expenditure in some of the priority sectors such as education, water, health, rural roads and agriculture (animal husbandry).
The objective of the grant is to support Pangani Women Development Agency undertake project activities that will run a six-month program of Public Expenditure Tracking Pilot in Pangani District, Tanga Region. This activity will be in 10 wards covering 40 villages in an attempt to mobilize communities in tracking government expenditures in health and education sectors.
5. The Presidential Trust Fund for Self Reliance (PTF) signed a grant letterin the amount of US$6,950.
The mission of the Presidential Trust Fund for Self Reliance (PTF) is to create employment on a self-help basis and increase the incomes of disadvantaged and marginalized groups, particularly women and youth who constitute the largest proportion of active population in Tanzania. This is facilitated through the provision of credit, savings mobilization and business training to target groups.
The objective of the grant is to support the Presidential Trust Fund for Self Reliance undertake activities that will address issues of networking among Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) addressing issues of policy and the rather high concentration of these institutions in the urban areas. The project will bring together MFIs so that they can discuss ways of extending their services to the rural areas in order to reach the poor and disadvantaged (including urban dwellers) and formulate Guidelines and best practices for improved networking.
The five CSOs pledged their commitment to utilizing the funds for the purposes intended and they were also open to monitor the funds for accountability. Responding to a question raised by the press to the CSOs on whether the Bank thinks giving grants of this size will alleviate poverty, a CSO representative responded that the Bank provides loans and credits, however this is the first time to implement a Small Grants Program in Tanzania, the CSOs therefore look forward to more of this kind of initiative in the future for capacity building and strategy mix.
At the end of the signing ceremony, in his closing remarks, the Acting Country Manager said “encouraging results from the grantees will determine the amount of funds to be allocated by the World Bank Small Grants Program next time.
The World Bank Tanzania Country Office will be interacting with the Grant recipients during the implementation period to ensure that objectives and the goals of the agreed programs are met. Based on the success of the SmGP projects, the World Bank in Tanzania looks forward to strengthening its cooperation with CSOs in Tanzania and promoting partnerships in civic engagement.
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