About Tanzania

At over ten times the size of Ireland, Tanzania is one of the largest countries in East Africa. It has been a country of peace and stability since it gained independence in 1961, and is an emerging multiparty democracy, holding three elections since 1995. Economic growth has been strong since 2000, with annual GDP increases of between 5% and 7% each year. The country has made some good progress towards achieving the MDG targets, particularly in education and environmental sustainability.

However, Tanzania is also one of the worlds poorest with income levels among the lowest in Africa. In the 2007/2008 UN Human Development Report, Tanzania was ranked 159th out of 177 countries. Life expectancy remains low, at just under 51 years with an estimated 58% of the population living below the international ‘dollar a day’ poverty line.  Poverty levels are greater in rural areas, where 80% of the population lives, and highest among households that depend on agriculture for their livelihood. By the end of 2005, over 1 million adults were infected with HIV. 

Irish Aid's Work in Tanzania

Bilateral Aid to Tanzania in 2008: €40 million
Population: 38.5 million
2007 HDI: 159 (out of 177)

Irish Aid has been active in Tanzania since 1975 and it became a Programme Country in 1979.  The Programme is administered by the Embassy of Ireland in Dar es Salaam, which is staffed by the Ambassador supported by the development management team, which includes the Head of Development, Development Specialists, Second Secretary, Advisors and support staff.
The central feature of the Irish Aid programme in Tanzania is support for country-led development. The programme is guided by the White Paper on Irish Aid and the MDGs, and is built upon experience and lessons learned in Tanzania over the last number of years. Irish Aid support to Tanzania is governed by a Country Strategy Paper (CSP), which sets out Irish Aid’s strategy for development cooperation. The current CSP covers the period 2007-2010 and is based around Tanzania’s national development plan, the Mkukuta.

Complementing the Mkukuta, the Government and donors in Tanzania have developed a Joint Assistance Strategy (JAST) – which is a government-led process that promotes donor harmonisation and division of labour based on agencies’ comparative advantage. Nineteen development partners, including Ireland, signed the JAST MoU with Government in December 2006. The CSP takes account of the principles of the JAST.

The Irish Aid programme aims to achieve the Mkukuta outcomes by concentrating its resources in the areas of governance, agriculture, health and general budget support. Since the last CSP, direct support to education has been phased out. By focusing its efforts in this way, Irish Aid will make a more effective and coherent contribution to the development of Tanzania.

Governance
One of the prerequisites for poverty reduction is a well-established and robust system of governance. With the support of donors like Irish Aid, some areas of governance have been strengthened. Various mechanisms such as a National Anti-Corruption Strategy and a Public Sector Reform Programme have been in place for some time. Irish Aid has focussed in particular on local government reform and on improving accounting standards at district level.
Irish Aid also supports various interventions that promote greater accountability between the citizen and the state. This includes funding to the Foundation for Civil Society and to the organisation HakiElimu.  Over the course of this CSP, Irish Aid will become involved in new areas: civic education (in association with UNDP) and support for the media.

Agriculture and rural livelihoods
Agriculture is the backbone of the Tanzanian economy, contributing more than 40% of GDP and employing up to 80% of the population. Yet, it is a significantly underdeveloped sector. Relatively few donors currently support agriculture, so Irish Aid funding for the sector is particularly important. Through broadening our focus to include rural livelihoods and growth, Irish Aid is also targeting smallholder farmers, the largest and poorest section of the Tanzanian population.

The largest proportion of funding in this sector over the four-year period of the CSP will be channelled to the Government’s Agriculture Sector Development Plan (ASDP). The ASDP aims to increase agricultural productivity, improve farm incomes and ensure household food security. Over 75% of the ASDP funds are allocated to local development plans at district level. Support to the ASDP is complemented by support to civil society organisations, in particular those organisations engaged in pastoralism, land rights and conflict resolution.

Health and HIV/AIDS
In Tanzania, investment in the health sector has brought about measurable gains in infant and child mortality, indicating that certain policies and practices are working. Nonetheless, several challenges remain, such as a chronic shortage of skilled health personnel, malnutrition, and an increasing feminisation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Irish Aid focuses its support on the provision of basic health services as these work better for the most vulnerable members of the population. This is realised by providing funding to the health basket fund, which supports the health system as a whole. Irish Aid has also scaled up its support to civil society in the area of health. In the area of HIV/AIDS, the programme remains focused on the prevention, particularly among women and young people. The promotion of gender equality is also a priority within the programme.

General Budget Support
Irish Aid, together with 13 other donors, provides general budget support to the Government of Tanzania. Budget support is the only modality which allows for the financing of the Mkukuta as a whole. It allows the Government to plan and allocate resources more effectively and improves the predictability of aid flows.  It also provides a unique opportunity for Irish Aid to integrate priority issues into the wider policy dialogue on development.
Comprehensive monitoring and review mechanisms are in place to ensure that monies are spent prudently. Irish Aid actively engages with these mechanisms and bases further support on effective performance by government in key areas.

Useful links:

CCBRT - www.ccbrt.or.tz

Ifakara - www.ihrdc.org

AMREF - http://tanzania.amref.org/index.asp?PageID=32&ProjectID=69&PiaID=5)

WILDAF - www.wildaf.org.zw

Foundation for civil society - www.thefoundation-tz.org/

UNDP deepening Democracy - http://www.tz.undp.org/dg_proj_dg_ddtp.html

Haki Elimu - http://www.hakielimu.org/first.asp
 
Ministry of Finance www.mof.go.tz

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare http://www.moh.go.tz/

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives www.agriculture.go.tz

Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children www.mcdgc.go.tz

Prime Ministers Office of Regional Administration and Local Government www.pmoralg.go.tz

Tanzania Commission for Aids www.tacaids.go.tz

Development Partner Group- www.tzdpg.or.tz