New cooperation programme with Tanzania
Towards more decentralisation and capacity development at local level
On 26 October 2009 a new cooperation programme was signed between Tanzania and Belgium in Dar Es Salaam. The two priority sectors are Local Government Reform (decentralisation) and Natural Resource Management. The budget amounts EUR 60 million for the period 2010-2013.
Lessons learned
During an assessment in April 2008, it was pointed out that the scope of the current cooperation programme was far too broad: Belgium has engaged in too many sectors with rather limited resources.
Also the geographical dispersal of the projects has made it difficult to have a coherent approach to bilateral cooperation.
Belgium offers financial and technical assistance to the Tanzanian Local Government Reform Programme. This programme was set up to strengthen local authorities and transform them into effective instruments of social and economic development at the local level. It entails the decentralization of government responsibilities and financial resources to the local government level. The local government administration will thus be answerable to local needs and will have to be accountable to the local councils. They become the drivers of development, answering to the needs of the grassroots.
In November, Belgium was elected co-chair of the Development Partners Group of the Local Government Reform, which offers an opportunity to play a leading role in this sector.
Natural resources are of major importance for long-term economic development and poverty reduction in general. Communities in Tanzania depend on the surrounding natural resources for their income - through fishing, farming, hunting, livestock keeping or forestry. Therefore BTC continues to support Tanzanian initiatives in which environmental conservation goes hand in hand with economic development.
Capacity development on a local level
BTC’s action focuses on capacity building of the local governments, especially in planning and management of the available natural resources. These local governments (at district, ward and village level) work directly for the grassroots and have a big responsibility in service delivery to the people.
