Press Releases
USG-Supported Parliamentary Strengthening Initiative Closes out with Stronger Parliament at the Helm
October 02, 2007
The Parliamentary Strengthening Program, supported by USAID and the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) and implemented by the State University of New York’s Center for International Development (SUNY) ended September 30th after four years in Tanzania. Support to Parliament will, however, continue through the Deepening Democracy in Tanzania Programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with support from USAID.
The Parliamentary Strengthening Program supported Tanzanian’s National Assembly (Bunge) to become a more accountable, inclusive political system, with active civic participation. Program activities included:
a) Creating a long-term parliament program with one coordinated action plan developed by the Parliament that defines a modernized Parliament’s needs and vision over the short, medium and long term.
b) Strengthening Parliamentary Committees’ oversight role by enhancing parliament’s research and office support services, connecting them with knowledgeable experts and facilitating trainings on important policy and budgetary issues.
c) Encouraging more effective participation of the Parliament in policy making & the budget cycle by increasing knowledge about Parliament practice, procedures and public hearings to expand Parliament’s engagement with Tanzanian citizens.
The Parliamentary Strengthening Program also received support from USAID’s Millennium Challenge Threshold Program to help curb corruption in public procurement. Parliament plays an important role in helping to scrutinize the procurement performance of the Government.
Some Noteworthy Project Achievements
Developed a pilot program of public hearing lead by Members of Parliament within their constituencies;
→ Two Civil Society Exhibitions held at Parliament in Dodoma;
→ Workshop for Committee Chairpersons on GOT’s poverty reduction strategy ;
→ Basic budgetary analysis skills workshop for MP’s and staff;
→ Fiscal/macro economic expert panel established to support parliament committee on finance and economic affairs;
→ Workshop on Performance Auditing to members of PAC & LAAC
→ Parliamentary committee briefings on varying topics to eight Committees: Finance and Economic Affairs, Public Accounts, Social Services, Natural Resource and Environment committees, Local Authority Accounts, Community Development, Economic Infrastructure, and Constitutional, Legal and Public Administration committees;
→ Tanzania Women Parliamentarians Group developed of a five year strategic plan for adoption;
→ a three day women’s empowerment workshop in Ruvuma with 150 women discussing HIV, economic growth and poverty reduction issues
→ a tailored skills development training program for Clerk to Parliament and delivered to a group of 6 senior Parliamentary secretarial staff;
→ a three day empowerment workshop with 120 women community leaders from Kagera region;
→ Curbing Corruption in Public Procurement training and case study to 30 Parliamentary committee chairs and chairpersons and 9 Parliamentary staff;
→ in collaboration with British Council, an InterAction leadership training program to 30 Tanzania Women Parliamentarians;
→ development of a General Best Practices Parliamentary Hand book for Tanzania;
→ a training for local councilors & tender board members on procurement & contract management in Mwanza;
→ Development of a Swahili handbook on Procurement Principles and Procedures useful for Parliamentarians and other stakeholders
The Parliament is to be commended for these achievements and this successful partnership. Thanks go to DFID; the leadership, members, and staff of the Parliament of Tanzania; and to all partners and stakeholders who played a role in the realization of the Parliament Strengthening program. All the materials developed under this program have been provided to the Parliament of Tanzania, USAID, DFID, UNDP/DDP, and to various government institutions, CSOs and other stakeholders.