Sustainable Development Goals is a set of international development goals from 2015 to 2030, which was adopted by the UN Sustainable Development Summit held in September 2015 building on the success of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They (SDGs) are universal goals applicable, not only to developing countries but also developed countries, and pledge to “Leave no one behind” through the implementation process.

They define global sustainable development priorities and aspirations for 2030 and seek to mobilize global efforts around a common set of goals and targets. The SDGs call for worldwide action among stakeholders such as the Governments, UN Agencies, Private sector, Business and Civil Society to end poverty and create a life of dignity and opportunity for all, within the boundaries of the planet.

The Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development’s fundamental principle of “leave no one behind” calls for inclusiveness in the implementation follow up and review of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Governments are obliged to respect this principle by ensuring that community members particularly the vulnerable and marginalized groups in the society including women, youth and people with disabilities are actively engaged into national development planning and implementation frameworks for the benefit of the country.

In an effort to make participatory planning a reality, the Tanzanian Government through the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) introduced the Improved Opportunities and Obstacles to development (O & OD) approach in October 2019. This was a result of gaps observed in the convectional (former) Opportunities and Obstacle to Development (O &OD) approach including  failure to materialize the government aspirations to realise bottom-up planning and budgeting with maximum community participation due to several shortfalls such as people’s participation fatigue, lack of people’s ownership and people’s dependency on Government support. The convectional approach was rolled out in 105 out of 132 LGAs by 2010.

The improved O and OD approach is a methodology that supports collaborative interactions between Local Government Authorities (LGAs) and the community for better service delivery and local development by empowering communities and promoting community initiatives.

The most important difference between Conventional and Improved O&OD approach is that the conventional focused on just participatory planning and budgeting methodology while the Improved O&OD is a more inclusive methodology with an objective of establishing a collaborative interactions between the Government and the communities. Further, the improved O and OD approach strengthens LGA’s capacity in identifying and encouraging community initiatives as well as empowering communities to implement and complete community initiatives.

In ensuring the knowledge of the improved O and OD approach reaching stakeholders involved in its implementation, the Local Government Training Institute (LGTI) is mandated to facilitate training on the improved O and OD approach.

However, with Covid19 effects, the LGTI has until March 2020; successfully trained the O and OD approach to ten (10) regions and one hundred and sixteen (116) Local Government Authorities across the country, remaining with 16 and 69 respectively. Given the nature and design of the O and OD approach, it is true that the approach is essential in enhancing community engagement in the implementation, monitoring and review of SDGs in Tanzania.

The improved O and OD approach promotes citizens engagement including the vulnerable and marginalized groups such as youth, elders, women and people with disabilities. This is very important to ensure that SDG implementation is inclusive and leaves no one behind. For example, through village assembly which is conducted at a village level, community members regardless their socio-economic status, have an opportunity to contribute their inputs in the planning processes in a collaborative manner with their local leaders. 

It also leverages citizens’ voices through reliable data to strengthen national, regional and global review processes of the SDGs and to facilitate policy change. Since the O and OD approach derives information directly from the community members themselves during village assembly where they discuss their key development agenda.

Most importantly, it contributes to evidence based policies. The improved O and OD approach provides an opportunity for community members to share their inputs during the village assembly before being taken to further stages. This process can later contribute to evidence based policies as it would reflect community’s concerns taken during the village assembly.

On the same spirit of ensuring citizens are at the forefront in contributing to their planning processes and sustainable development UNA Tanzania is working to influence policy change by emphasizing citizen generated data for ensuring effective and meaningful SDGs implementation, follow up and review particularly to the developing countries such as Tanzania where most provided data are aggregated at national and regional levels thus may not reflect the true picture at the local levels.

Through Citizen Report Programme (CRP) which is designed to monitor the implementation of the SDGs in Africa through citizen generated data, UNA Tanzania has directly reached a total number of 254 (128 females and 126 males) including women, youth and people with disabilities by involving them in data collection process and community hearing workshops, and then documented their opinions towards the progress of Sustainable Development Goals 1 (End Poverty), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality and Women Empowerment), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 10 (Reduce Inequalities) and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) for policy engagements.

During the implementation of CRP, one of the approaches used was the “Citizen Hearing Approach”, as an integrated approach that entails a citizen’s sharing their lived experiences in their own words, with the aim of ensuring that ordinary people’s voices, realities and experiences are expressed and documented.

The Citizen Hearing approach cements the improved O and OD approach which also uses local platforms such as village assembly as a tool to share citizens’ concerns with Local Government Authorities in a collaborative manner.

It is undisputed fact that many Governments are facing challenges in ensuring that majority of their citizens are adequately included in the national planning processes, yet the improved O and OD approach can be an essential tool for accelerating an inclusive and participatory planning processes in the society. However, it is a responsibility and an opportunity to all stakeholders particularly Civil Society Organizations to take initiatives to educate the society about this approach considering its huge importance for sustainable development which reflects society’s reality especially in developing countries such as Tanzania where most provided data are aggregated at national and regional levels thus may not reflect the true picture at the local levels.

Dr. Wilberforce E. Meena from HakiElimu presenting consultation inputs on the education sector.

The FYDP III is the coming National Plan which will be implemented from 2021/22 to 2025/26 and marks the end of the Long Term Perspective Plans (LTPPs) started in 2011/12. As its processes are underway, UNA Tanzania as Co-conveners of the Sustainable Development Platform facilitated and supported a 2 days, Civil Society Organizations consultation on the Five Year Development Plan (FYDP) III 2021/22-2024/25 which succeeds FYDP II (2016/17-2020/21). 

The Plan’s theme “Realizing Competitiveness-led Export Growth” contributes to the FYDP II theme on “Nurturing Industrialization for Economic Transformation and Human Development” and the Tanzania Development Vision 2025 which aspires to have Tanzania transformed into a middle income and semi industrialized nation by 2025.

The consultation brought together civil society organizations representatives from different parts of Tanzania and a diverse range of sectors including education, health, climate change, gender, governance and agriculture. It involved a total number of 25 participants (10 female and 15 male), from organizations such as FCS, TGNP, Policy Forum, Twaweza, Hakielimu, Hakiardhi, and Forum for Climate Change, ANSAF and Restless Development were among to be involved.

As youth voices are a niche to us and to development, on 21st October 2020, UNA Tanzania brought together youth led/serving organizations in a discussion essential to gather recommendations from FYDP II and inputs to enrich the coming FYDP III a sendoff plan for the Tanzania Development Vision 2025.

Tanzania Youth are acknowledged assets important into national development planning and implementation frameworks for the benefit of the country. Heading to the Five Year Development Plan III formulation, views and insights addressing youth issues and priorities are of importance considering their potential workforce.

The consultation was a blend of youth representatives from youth led and serving organizations from different sectors involving 30 participants (12 female and 18 male). This consultation focused on four main thematic areas namely;

• Education,
• Health,
• 21st century skills
• Youth Economic Rights.

The challenges, recommendation and inputs given were centered on Competitiveness, export growth and efficiency enhancement and innovation. Way forward, the consultations will be consolidated in the process of developing, strengthening or implementing frameworks for youth empowerment and mainstreamed participation.

In achieving collective development, especially in ensuring groups of women, youth and Persons with Disabilities benefit from 10% interest-free loans, UNA Tanzania is to lead the process of developing guidelines and management of 10% loans. This work is a continuation of UNA Tanzania’s work in ensuring that interest-free loan funds benefit women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities. In establishing income generating development activities such as trade, livestock keeping, and production of a wide range of products.

This step is a continuation of the successful implementation of the Local Government Finance Act amended in 2018 (Cap 290, Section 37A). This amendment requires all councils in the country to allocate funds from their local revenue for loans to groups of women, youth, and persons with disabilities. These legislative amendments were followed by the formulation of regulations specifying the conditions, criteria for the provision and management of loans provided by the council to such groups.

On 13/10/2020 UNA Tanzania and Policy Forum participated in a strategic session held by the Local Government Department Leadership (TAMISEMI). In this session, it was noted that despite there being laws and regulations governing the coordination of these loans at council levels, there are still many challenges facing the structure and procedures of the provision and management of loans to groups of youth, women, and persons with disabilities in the country. Describing the challenges, Assistant Director of the Local Government Department, Ms. Angelista Kihaga, explained that despite loans worth more than 91 Billion Shillings being offered to groups of youth, women and persons with disabilities, there is still a problem with management and presence of fake groups. He explained that most administrators do not have adequate skills to manage groups so that they can implement sustainable development activities and be able to generate funds that will be paid back to respective councils. He stressed that there is a need to build the capacity of these administrators to bring about the productivity of the loans given to group members.

Challenges like, lack of funding and skills to conduct monitoring for groups that received loans were described as one of the difficulties facing councils in the country. This challenge goes hand in hand with the lack of professional equipment especially computers for the maintenance of records of the issuance and repayment of loans issued. Ms. Kiaga pointed out that there is need to continue providing training to groups on how to do entrepreneurial activities so that these groups can be successful in their projects and be sustainable that will help increase the income of group members and facilitate timely and effective repayment of loans.

Talking about how to solve the challenges that exist in managing the operations and system of issuing and repaying loans, UNA Tanzania official who will lead the guidance preparation exercise, Mr. Lucas explained that the lack of appropriate guidance that will lead to the effective implementation of regulations and laws is part of the challenges of operating these loans. Emphasizing this, the Director of the Local Government Department, Dr. Charles Mhina said that the existence of rules and regulations governing these 10% loans is good, but there is need to have guidelines that will show the best way and help provide a deeper interpretation and give friendly instructions in the implementation of those rules. He gave an example about the structure of groups which also needs to be looked at to make sure that these groups function as outlined in the analysis of the business idea. He also emphasized the need to develop a sound guide that will enable the process of issuing and repaying loans to be easier and more productive for the beneficiary groups and cement the understanding of the importance of repaying back loans that has grown to be a major problem.

Speaking in response to one of the arguments raised by the UNA Tanzania coordinator, who touched on changes in regulations, Dr. Mhina made it clear that the Government has prepared a draft amendment to existing regulations governing the provision and management of loans to youth, women, and persons with disabilities. These code changes are part of the UNA Tanzania long-term vision that was presented by PO-RALG on several occasions. He noted that these changes are to ensure that the regulations grow friendly and productive in the issuance of these interest-free loans. However, he pointed out that it is important that “in order to have good guidance we must have strong principles”.

At the end of the session, resolutions were put in place, including the creation of a preparation task force to be led by UNA Tanzania, who will be tasked with overseeing and ensuring that the process is completed on time. The working group will include stakeholders from PO-RALG and Policy Forum as well as other stakeholders who will sit together for thirty (30) days and prepare a guide that will incorporate the ideas of other stakeholders. When completed the manual will be disseminated at the relevant levels to facilitate and maintain greater efficiency in the system of lending and management of loans to youth groups, women, and persons with disabilities in the country.

Katika kufikia maendeleo ya pamoja haswa katika kuhakikisha makundi ya wanawake vijana na watu wenye ulemavu yana nufaika na mikopo ya asilimia 10% isiyo na riba UNA Tanzania kuongoza zoezi la uandaaji wa Muongozo wa utoaji na usimamizi wa mikopo ya asilimia 10%. Kazi hii ni muendelezo wa kazi za UNA Tanzania katika kuhakikisha kua fedha za mikopo isiyo na riba zinanufaisha makundi ya Wanawake, Vijana na Walemavu. katika kuanzisha shughuli za kimaendeleo na kuiingizia kipato kama vile biashara,ufugaji na uzalishaji wa bidhaa mbalimbali.

Hatua hii ni muendelezo wa kufanikisha utekelezaji wa Sheria ya Fedha ya Serikali za Mitaa iliyo fanyiwa marekebisho katika ya mwaka 2018 (Cap 290, Section 37A). Marekebisho haya yanazitaka halmashauri zote nchini kutenga fedha kutoka kwenye mapato yao ya ndani kwa ajili ya mikopo ya vikundi vya wanawake, vijana na watu wenye ulemavu. Marekebisho hayo ya sheria yalifuatiwa na utungaji wa kanuni zinazoainisha masharti, vigezo vya utoaji na usimamizi wa mikopo inayotolewa na Halmashauri kwa vikundi hivyo.

Mnamo tarehe 13/10/2020 UNA Tanzania pamoja na Policy Forum walishiriki kikao cha kimkakati kilichofanyika na Uongozi wa Idara ya Serikali za Mitaa (Tamisemi). Katika kikao hiki ilibainishwa kwamba ijapokua kuna sheria na kanuni zinazo simamia uratibu wa mikopo hii katika ngazi za halmashauri, bado kuna changamoto nyingi zinazokabili mfumo na utaratibu wa utoaji na usimamiaji wa mikopo kwa vikundi vya vijana, wanawake na watu wenye ulemavu nchini. Akielezea kuhusu changamoto hizo, Mkurugenzi Msaidizi Idara ya Serikali za Mitaa, Bi Angelista Kihaga, alieleza kuwa licha ya mikopo yenye thamani ya zaidi ya Shilingi Bilioni 91 kutolewa kwa vikundi vya vijana, wanawake na watu wenye ulemavu, bado kuna  tatizo la usimamizi na uwepo wa vikundi hewa. Alieleza kuwa wasimamizi wengi hawana ujuzi wa kutosha wa kusimamia vikundi ili viweze kutekeleza shughuli zake za maendeleo ziwe endelevu na pia ziweze kuzalisha fedha ambazo zitarejeshwa katika Halmashauri husika. Alisisitiza kuwa kuna haja ya kuwajengea uwezo wasimamizi hao ili kuleta tija za mikopo wanayopatiwa wanavikundi.

Changamoto kama, ukosefu wa fedha na ujuzi wa kufanya ufuatiliaji kwa vikundi vilivyopata mikopo ilielezwa kama moja ya changamoto zinazokabili Halmashauri nchini. Changamoto hii inaenda sambamba na ukosefu wa vitendea kazi vya kitaalamu hasa ngamizi (computer) kwa ajili ya utunzaji wa kumbumbuku ya utoaji na urejeshwaji wa mikopo iliyotolewa. Bi Kiaga alitanabaisha kuwa pia, kunahitajika kuendelea kutolewa kwa mafunzo kwa vikundi jinsi ya kufanya shughuli za kijasiriamali ili vikundi hivyo viwe na mafanikio katika miradi yao na iwe endelevu ambayo itasaidia kukuza kipato cha wana kikundi na kuwezesha urejeshwaji mikopo hiyo kwa wakati na kwa ufanisi.

Akizungumzia kuhusu namna ya kutatua changamoto zilizopo katika kusimamia shughuli na mfumo wa utoaji na urejeshwaji wa mikopo, Afisa wa UNA Tanzania ambao wataongoza zoezi la uuandaaji wa muongozo, bwana Lucas alieleza kua kutokuwepo kwa muongozo ambao utaleta utekelezaji makini wa kanuni na sheria ni sehemu ya changamoto za uendeshaji wa Mikopo hii. Akisisitiza katika hilo, Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Serikali za Mitaa Dk. Charles Mhina alisema kuwa kuwepo kwa kanuni na sheria zinazosimamia mikopo hii ya 10% hata hivyo kuna uhitaji wa kua na muongozo ambao utaonyesha namna bora zaidi na kusaidia kutoa tafsiri ya ndani zaidi na kutoa maelekezo rafiki katika itekelezaji wa kanuni hizo. Alitolea mfano kuhusu muundo wa vikundi amabao nao unatakiwa kuangaliwa ili kuhakikisha vikundi hivi vinafanya kazi kama zilivyo ainishwa kwenye uchanganuzi wa wazo la biashara. Pia alisisitiza kuwa ni muhimu kundaa mwongozo bora ambao utawezesha  zoezi la utoaji na urudishaji wa mikopo kuwa rahisi na lenye tija kwa vikundi vinavyo nufaika  na kusaidia uelewa wa urejeshwaji wa fedha hizo ambo umekua ni changamoto kubwa.

Akizunguza katika kujibu hoja moja wapo iliyo tolewa na Mratibu kuhusu UNA Tanzania, ambae aligusia kuhusu mabadiliko katika kanuni, Dk Mhina alieleza kwa ufasaha kuwa Serikali imesha andaa rasimu ya kurekebisha kanuni zilizopo zinazoratibu utoaji na usimamizi wa mikopo kwa vikundi vya vijana, wanawake na watu wenye ulemavu. Mabadiliko haya ya kanuni ni sehemu yanabeba maono ya muda mrefu ya UNA Tanzania ambayo yaliwasilishwa TAMISEMI katika vipindi kadha wa kadha. Alibainisha kua mabadiliko haya ni katika kuhakikisha kanuni zinakua rafiki na zenye kuleta tija katika utoaji wa mikopo hii isiyo na Riba. Hata hivyo alidokeza kuwa ni muhimu kuwa “ili tuweze kuwa na mwongozo bora lazima tuwe na kanuni ambazo zipo imara”. 

Katika kufunga kikao hicho maazimio yaliwekwa ikiwemo kuundwa kwa kikosi kazi cha uandaaji wa muongozo ambacho kitaongozwa na UNA Tanzania alie kabidhiwa jukumu la kusimamia na kuhakikisha mchakato unakamilika kwa wakati. Kikundi kazi kitajumuisha wadau kutoka Tamisemi na Policy Forum pamoja na wadau wengine ambao watakaa pamoja ndani ya siku thelathini (30) na kuandaa mwongozo ambao utajumuisha mawazo ya wadau wengine. Mwongozo huo utakapokamilika, utasambazwa katika ngazi husika ili kurahisisha na kuweka ufanisi zaidi katika mfumo wa utoaji na usimamizi wa mikopo kwa vikundi vya vijana, wanawake na watu wenye ulemavu nchini.