LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR:

Shaping our future with all that we can’t leave behind

During the MS Tanzania/Action Aid Denmark annual meeting at TCDC in Arusha in February, three major tasks for 2009 were discussed:
1) Active contribution of MS Tanzania/Action Aid Denmark (MSTZ/AA Denmark) to establishing the new Action Aid Tanzania;
2) Preparation and initiation of the merger between Action Aid and MSTZ/AA Denmark;
3) Top-tuning MSTZ/AA Denmark and our partner organizations to the future as an important and substantial part of the new Action Aid Tanzania.

Several new initiatives relating to the three tasks have been taken since January and I would like to highlight three.

Assessment of current partnerships
First of all, a taskforce composed of both programme and finance staff at the country office is currently assessing all existing partnerships. The purpose of this conduct is to review and update the content of the partnerships by developing new partnership agreements and project documents in a participatory manner. While for MS TZ/AA Denmark some of the results of this process will be alignment to the thematic approach of MS Action Aid Denmark, and an improved documentation of our partnerships and the development results these produce, the partner organizations should see the process as an opportunity to revitalize and refine their programmatic focus and organizational capabilities, and to prepare them for a possible future with the new Action Aid Tanzania. Organisations undergoing the assessment can rest assured that the intention behind the review is to improve the quality of MS TZ/AA Denmark partnerships for the benefit of the poor and marginalized people of Tanzania. Based on the first partner assessments, I would like to express the Country Office’s appreciation of the constructive approach partner organizations have shown to this process.

New Thematic Teams
Secondly, three new thematic teams have been established and all of them have held their first meetings. These teams will be an important tool in ensuring continuous program development at both partner and national level within all three themes (Building Local Democracy, Land Rights and Youth for Development). Partners, development workers, and staff members will meet to exchange experiences and good practices, and to deliver input to MS TZ/AA Denmark’s reporting to MS Action Aid Denmark on progress in reaching the thematic objectives contained in the Country Programme Strategy of MS TZ/AA Denmark. One of the interesting challenges of the teams this year is to develop ideas for activities which partner organisations can implement in relation to the upcoming local elections in October.

Merging with Action Aid Tanzania
Thirdly, the merger process with Action Aid Tanzania has already started in the sense that we are well into the assessments and preparations of initiatives to come. The merger process is being managed by a Change Management Committee (CMC) consisting of three members from each of the two organizations. The CMC has met twice and will continue to meet monthly. The first major task of the CMC is to map, assess and compare the two organisations in all their dimensions. A long list of sub-committees is currently being set-up for this purpose and with the purpose of developing recommendations for merger actions to the CMC. Everybody can, and is invited, to follow the process through a website dedicated specifically to this purpose: www.aamsmerger.org (Username: aams; Password: change).

The tasks and challenges in 2009 are big. Many new initiatives will be taken and it will be hard work for our partner organizations, development workers, and the country office. Hard work, yes, but it is also exciting. Change always comes with opportunities. Those who seize the moment and take advantage of them end up as winners. Therefore, for MS TZ/AA Denmark, 2009 is about all stakeholders coming together as one team to shape our common future with all that we can’t leave behind. Based on the first three months of 2009, this future looks bright!

Asanteni
Kristian S. Petersen
Country Director

MS Tanzania/Action Aid Denmark has been present in Tanzania since 1963, and since 1993 we have partnered with local civil society organisations (CSOs).The main theme of MS Tanzania’s programme strategy is Building Local Democracy with two sub-themes on Land Rights and Youth for Development. MS Tanzania aims at defending and enhancing popular participation under the assumption that strengthening democracy at local level will help fight poverty.

Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke MS) - (Danish Association for International Cooperation) is now associated with Action Aid International (AAI) - hence the new name 'Action Aid MS Denmark' - and in Tanzania - 'MS Tanzania/Action Aid Denmark', and will in due course, be fully affiliated.

MS' association with AAI entails the start of merging MS and Action Aid in the seven countries in Africa, Central America and Asia where they are both present and operate programmes.

In Tanzania, this means in practical terms, that MS Tanzania and Action Aid Tanzania will be moving to the same premises and aligning their areas of intervention and strategies.

The merger process can be followed through www.aamsmerger.org (username: aams, password: change).

See more photos here from MS Tanzania/Action Aid Denmark's national fundraising on women and landrights.

MS-TCDC
MS' Training Centre for Development Cooperation in Eastern and Southern Africa is situated close to Arusha in Northern Tanzania. Throughout the year different courses and workshops run concurrently in a lively international atmosphere promoting sharing of experience and cross cultural discussions.Excellent facilities together with a quiet and pleasant atmosphere make it an ideal place for reflection and learning.

Check MS TCDCs Course Calendar here

CONTRIBUTIONS:
For contributions or comments to the newsletter or further information, please contact Pernille Baerendtsen: info@mstan.or.tz.

You can subscribe to the newsletter here: www.ms.dk/tanzania. If you receive this newsletter by mistake or if you no longer want to receive it, you unsubscribe here, too.

NEWS FROM THE COUNTRY OFFICE:

News from the merger process between AA Tanzania and MS Tanzania /Action Aid Denmark
The Change Management Committee (CMC) (of which Country Diretor, Kristian S. Petersen, Programme Manager, Andrew Mhina and Administrator, Per Hjelmager are MS TZ/AA Denmark’s representatives) has now been established and held its first two meetings. The first phase of the work will to a large extent consist of sub-committees’ assessments and analysises of similarities and differences between the two organisations in order to come up with recommendations for merger actions to be decided by the CMC. One of the issues currently being analysed is options regarding joint accommodation for the two organisations. A joint sub-regional CMC meeting will be held in Nairobi on April 27 to 29 2009 for the Ugandan, Kenyan and Tanzanian CMCs to share experiences and learn from each other.

Update from the Taskforce
The taskforce has since its establishment in March 2009 developed a comprehensive framework for assessing partners’ capabilities and willingness to comply with Thematic Programming and Country Programme Strategy (CPS) requirements. The framework includes both financial and organisational parametres and it is applied in a manner allowing partners high level influence on both the process and its outcomes. In order to achieve the best possible result it is by the Taskforce seen as essential that the process is transparent and honest thus findings are discussed and agreed by both parties before a final recommendation is submitted to the MS management.

It has been important to the Taskforce that the approach provides adequate time to uncover and agree on the potential outcomes and mutual benefits in a future partnership. This has resulted in a design whereby the Taskforce, over a four day period, works closely with representatives from the partner organisation to analyse and explore opportunities and threats likely to influence either party until 2011. So far five partner organisations have been assessed and additionally two invited for week 17.

In line with the above, the Taskforce seeks to establish an open and innovative environment during the assessment - so we urge all partners to embrace the process as an opportunity to develop and align relations with MS TZ/AA Denmark in stronger and better partnerships.

Thematic Teams
The Thematic Teams have replaced the Topic Teams, and have already established themselves, having held their first meeting, where they developed inputs for MSTZ/AA Denmark’s thematic annual reporting to MS Action Aid Denmark for 2008. Next round of meetings will take place in June 2009.

Country Programme Strategy (CPS)
Since the Annual Meeting in mid February, MSTZ/AA Denmark has submitted its draft CPS to MS Action Aid Denmark, received comments and questions, and subsequently answered to these. MSTZ/AA Denmark now awaits the final approval from the management of MS Action Aid Denmark. All stakeholders of MSTZ/AA Denmark will receive the final version as soon as approval has been received.

New distribution of tasks
As of March 1 2009, the tasks have been re-distributed among members of the programme section in Country Office. These are the new portfolios of the staff members:

Florida Henjewele:
- Programme Manager for Youth for Development, including coordination of the respective Thematic Team
- MSTZ/AA Denmark’s Gender focal point
- Member of Taskforce on revision of MSTZ/AA Denmark’s partner portfolio
Andrew Mhina:
- Programme Manager for Building Local Democracy, including coordination of the Thematic Team
- Member of the merger Change Management Committee
- Member of taskforce on revision of MS Tanzania’s partner portfolio
Maselle Maziku:
- Programme Manager for Land Rights, including coordination of the Thematic Team
- MSTZ/AA Denmark’s Anti-Corruption Focal Point
- Member of Taskforce on revision of MSTZ/AA Denmark’s partner portfolio
Henry Wejja:
- Full-time member of Taskforce on revision of MSTZ/AA Denmark’s partner portfolio
Kristian F. Andersen:
- Coordinator of Taskforce on revision of MSTZ/AA Denmark’s partner portfolio
- Development Worker (DW)serving as Programme Management Adviser

Please note, that one staff member from the administration section is attached to each theme and Thematic Team:
Hagay Maleko: Youth for Development
Deodatus Ngasa: Building Local Democracy
Liisa Rihimaki: Land Rights

Country Office Retreat
The Country Office (CO) met for a planning retreat on March 31 and April 1 to develop an Annual Plan for 2009. Five main goals and a long list of sub-goals were agreed upon. The main goals for the CO for 2009 are:
1) Implementation of MSTZ/AA Denmark’s CPS is – and is known to be – successful
2) MSTZ/AA Denmark’s work has high quality
3) MSTZ/AA Denmark contributes strongly to partners’ influence on Tanzania’s civil society and development processes
4) MSTZ/AA Denmark’s organisational culture is characterized by candidness and authenticity
5) MSTZ/AA Denmark strongly influences nationalization of and merger with Action Aid Tanzania through constructive engagement.

The different sections ofthe CO will now develop more specific plans for their work to contribute to achievement of these goals.

New structure: MTVs now also hosted by MS partners
The MTVs (Mid Term Volunteers!) are young Danes who are working as volunteers for three months in Tanzania. A helping hand, intercultural exchange, knowledge and new ideas are among the things they bring with them. MTVs are here to experience the Tanzanian way of life; they live with a host family, eat ugali and work with a local organisation. Present MTV host organisations are NADO, Tayodea, MYODA and Kibaha Educational Centre. We would very much like to extend the MTV programme to other partner organisations and regions. If you feel you are ready for the MTVs or would like to get more information please send a mail to: mtv@mstan.or.tz or call Country Office for more information.

MS Tanzania/Action Aid Denmark's national fundraising for women’s access and rights to land
On Sunday, 3 May 2009, MS Denmark fundraises nationally in Denmark in favour of poor women's access and rights to land in Tanzania, Zambia and Nepal. Raised funds are going to support MS' work within the land rights theme in the three respective country programmes - a more specific division of funds are to be agreed upon after 3 May.

Read more here – and if you are in Denmark around that time, do join the campaign here. Do also take a look at the photos, the short videos or read the blog produced to promote MS TZ/Action Aid Denmark's work on landrights in cooperation with its partner organisations (Danish). Click here.

PEOPLE:
Tumaini Neema Mwaipopo joined MS TZ/AA Denmark on March 23 2009 as Programme Secretary. Tumaini graduated from Brigham Young University, and has previously worked as an Administrative Assistant, a Travel Consultant, and in Sales and Research - all positions in USA.

Deodatus Ngasa joined MS TZ/AA Denmark on March 12 2009 as an Accounts Assistant. He previously worked with Vision Control and Superintendence Ltd. as Collateral Management Officer and later as Assistant Accountant. He graduated in 2007 from the University of Dar es Salaam.

MS TZ/AA Denmark’s Administrator, Per Hjelmager (photo left), can now add the title “father” to his business card. His wife Evether gave birth to a healthy baby girl on April 5 2009. Congratulations to the family!

IN AND OUT OF OFFICE:
Programme Officer, Maselle Maziku is leaving for a 10 days visit to MS Nepal/Action Aid Denmark on April 14 to 25, where he will participate in the Landrights Thematic Review. MS Tanzania will host a similar review in September 2009.
Information Officer, Pernille Baerendtsen, is in Morogoro and Kiteto from April 14-18 2009, hosting a visit by ‘Normalerweise’ from Denmark, in relation to the national collection. Please, read more here (Danish)
Administrator Per Hjelmager will participate in a global MS administrators meeting in Denmark from April
Director, Kristian S. Petersen is on leave from April 14 to 18 2009. Programme Manager, Andrew Mhina is acting director in this period.