Newsletter for MS-Tanzania

August 2004

Editor: Information worker Michael Bech 
Editor-in-chief: Programme officer Simon Lugandu

Operation Visibility
The work of MS in the country programmes is not at all clear to the main donor – the Danish public or the Danish tax-payer. For a long time MS has rested comfortably well-assured that MS was doing a good and solid job ‘out there’. 

The cut-backs and new demands from Danida for measurable development aid was a wake-up call for MS. Now MS is trying to focus on visibility in the Danish media, a sharper profile and more stories from the partners ‘on the ground’.

The coming two weeks the Northern part of the country will be the target of an information drill from the country office. The two information workers at MS-Tanzania, Tina Loevbom Petersen and Michael Bech, will be heading to the partners in the North about to phase out at the end of the year.

The idea is to gather information for articles about the partners and DW’s involved with the partnerships. The intro for the stories have to be about the DW as the media involved will be Danish, and the rest of the articles will hopefully enlighten the Danish tax-payer about the work of the partner. 

News from the director

Finn Petersen is on vacation and will be back 16th August.

Financial Management Training Workshop

From the 22nd to the 24th and again from the 26th to the 28th July MS country office held two identical workshops for the accountants or similar work-functions from all the MS-partners in Tanzania. In total 28 participants came to the workshop.

The workshop focused on the partner’s settlements, budget planning and how to apply for MS funds. The background for this is that MS is implementing a new financial system this year.

The workshop was a great success and there was a general understanding between participant and trainers that there is a need for more workshops in Financial Management as well as visit to the partners by both the Administrator and the Financial Advisor in second half of 2004.

The trainers would like to thank the participants for their great efforts in making the workshop a success and we look very much forward to come visit you all (if possible) later this year.

Expelled from Zimbabwe

The administrator and the coordinator of MS in Zimbabwe have effectively been expelled from Zimbabwe as their working-permits in the country were not extended. Coordinator Patrik Eklöf and administrator Karin Rasmussen were supposed to be replaced anyway, so the negative effect on the country programme is not severe. 
The government in Zimbabwe is not friendly towards opposition and it seems a lot of foreign NGO’s – amongst them MS – are considered a helping hand to the opposition as most NGO’s are working to improve democracy, human rights and good governance. MS is right now considering a change in the country programme.

Next issue of Habari

In the aftermaths of the European Championships in football and right before the start of the Olympics in Athens, it was obvious: The next issue of Habari za Tanzania will be about sport in Tanzania. 

We don’t intend to write about the daily sports events, but we will strive to get behind the results. Why is sport so important in poor Tanzania, why is the country not better in international competitions in spite of the potential and how can sport be a helping hand to development?

You are most welcome to contribute. Let me know about your ideas! Deadline for articles will be 23rd August at 12.00 noon. 

PAB-meeting

The second PAB-meeting of the year was held 1st and 2nd July. The new MShikamano meeting was discussed and the venue for the event will be Tanesco Training Centre in Morogoro. The theme for the meeting 7th to 9th September is good governance.

The half-year report for MS-Tanzania was presented for the PAB members. Comments and proposed changes will be implemented in the report.

Other issues on the agenda was a good introduction to fundraising strategies for the use of the partners, a follow-up on the Strategic Plan, news from partners and from other MS-countries.

Contact for the Newsletter: michael_bech@net.dialog.dk – mobile 0744 - 87 40 80