 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
Economic growth is a precondition for fighting poverty in Tanzania. Economic growth will, however, not bring about social development if the growth is not people oriented with mechanisms in place to ensure high levels of equity in distribution of wealth.
What we are seeing is to a large extend the richer getting richer and the poor – if not getting poorer – not getting any substantial share of the growth. This observation has now been confirmed by a new report from the UN Economic Commission for Africa. Whereas Africa’s economy grew by 5.8 % last year and is predicted to grow by 6.2 % this year:
“Although 30 countries recorded higher economic growth rates in 2007 than 2006…economic growth recovery in Africa has not yet translated into meaningful social development and has not benefited vulnerable groups”.
The report further states that a slowing US economy, a fall in global commodity demands, high oil prices, political instability and poor infrastructures hit growth in Africa.
Take away the political instability – except for Zanzibar - this is very much also the picture for Tanzania, I believe. We are not seeing any major changes in rural areas and even most people in urban areas do not see the economic growth figures translate into better living standards. For civil society organisations the challenge is to identify the shortfalls in equitable growth and to identify the structural causes of inequality in access to and utilizations of the many resources Tanzania possesses.
The looting of forests and other natural resources by a few powerful individuals will bring no development to Tanzania, but will leave future generations with fewer resources to combat poverty. The prospect of finding oil will not translate into development unless the problems in utilizing the forest and other natural resources will be resolved.
CSOs have a very important role to play in achieving greater equity and transparency in resource utilizations - and CSOs have to share the responsibility for the conclusion of the UN Economic Commission for Africa report if they want to be taken serious as development partners.
Flemming Winther Olsen
Country Director
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CALENDAR
DW-Days and Topic Team Meetings in 2008
Week 23 - June 2-6, 2008
Week 39 - September 22-26, 2008
Week 49 - December 1-5, 2008
CONTACT
MS Tanzania
463 Charambe Street, Upanga
P.O.Box 2519, Dar es Salaam
Tanzania.
Tel: +255-22-2117945/8
Fax: +255-22-2115913
mstan@mstan.or.tz
www.ms.dk/tanzania
MS TANZANIA
MS Tanzania is part of the Danish Association for International Co-operation (MS).
Our vision is a world in peace where co-operation between people promotes global equity and ensures improved conditions for poor and marginalized people.
MS Tanzania 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.
MS Tanzania aims at defending and enhancing popular participation under the assumption that strengthening democracy at local level will help fight poverty.
CONTRIBUTIONS/
COMMENTS
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|  MS GLOBAL NEWS
MS Global Review of the Building Local Democracy (BLD) theme
A preparatory Workshop for the BLD Review involving MS Denmark Management and Programme Coordinators, Country Directors and External Consultants would be held at MS TCDC on 11-13 April, 2008. In the case of the MS Tanzania Country Programme, the BLD Review is scheduled for August.
MS Global Policy Advisory Council (GPAC) meeting in Denmark
The GPAC meeting is sceduled for April 28-29, 2008 in Denmark and involves mainly PAC chairpersons from the country programmes and the MS Board members. Key issues to be discussed include the proposed MS affiliation with Action Aid and follow up on the recommendations in the final report on the Review of Personnel Assistance in MS.
MS campaign for peace in Kenya
MS Denmark is preparing a national collection campaign to take place in Denmark on Sunday May 18th. The outcome of the nation wide door-to-door fund-raising will be channelled to peace- and reconciliation activities in Kenya. Read more about the fund-raising here (in Danish): http://www.ms.dk/sw86154.asp
New campaign focuses on Zimbabwean Women
Within the next few months, MS Denmark together with prominent Danish business women will launch an information and fundraising campaign focusing on Women in Zimbabwe. The initial introduction and presentation of strong Zimbabwean women to the Danish business community was done in March with a very positive result.
 THE MTV-PROGRAMME
On May 1, 2008 MS Tanzania will receive eight volunteers for the three months period May-August 2008. From September 2008, Global Contact in Denmark have decided that, the Global Platform in Zanzibar will be compulsory to all participants joining the MTV Programme.
The following are the volunteers and their respective placements:
Maria Moos and Sara Meljvang Moller: Edeyane School - DSM
Kristoffer Fredslund Pehrson and Anna Reumert: Kurasini School - DSM
Louise Thomsen Wulf and Birgitte Keseler: Blue Cross Society - DSM
Sophie Skytte: Trinity School - DSM
Pernille Korne Pedersen: Transcend School - DSM
 MS PARTNERS
Did you know that the MS partner TAYODEA in Tanga runs a tourist information in Tanga and in Lushoto?
The TAYODEA hiking guides are recommended in the travel guide ‘Lonely Planet’, but you can also get in contact via TAYODEA’s website: http://www.tayodea.org/contacts.php
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ACTION AID INTERNATIONAL AND MS TANZANIA
You are encouraged to follow the process and give your comments here on the blog: http://www.msblogs.dk/actionaid
PEOPLE
Account Section
At the end of March the auditors from Ernest & Young, Dar es Salaam, completed the audit of MS Tanzania accounts for 2007. MS Tanzania’s Programme Accountant Hagai Maleko and Cashier Immaculata Nkya have done a great job, working overtime to make sure that the auditors got all the necessary reports, and answered any additional questions!
New Programme Officer
From April 15, 2008 MS Tanzania has contracted Mr. Henry Weja on a six months contract to work specifically with project formulation and project funding. The post will be extended beyond the six months if found beneficial to partner organisations and MS Tanzania. The new programme officer will work with all three topic teams on project formulation and funding but will organisationally be attached to topic team I. The objective of this new posting is to increase our support to formulation of fundable projects and to identify funding sources within and outside of Tanzania.
New Development Worker in Njombe
Henrik Strøh and his spouse, Stine Ran Nielsen, will be joining MS Tanzania in the middle of May where Henrik will take up the position as development worker for NADO (previously UVIMTA) in Njombe. Henrik is 32 years old, and educated at the Royal Veterinary & Agricultural College in Copenhagen with a degree in Animal Science and Agricultural Development. Welcome to both of them!
 JOBS
MS Tanzania is in the process of recruiting five new development workers. Note that these are North development worker positions. Check out the job descriptions here: http://www.ms.dk/sw778.asp
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