Participatory Budgeting in Tanzania

This article discusses the participatory budgeting initiative underway in Tanzania. Similar initiatives are under development in several western and southern African nations. -Editor


PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IN TANZANIA


This article was prepared by Mr. Celestine Kimaro, Research and Development Officer, Association of Local Authorities of Tanzania (ALAT)

Source: http://www.asaaf.org.zw/newsletter3/page18.htm


Introduction

The Participatory Budgeting process in Tanzania is a continuous engagement all the year round involving training and sensitization of the communities and local government staff and civic leaders on planning through a bottom – up approach and methodologies such as O & OD and Plan Rep which have been adopted by the Local Governments. Through the process, Plans are initiated and approved through meetings at the Lower Local Government levels, and consolidated into District, Regional and National Plans. Budgeting is also done at the Local Government levels whereby Indicative Planning Figures (IPFs) are provided by the Central Government and this enables the Local Governments to know how much they expect to get from the Central Government and determine what they will contribute from their own sources.

Tanzania has democratically elected leaders with democratic institutions like the Parliament, Local Government Authorities and has the Freedom of Association by NGOs, Faith Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, CBOs and the Press.

The driving force behind the Participatory Budgeting initiative: The Government of Tanzania committed itself to enhance community participation in development planning and budgeting. This commitment emanates from the Constitution which enshrines the establishment of Local Government system as a means to give power to the people, the Local Government Reform Policy which aims at decentralizing powers and resources to the Local Authorities and the amended Local Government Laws which provide the framework for Decentralization by Devolution.

Objectives:

• To be able to carter for the needs of the communities inclusively – that is considering the needs of all categories in the society such as the gender, youth, elderly, and other vulnerable groups.


• To address aspects of ownership to the proposed plans and accountability to the successes and failures of this plans by the communities/the people and their localities.

The planning and budgeting process involve and reflect all stakeholders’ interests and priorities and endeavours to develop socio-economically viable plans. Stakeholders are accountable to the public and to each other for their shared decisions and the tasks they have committed themselves to accomplish.

The Participatory Budgeting Process is targeted at the Policy Makers, the Executives, and all other stakeholders in development including development partners and the citizens who are the beneficiaries and the demographic focus being the disadvantaged such as the disabled, women and children.

Participatory Budgeting Tools and Methodologies:

• The Planning Guidelines for Village and Mtaa levels which are participatory ;


• The Medium Term Expenditure Review which involves Local Governments and Central Government levels;


• Opportunities and Obstacles to Development operation manuals in place.


• Public meetings addressed by politicians and staff on the importance of participatory planning and budgeting initiatives;


• NGOs and Civil Society Organizations educate the people on the concept and its importance for their development; The press also advocates for participatory planning and budgeting;


• The National Association of Local Authorities advocate for higher degree of participatory planning and budgeting by the citizens;

Plans are initiated and approved at the lower levels (Village/Mtaa) after which they are forwarded to the Ward level for coordination and then sent to the District/Town/Municipal/City level where they are consolidated and forwarded to the Regional and ultimately to the National level where they form the National Plans.

Inclusiveness:

Despite the various efforts by different actors to sensitize the people on the importance of participating in the planning and budgeting interventions, the degree of participation is still limited by some factors. Some other people still see it as work of the politicians and the executives and that they get paid for that. Sometimes, even the elite do not participate with an excuse of lack of time. It has been very difficult for the poor to participate. Those who attend have been empowered as they precisely know what their priorities are and what their strengths in implementing their plans are.