President’s
Office of Planning and Privatization Opens Regional Workshop
on Youth Reproductive Health Supported by United States Agency for
International
Development New! YouthNet is a five-year global program that aims to promote reproductive
health and HIV prevention among young people (10-24 years). POLICY
is also a global project which encourages the development of policies
to address urgent reproductive health and HIV/AIDS issues. Both projects
are supported by the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) and work actively in Tanzania through POPP and TACAIDS. The workshop, From Policy to Action, will task country teams from Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia to work together to identify a priority policy and/or program issue for their country, to develop a draft plan of action to address the issue, and to identify resources and expertise to support implementation of the plan of action. Teams include policymakers, health professionals, advocates, and youth leaders representing government agencies, NGOs, youth organizations, faith-based organizations, and advocacy groups. This workshop provides a forum to acknowledge the numerous problems facing youth that need to be addressed, while focusing on what can be realistically achieved in a specific time frame, and with limited resources. After returning home, country teams will receive ongoing technical assistance from the YouthNet and POLICY Projects and other partners supporting the successful implementation of country action plans. Association
of Journalists against AIDS in Tanzania Launch ONGEA E-Mail Discussion
Forum New! The purpose of ONGEA is to provide an e-mail discussion forum where
issues related to the AIDS pandemic in Tanzania can be debated and
shared among both journalists and non-journalist subscribers worldwide. AJAAT is initiating the ONGEA List-Serve to enable its members to enhance their awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS and the national response. The discussion is bilingual, both English and Kiswahili are used in the email discussion forum. Subjects to be included in the discussion forum will with their Kiswahili translation include: VCT (Voluntary Testing and Counseling)---Upimaji hiari wa virusi na
ushauri nasaha Being an association committed to providing HIV/AIDS awareness/education through mass media, AJAAT hopes that through the contribution of ONGEA there will be increasing improvement and coverage of the pandemic in Tanzania. Since the first case of HIV/AIDS was found in Tanzania in 1983, the infection rate has been increasing at an alarming rate. ONGEA is the first effort of its kind for journalist associations in Tanzania and it is anticipated that ONGEA will be used as a reference site for HIV/AIDS related issues. You can subscribe to the ONGEA List-Serv by sending an e-mail with
the subject line blank to: subscribe-ongea@tanzania-aids.org Eighty-five
Percent of Tanzanians Depend on Natural Resources for Their Livelihood
- U.S. Envoy New! So argued the U.S. Embassy's Acting Ambassador Michael S. Owen at the inauguration Tuesday of the new Lake Manyara National Park Visitor Center. The U.S. Agency for International Development funded the Center. The vast majority of the Tanzanian population depends on such natural resource-based activities such as agriculture, livestock-raising, forestry, fisheries, mining, and nature-based tourism -- areas that have "promising futures as engines for Tanzania's long-term economic growth," according to the diplomat. But Tanzania's "biological wealth" must be "appropriately managed" if it is to offer a multitude of opportunities for long-term economic development and poverty alleviation. Owen added that the new Lake Manyara center is "part of a much larger program aimed at supporting Tanzanian efforts to conserve the ecosystem through a landscape-based, livelihood-driven approach." Since USAID assistance to the Lake Manyara National Park began in 1998, park visitation has increased by 24%, and revenues have grown by 25%, the envoy said. "This is particularly impressive given the recent general downturn in tourism worldwide, due to concerns about terrorism and disease. This new Visitor Center provides a powerful new marketing tool that can help bring even more visitors and dollars to Lake Manyara National Park, as well as to its surrounding communities," he added. The Manyara Visitor Center joins a similar center inaugurated in November by former Ambassador Robert V. Royall. It too was funded by USAID. Zanzibar
Integrated Support and Partnership Program -Phase II- Launched New! With financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Africare is implementing a community based HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project in Zanzibar in partnership with the Zanzibar NGO Cluster for HIV/AIDS Prevention (ZANGOC). Phase I of the project, initiated in July 2001, aimed to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Zanzibar by helping local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) build their capacities to deliver appropriate interventions. Currently ZANGOC has grown to a membership of 28 organizations, (from an initial membership of 6), providing HIV/AIDS prevention, and care and support activities for youth, people living with AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children and the community at large. With Africare’s support, ZANGOC has made important gains in building capacity and training member NGOs, documenting and sharing lessons learned, while forming partnerships and leveraging funds. Phase II of the program, now called the Zanzibar Integrated Support & Partnership Program (ZISPP), places emphasis on building the capacity of ZANGOC through organizational development and technical assistance to improve delivery of services and messages. Additionally, the program will focus on specific target groups, namely people living with AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children, and women of reproductive age. Prevention messages to the wider community will stress abstinence, being faithful and where appropriate effective condom use. It is anticipated that in a period of two years ZANGOC and selected member NGOs will have increased their service capacity, and will have gained the skills and know how to plan, fundraise for and implement quality HIV/AIDS prevention programs. USAID Launches Unique Community Telecenter in Iringa New! The telecenter is a collaborative effort between PHCI, USAID, and a US-based company, Computer Frontiers, which is serving as the project's implementing partner. The center will provide access to the Internet to over 400 users including students, staff, and partners. According to a statement from the American Embassy, the benefits of the telecenter reach beyond PHCI. "Through the wireless network, the PHCI telecenter serves as a non-profit Internet Service Provider (ISP), providing Internet access to five additional cooperating partners located in and around Iringa." The statement noted that making use of wireless network, PHCI's Internet link is accessed also by St. Augustine University's Iringa campus, the Iringa Regional Referral Hospital, the waterworks for Iringa town, the Regional Medical Office/District Medical Office, and the Ruaha River Basin Authority. Through a Memorandum of Understanding, the participating partners have committed and pooled resources to pay for expensive satellite Internet bandwidth which would have been otherwise unaffordable individually. Built with sustainability in mind, the telecenter at PHCI has great potential for success, according to its sponsors. "For example, the choice of a wireless network is inexpensive, easy to deploy, requires minimal maintenance and is built to scale with growth," a spokesperson said. She noted that Internet access at the PHCI site is provided over its own Very Small Aperture Satellite (VSAT) Technology that minimizes failures that often affect terrestrial links such as microwave leased lines. In addition, the hardware and software solution is under warranty and was selected for user friendliness and ease of restoration in the event of system failures. According to the American Embassy statement the benefits to the PHCI
community and its partners include: Accessing internet resources for
learning and teaching; Exposing students to information communication
technology (ICT); Faster, cheaper and more reliable communications;
Increased effectiveness of delivery of the primary The Primary Healthcare Community Telecenter in Iringa was made possible through a grant from USAID's Regional Support office in Nairobi, with collaboration from the USAID Leland Initiative, and the USAID office located in Dar es Salaam. Computer Frontiers, Inc. of Maryland USA, through its affiliate company Computer Frontiers International based in Uganda, is the implementing sub-contractor for the project. About the Primary Healthcare Institute Iringa: The Primary Healthcare Institute Iringa (PHCI) is a semi-independent training institute, which was inaugurated in 1992. PHCI offers training in health education and health promotion and a number of short courses related to health services. PHCI is also a zonal center for continued education for the southern highlands regions namely Mbeya, Rukwa, Ruvuma, and Iringa. For more information, please contact: USAID's
YouthNet Programme Distributes Grants to Prevent HIV Infection
Among Youth in Tanzania New! According to a statement from the American Embassy, initial grants will go to three Iringa-based non-governmental organizations. Under YouthNet's "Scale-up" grants programme, Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW) will be awarded 36,152,600 Tanzanian shillings to expand and support community-based activities coordinated by 40 SPW volunteers in 13 communities of Iringa Rural, Kilolo, and Mufindi districts of Iringa Region. Alpha Dancing Group (ADG) and Iringa Development of Youth, Disabled, and Children Care (IDYDC) will each receive "Rapid Response" grants of approximately 5,000,000 shillings. ADG will use the funds to carry out an intensive two-month programme to reach over 24,000 youth in 15 villages of Kilolo District with HIV prevention messages through dance, music, drama, and peer education. IDYDC will use its grant to adapt and update an existing HIV/AIDS training curriculum in line with TACAIDS guidelines to meet age-specific needs of young boys and girls aged 6-13 and 14-18. A major scale-up grant of approximately 100,000,000 shillings is being developed to support IDYDC's utilization of the new curriculum in its youth sports programme for 2004-2005. Currently, IDYDC is working with 406 football teams in five districts. Once the curriculum is updated, YouthNet will support an expanded community sensitization and peer education programme to reach 21,000 boys and girls through its participation in 700 football teams in all seven districts of Iringa. The March 22 ceremony coincides with the initiation of a baseline household survey in Iringa by YouthNet in partnership with SPW to obtain data on youth knowledge, attitudes, behaviour, and use of services. The youth survey will be conducted by youth themselves, recruited and supported by SPW, and will be repeated in 2006 to measure change. Training of the youth interviewers begins on March 22, 2004. The Embassy statement said that consistent with Tanzanian Government priorities for adolescents, YouthNet/Tanzania will focus on the reproductive health needs of 10 to 24 year olds to prevent HIV infection and decrease unintended pregnancy among young Tanzanians. The statement added that during 2004, the project will focus on two regions, Dar es Salaam and Iringa. Messages focusing on abstinence, faithfulness, and partner reduction will be emphasized for both in- and out-of-school youth, through family life education and life skills programs, health services, and community outreach. In addition to grants to organizations reaching young people and community members, YouthNet will also provide technical expertise and guidance to youth-serving faith-based, community-based, and other non-governmental organizations, according to the Embassy. YouthNet is expected to award no less than 20 one-time Rapid Response grants of five million shillings or less, and three Scale-up grants of five to 100 million shillings to improve and expand existing successful youth programs. The organization also expects to develop a Competitive Grants programme for implementation in 2005 that will elicit innovative responses to various aspects of youth reproductive health and HIV prevention. Details on the proposal process will be released in the near future, according to the Embassy statement. All grantees will receive assistance to build institutional capacity to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate their activities. Priority will be given to organizations delivering abstinence and faithfulness messages in schools and throughout the faith community. YouthNet/Tanzania has begun collecting applications for one-time Rapid Response grants. "The programme is designed to be truly rapid and responsive to the needs of small groups that can demonstrate commitment, dedication, capacity, and potential innovation and effectiveness in reaching youth to prevent HIV," according to a USAID spokesperson. She added that application forms for the grants can be obtained from YouthNet's office in Dar es Salaam (behind Hotel Karibu in Oysterbay) and, in Iringa from the Iringa Civil Society Organization Umbrella Secretariat (ICISO), located in the former THB Building near Oryx Filling Station.
United States Agency for International Development Launches
Project Promoting Youth Reproductive Health in Tanzania Under a Grant Agreement with USAID, FHI is implementing YouthNet, a worldwide program, in partnership with CARE, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Emerging Markets, Margaret Sanger Center International and Research Triangle Institute. The global goals of YouthNet are to increase community and political support for youth reproductive health; to improve knowledge, attitudes and skills related to healthy reproductive practices, and to expand access to quality reproductive health products and services for youth. USAID/ Tanzania has awarded Family Health International $1.5 million for start-up of the three-year YouthNet/Tanzania Project. The estimated funding level for the three-year period is anticipated to be $7-9 million, depending on the availability of funds. Consistent with Tanzanian Government priorities for adolescents, YouthNet/Tanzania will focus on Tanzanian youth between the ages of 10 and 19 to improve their sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, as well as positive gender perspectives, in order to achieve decreased unintended pregnancy and HIV infection among young Tanzanians. The MOU authorizes FHI to provide technical assistance and resources for scaling up and mainstreaming of multi-sector adolescent sexual and reproductive health initiatives in selected geographical areas of the country. Strategies to achieve the project's goals include: There are four crosscutting themes that will guide planning and implementation: In the coming weeks, YouthNet/Tanzania will establish a country office in Dar es Salaam and recruit national staff in both technical leadership and administrative/support capacities. During the project's first year, the geographic focus will be on establishing a strong leadership presence in Dar es Salaam and on initiating technical collaboration, assistance, and support activities in Iringa Region. In cooperation with regional and district authorities, a baseline household survey of youth knowledge, attitudes, and practices will be conducted in Iringa. For more information, please contact: Award Ceremony of the Rapid Funding Envelope for HIV/AIDS
(RFE) The Rapid Funding Envelope was created by TACAIDS (Tanzania Commission for HIV/AIDS) and the following eight bilateral donor agencies: Canadian International Development Agency The RFE is governed by a Steering Committee of representatives from these institutions and is administered by Deloitte & Touche and Management Sciences for Health. The RFE supports interventions in all strategic priority areas defined by the National Policy on HIV/AIDS and elaborated in TACAIDS’ national and multisectoral framework for HIV/AIDS. It funds rapid and essential activities and inputs that contribute to longer-term efforts by civil society to combat and mitigate the AIDS epidemic. The RFE allows Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to implement projects sooner rather than later, build capacity for implementing longer-term interventions, improve project co-ordination and management skills, and test and gain experience and lessons learned on innovative HIV-AIDS interventions. Since the first call for concept letters in January 2003 the RFE has funded eleven projects totalling TZS 1,780,854,824. The Grant Manager will announce information on new funding possibilities in 2004. AMREF Unveils More ANGAZA VCT Sites in Singida and Bukoba In partnership with the Singida Town Council, a new ANGAZA site, located at Sokoine Health Centre, will be opened on November 18, 2003 at 11:00am. The guest of honour at the opening ceremony will be the Singida Regional Commissioner, Hon. Halima Kasungu. In Bukoba, and in partnership with ELCT Diocese of Bukoba, the Kagera Regional Commissioner, Hon. Lt. Gen. (rtd.) Tumainieli Kiwelu, will grace the opening of a new ANGAZA site at Ndolage Hospital on November 28, 2003 in a ceremony scheduled to start at 10:30am. Unveiling of the two sites brings to a total of 20 ANGAZA VCT centres to be opened in the past two years in several regions of Mainland Tanzania including Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Iringa, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Lindi , Tabora, Shinyanga, Musoma, Morogoro and Ruvuma. VCT is a key strategy in the prevention and control of HIV transmission. Through VCT, an individual is able to know his or her HIV status before he or she takes proper action to prevent infection. For those already infected, establishing their HIV status is extremely important because it will help them seek proper information and services early. In assessments carried out before the launch of the ANGAZA VCT programme, AMREF discovered that VCT, as important as it is in the prevention and control of HIV transmission, was inadequate in Tanzania. Only 10% of the population had tested for HIV. Poor utilization of VCT services was attributed to the population’s fear of knowing their HIV status, and the unavailability of quality VCT services. Ever since the ANGAZA VCT was launched about two years ago, 84,673
clients have visited the centres as first time clients, received counseling
services, tested and received results. A majority of the clients are
youth aged between 16 and 24. ANGAZA attributes the success to the
good quality services provided and a successful communication campaign.
Through this synchronized communication campaign, involving mass media
and local community mobilization, awareness of VCT services and its
benefits has increased. Furthermore, many people admit that as a result
of the ANGAZA campaign, they are more inclined to discuss with their
partners issues about safe or protective sex. For more information contact: VCT Programme Manager U.S.
donates 5 vehicles valued at $131,000 to TANAPA and Tanzania’s Wildlife
Division The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced
its budget for 2003 as $32 million, a 30% increase over the 2002 budget.
"We are very pleased about being able to increase our support to Tanzania," stated Dr. Ray Kirkland, Director of USAID/Tanzania, following a meeting with the Tanzania Ministry of Finance's Permanent Secretary Gray Mgonja. Dr. Kirkland pointed out that recent rumours of a decrease in funding were untrue, and that the budget increase will allow for significant continued support of Tanzania's development efforts. "The funds will allow us to continue building on the many successes we have already seen during our long partnership with the Tanzanian Government," he said. USAID has been active in Tanzania since 1961. The funds will support programs dedicated to improving Tanzanians' health, including fighting HIV/AIDS and improving maternal and child health services; conserving the country's environmental resources so that Tanzanians can take advantage of the economic opportunities they hold; building a stronger Parliament and government/non-governmental organization partnership; and helping Tanzania's micro-and small-businesses contribute to the growth of Tanzania's economy. The overall goal of the USAID Mission in Tanzania is to help improve the health of Tanzanians and build a stronger economy. Among recent successes, Dr. Kirkland cited the launch of the $6 million Private Enterprise Support Activities (PESA) program, which works with small- and medium-size businesses to help them become stronger; and the first-ever publication of the reader-friendly Legislative Roadmap, which explains how Tanzanians can participate in their own governance. He also pointed out that USAID-assisted game parks brought in $2.6 million during 2001/2002, while their surrounding ecosystems became healthier and wildlife populations grew. "Each of these successes has created more opportunity for Tanzanians to succeed. Through our combined efforts with partners and the Tanzanian Government, our programs have already helped to build a stronger foundation upon which Tanzanians can build a better life." "We are also very excited about our increased budget because it will
allow us to support some education projects over the next two years. We will
be developing these projects in the upcoming months. We are also planning
on augmenting our HIV/AIDS program to include projects that will focus on
care and support of those infected with the disease and the communities in
which they live," Dr. Kirkland added. "This budget increase reflects
the U.S. commitment to Tanzania, as well as a recognition of the successes
we have achieved together."
American
technical team to lead USAID-sponsored law enforcement training
June 5, 2003 Two teams of experts from the United States Department of the Interior arrived in Dar this week to conduct protected area management training. The first team is leading a two-week law-enforcement training program for Tanzania's marine protected area staff. The team will also give an advanced course to the Tanzanian Fisheries Department School staff so they can provide ongoing law enforcement instruction. The course will focus on basic law enforcement techniques and strategies for marine protected areas, including patrolling strategies and best use of boating equipment. "USAID and the U.S. Department of the Interior have teamed up to provide this first-ever training to marine protected area staff," stated a USAID spokesperson. "The Department of the Interior brings a lot of technical expertise to this program," he continued. "As the United States' principal conservation agency, it fosters sound use of land and water resources, and conserves and protects our fish and wildlife, among other efforts. This expertise makes our partnership quite appropriate in supporting USAID's natural resource management assistance in Tanzania." The natural resources management program encourages conservation and sustainable use of Tanzania's coastal wildlife resources. This training follows closely on the heels of the April 17 launching of the National Integrated Coastal Strategy, which is also strongly supported by USAID. The Strategy provides a framework within which resource users develop linkages and partnerships as they seek to sustainably utilize and benefit from Tanzania's coastal resources. The training programme supports the Strategy by helping to build capacity to carry out Strategy mandates. The marine protected area law enforcement training is a follow up on the successful series of USAID-sponsored law enforcement training provided to several other protected areas, including Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks and the Ugalla Game Reserve. Concurrent with the marine protected area training, another team will be at Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks to train park staff on roads siting, design, construction and maintenance, in addition to roads equipment operation, safety and maintenance. "This is the first time American staff are working directly on the construction of a new road in protected areas. We will be jointly planning and constructing a short section of road that will connect the new USAID-funded visitor centre to the existing main road and observing 'leave no trace' work ethics," stated a U.S. official. The roads training events will provide training to approximately 20 TANAPA roads staff members from each of the two parks. No other roads construction training has been provided to these parks, and it is expected that this programme will not only provide vast improvements in both the roads conditions and level of understanding of the park staff, but also enhance sustainability of the USAID-funded roads improvement project in Tarangire and Lake Manyara Parks, according to the USAID spokesperson. Funding for both training programmes is provided by USAID, which has invested $13.4 million since 2000 in natural resources projects in Tanzania. During 2001/2002 USAID-assisted parks attained record-high tourist numbers, bringing in over $2.6 million in revenues, while their surrounding ecosystems became healthier and wildlife populations grew.
USAID-funded "FEMINA-HIP" TV Talk Show Hits Airwaves in Fight Against HIV April 10, 2003 There is a new resource available in Tanzania's fight against HIV/AIDS, and accessing it is as easy as turning on the television. Beginning tonight (Thursday, April 10) at 8:30 pm on Channel 10, the new FEMINA-HIP TV talk show, hosted by Lydia Igarabuza, a young, assertive woman, is sharing the life-saving message of ABC: (Abstain; Be faithful; use Condoms every time). Engaging her guests in lively discussions about intimacy, youth lifestyles and HIV/AIDS, Lydia interviews a range of people, from local celebrities to health experts to ordinary young people. Taking to the streets, video clips from outside the studio give viewers an opportunity to hear what people around the country have to say on HIV-related issues. Lydia's cohost, stand-up comedian Bwana Ishi, helps support the show's HIV/AIDS focus through humour and a different perspective. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding the programme through ISHI, a multi-media communications campaign designed for and by Tanzanian youth to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. "While the show focuses on ABC, it also reaches beyond that message to help youth gain real-world skills for negotiating relationships, communicating feelings, and adopting positive and healthful practices in relationships with peers and parents," stated a USAID spokesperson. "FEMINA-HIP is one of the few talk shows in Tanzania made for and by young people. Young people are the most at-risk group for contracting HIV/AIDS in Tanzania," she continued, "and the show is designed to empower them to accurately assess their HIV risk, make plans to reduce it, and adopt risk-reduction practices as a way of life." The episodes will feature interviews, broadcasts of ISHI community events, and interactive audience games. In addition, shows will be taped and shown during ISHI events in Dar es Salaam and across Tanzania. USAID is providing funding under its $22.5 million health programme, which is supporting partnerships between the government and private organisations to improve health service quality and availability, and leading a national response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. USAID has dedicated nearly $58 million to fighting HIV/AIDS and other health threats over the past four years. Twelve Tanzanian students win Epuka Maafa competition March 12, 2003 Twelve students from Primary and Secondary Schools as well as colleges in Tanzania have won the Epuka Maafa Competition that was part of a Disaster Preparedness programme strengthening Tanzania's capacity to respond effectively to disasters and emergencies. The competition, broken down into categories including drawing, cartoons, poetry, and essay was launched on October 16, 2002, and contenders were students from both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Winners divided a total of Tshs.5 million. A spokesperson from the American Embassy in Dar es Salaam named the Primary School pupil winners as Silas Masiga (drawing - Mara), Maulid Hassan Pandu (cartoon - Zanzibar), Daniel Abdallah (poem - Shinyanga) and Pilly Salehe (essay - Dar es Salaam). Secondary School students who won the competition are Ismail Yusuph (drawing - Dar es Salaam), Said Omar (cartoon - Dar es Salaam), Adenis Sanga (poem - Mbeya) and Abdalla Mtinika (essay - Mbeya). Those who won from colleges are Rebecca Odemba (cartoon & drawing - Dar es Salaam), Stephenson Stephen (poem - Bukoba) and Petro Magwile - (essay - Mara). The spokesperson said that the winners received their awards recently at the conclusion of a week-long Disaster Preparedness training programme at Mbagala Spiritual Centre in Dar-es-Salaam for Red Cross Field Officers on planning, managing and evaluating public awareness campaigns on disaster management. The Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for Policy, William Lukuvi, was the guest of honour at the ceremony, which was also attended by Tanzania Red Cross Society members, representatives of the Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister's Office, USAID and Johns Hopkins University, among others. "The competition was a part of the Disaster Preparedness programme, funded by USAID under its US dollars 9 million programme for strengthening Tanzania's capacity to respond effectively to disasters," he said, adding that the programme also provided relief to victims of the 1998 US Embassy bombing and their families by funding lump sum payments to next of kin, providing medical treatment for victims and reimbursing persons with damaged and lost property. Epuka Maafa was designed to raise public awareness of how to manage disasters and emergencies. It also focused on educating people on how to protect themselves in a disaster. "In many communities, people do not know how to respond to a disaster. In some places, even when people do respond, the response is disorganized, which increases the disaster's impact," observed a USAID representative. The campaign is a step in the process of educating people to respond effectively to disasters. Health Workers Participate in U.S.-Sponsored Seminar for Disaster Response March 3, 2003 Representatives of the Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences (MUCHS), Dar es Salaam are gathering this week in Morogoro for the third session in a series of weeklong curriculum development seminars on disaster response. The seminar, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), brings together experts from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and Johns Hopkins University, with teachers from the University of Dar es Salaam, to develop the curriculum for teaching medical and nursing students proper emergency response techniques. This week, the teams are finalizing the curriculum and training University teachers on incorporating the new information into their current programs. "This program is designed to help reinforce Tanzania's disaster response capabilities by ensuring that new nurses and doctors entering the field are properly prepared to respond to large-scale disasters," a USAID spokesperson stated. The first two seminars in the series focused on identifying the elements to be included in the curriculum. A second event is taking place in tandem with the curriculum seminar, to address those medical responders already in the field. "We will be training in-service health workers on mass casualty management as well," continued the spokesperson, "so that there are no holes in the knowledge base. Our aim is to reach everyone who needs to have disaster-response skills with the proper training." Representatives from the zonal hospitals of each region, including Muhimbili National Hospital, KCMC Moshi, Mwanza, and Mbeya, are attending the training, plus representatives from those hospitals located on highways where road accidents frequently occur, in Kibaha, Morogoro and Dodoma. "We are targeting key locations where medical personnel regularly have to manage disasters," stated a USAID spokesperson, "and then we will be able to reach additional hospital workers up-country." Representatives from the Ministry of Health will also attend the in-service training. Both seminars are part of USAID's $ 9 million program to strengthen Tanzania's capacity to respond effectively to disasters. That program also provided relief to victims of the 1998 US Embassy bombing and their families by funding lump sum payments to next of kin, providing medical treatment for victims and reimbursing persons with damaged and lost property. The program will continue to provide training via the Disaster Management Training Centre, launched last May, and through MUCHS. U.S. Launches $6 million Private Enterprise Support Activities Programme February 27, 2003 On Thursday, the United States Ambassador, Robert V. Royall, launched the USAID-sponsored Private Enterprise Support Activities Programme (PESA), valued at $5 - 6 million per annum, during a meeting at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Prof. Pius Mbawala, was the event's guest of honour. According to statistics, only about 5% of the people who enter the labour force each year find employment in the public sector. Micro and small enterprises offer enormous potential for creating employment opportunities, expanding domestic production, increasing incomes and involving more people in the economy. It is with this in mind that USAID developed PESA. "One of the core goals of the United States Mission in Tanzania is to foster private-sector led economic growth," Ambassador Royall stated. "USAID's PESA Programme represents a major U.S. Government investment in support of this goal." PESA will work with small- and medium-sized enterprises, including farms, by providing training and technical assistance to enable them to become more active players in the Tanzanian economy and contribute to its economic growth. It will help broaden access to markets and strengthen business capacity by encouraging market links, supplying business information, and strengthening associations. The programme will also work to improve the policy and regulatory environments for these enterprises. By increasing opportunities for micro and small enterprises, the programme will not only help contribute to Tanzania's economic growth, but also boost employment opportunities. Activities will focus on the regions of Tanga, Morogoro, Iringa, Mbeya, Rukwa and Ruvuma. The new programme is part of a larger effort by the U.S. to ensure that Tanzania is successful in realizing its full economic potential. Ambassador Royall added that in addition to the PESA programme, the U.S. Mission is also working to increase Tanzania's participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), helping to develop tax investigation capacity and working to educate people on market opportunities in the U.S. "The ultimate goal of the PESA programme is to help improve Tanzania's economy," commented a USAID spokesperson. "It is a strong element in the overall U.S. effort to assist Tanzania." In his address, Minister Mbawala stated that the PESA launch is "opportune in that it is taking place at a time when the Tanzanian Government is committed to addressing issues of micro, small, and medium enterprise development, poverty reduction, and unemployment and has already spelled out the role of the private sector in the national economy." He added that, "Most importantly, we policy makers recognize the importance of creating a business environment conducive to the private sector in their noble cause to generate income, create employment and ultimately contribute towards poverty reduction." U.S. Sponsors Environment and Natural Resources Management Conference in Arusha February 11, 2003 Officials representing the Tanzanian and United States governments and non-governmental organizations from across the country met last week in Arusha for a five-day conference to survey the current status of the United State's bilateral environment programme in Tanzania, and to begin strategizing for its future. The conference was organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has dedicated over $20 million to conservation efforts in Tanzania over the past 4 years. An annual event, this year's conference emphasized the linkages between natural resource management and poverty alleviation. Some of the most biologically diverse habitats in the world exist within Tanzania's borders, and the country's growing economy relies heavily on its natural resources. These resources offer opportunities for long-term economic development and poverty alleviation, if they are used in a manner that protects the health of the natural systems that support them. Natural resource-based activities such as agriculture, livestock-raising, forestry, fisheries, mining, and nature-based tourism are recognized as promising engines for Tanzania's long-term economic growth. USAID has been working with Tanzania to promote sustainable management of natural resources through community-based conservation, improved national park and wildlife area management, capacity strengthening, and progressive natural resource policies. These efforts have already resulted in significant improvements to both Tanzania's conservation efforts and its revenues. In 2001/2002, USAID-assisted parks continued upward trends in visitor numbers and revenues, while the health of the surrounding ecosystems was maintained. A spokesperson for USAID remarked that such strong support for environmental efforts reflects the recognition that improving environmental conservation will lead to greater economic productivity and social gains for Tanzania. "The environment is inextricably linked with poverty alleviation and economic growth in Tanzania. Sound resource management is key to increasing productivity and reducing environmental degradation. Our objective is to protect the environment while promoting sustained economic growth, both locally and nationally." Those attending this year's conference included representatives of the Tanzanian Ministries of Natural Resources and Tourism, Lands, Finance, and the Vice President's Office, USAID representatives from Washington, D.C., Nairobi, and Dar es Salaam, and leaders of both international and Tanzanian private organizations. The spokesperson added, "There was a lot of excitement surrounding this conference. It provided a wide range of stakeholders with an opportunity to review what we have achieved to date, and begin the process of planning for future investment in the sector, so that we can build on those achievements." USAID Bolsters Tanzania's Participation in AGOA as Firms Travel to Mauritius January 14, 2003 As representatives of ten Tanzanian companies and associations participate in the AGOA Forum in Mauritius this week, the United States Agency for International Development is working to bolster Tanzania's participation in the opportunities the Act offers. The Forum is an annual event, designed to promote the expansion of trade and investment ties between the U.S. and Africa. The Tanzanian companies represented at the Forum include those from textile, cashew, handicraft and leather industries. Since 1998, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been working with businesses in these and other industries to help them find partners and investors regionally and in the U.S. Now, two new programs, the Trade for African Development and Enterprise Development (TRADE) program, and the Private Enterprise Support Activities (PESA) program, target increasing Tanzania's participation in AGOA as well as strengthening its internal economy. "TRADE encourages regional integration so that countries can pull together to build off one-another's potential, allowing each country to benefit individually," a USAID spokesperson said. The program focuses on building business linkages, identifying local financing resources, providing information on the U.S. market, and supplying technical assistance from appropriate industry experts. The PESA program works with small and medium enterprises, providing training and technical assistance to enable them to become more active players in the Tanzanian economy. The spokesperson continued that the ultimate goal of the programs is to improve Tanzania's economy, so that it can take full advantage of the opportunities offered by acts and agreements such as AGOA. Representatives of the USAID programs are attending the Forum in order to provide participants there with information and support. "The Forum is a great opportunity for furthering business linkages between the U.S. and Tanzania, and participants will be able to network and think strategically about how to promote trade," the spokesperson continued, "and USAID will be there to assist in those efforts." The Forum includes not only a trade exhibition open to companies from the U.S. and AGOA-eligible countries, but also workshops on topics ranging from finance, doing business with the US, agriculture, trade barriers, and bio-technology, as well as a forum specifically for government ministers. Tanzania's Minister of Industry and Trade and other officials are attending the government sessions. A National AGOA Strategy Workshop, coordinated by USAID, is currently slated for March in Dar es Salaam. It will continue to work on increasing Tanzania's participation by providing those who cannot attend the Forum in Mauritius another opportunity to network. USAID gives Tanzania $ 300,000 to strengthen Disaster Center May 23, 2002 The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has given Tanzania $300,000 to support the establishment of the Disaster Management Training Center at the University College of Lands and Architectural Studies (UCLAS) in Dar es Salaam. A spokesperson of the United States Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Michael Korff, said, "it was the aftermath of the 1998 Embassy bombing that brought the issue to the forefront. But the Disaster Management Training Centre is a response to more than that. The natural disasters Tanzania has suffered over the years -- floods, drought and fires -- were a call to action taken up by USAID." Opening the Disaster Management Training Centre, Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye emphasized the need for a strong institutional base for building disaster management capacity, citing calamities ranging from those caused by nature, to road accidents and acts of terrorism. "To achieve these goals more effectively, there is a strong need for institutional development through training of different cadres," the Prime Minister said. "The center will fill that need. A comprehensive disaster management program is one way of ensuring sustainable public safety. We should have skills on how to manage disasters and make the skills part and parcel of the daily life of our people," he said. Starting with programs to train a nucleus of trainers, the Center will then be able to provide disaster management training around the country. It is expected to integrate disaster management training into various subject areas offered by UCLAS and conduct disaster simulations and field exercises to provide thorough preparations for participants. Working with its partners, USAID supplied the Center with furnishings and equipment including computers for its newly renovated classroom block. The project is part of USAID's $ 9 million program to strengthen the government's capacity to respond effectively to disasters and provide relief to victims of the 1998 US Embassy bombing and their families. USAID Administrator Natsios visits Tanzania May 24, 2002 Andrew S. Natsios, Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will arrive in Tanzania May 25, for a two-day visit He will be accompanied by the USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa, Ms. Connie Newman. They will visit several USAID projects in northern Tanzania in support of Tanzania's ongoing development efforts. Mr. Natsios and Ms. Newman will visit small- and medium-scale businesses assisted by the Social Action Trust Fund (SATF), a USAID -supported project that provides medium-term loans to businesses and utilizes its operating profits to make education grants for AIDS orphans. They will also see an AIDS orphanage where the children benefit from those grants. In addition, they will visit rural communities that have increased conservation efforts and reaped the resultant economic benefits. Mr. Natsios was sworn in on May 1, 2001, as USAID Administrator. He served previously at USAID, first as director of the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance from 1989 to 1991 and then as assistant administrator for the Bureau for Food and Humanitarian Assistance (now the Bureau for Humanitarian Response) from 1991 to January 1993. Ms. Newman was sworn in on Nov. 27, 2001, as Assistant Administrator for Africa, and has extensive experience managing public and private organizations as well as international experience throughout the world. Before joining USAID, Newman served from 1998 to 2001 as a board member of the International Republican Institute, which conducts programs that promote democracy and strengthen free markets and rule of law. "This visit demonstrates U.S. support for Tanzania's development as an open democracy, with a stronger economy and healthier citizens," remarked Ray Kirkland, Director of the USAID/Tanzania Mission. Tanzania and the United States have worked together through USAID programs since 1987. Today, USAID programs support community conservation efforts, the government/civil society partnership and the growth of the small business sector. Its largest program is in the health sector, with a focus on HIV/AIDS prevention and management. In addition, USAID is currently developing a strategy to support Tanzania's agricultural sector. To date, Tanzania has received over $350 million in economic assistance. The United States Agency for International Development has provided development and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years. |