People's Organisations in Tanzania: Strengths, Challenges and Implications for Development PDF Download

Author: George Mutalemwa
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 598

Get Book

Book Description
Abstract. - People's Organisations (POs) have been described as 'actors in development' in Tanzania, but no one seems to have adequately substantiated the validity of this predication. The analysis of strengths and challenges of POs in Mwanza, Tanzania hinges on qualitative research based on 24 individual interviews with leaders and members of POs, one focus group and five expert interviews. The focus was to determine the implications of organising for socio-economic and political development following the economic and political reforms of the 1980s and 1990s. Grounded theory (GT) informs this study. Its analysis is modelled on the stages described by Alan Bryman. Conceptualised as voluntary associations, POs are also known as community-based organisations (CBOs) and are part of local organisations and civil society. Findings suggest that POs can make a modest but essential contribution towards development despite organisational, institutional, financial and technical challenges, especially lack of appropriate education and training. Whereas some literature romanticises the role of POs in development, other demonises it. Some scholars also point out a paucity of data as well as lack of theory on POs in Tanzania, creating a research gap to be filled. By increasing the political capital of the state and extending the economic capital, the civic sphere may be sandwiched between political and economic forces through public-private partnerships (PPPs). This study contributes to the debate on the role of POs in development against the backdrop of the PPP and community-driven development (CDD) models. POs may not deliver substantially on development outcomes unless their initiatives are integrated into regional and national development plans. The study introduces a 'public social partnership' (PSP) or a 'public-civic partnership' (PCP) alternative and propounds a conscious involvement of other development actors such as academia, NGOs and transnational development agencies. The analysis of theoretical and empirical data leads to the generation of theory as a logical conclusion of GT. This theory is referred to as 'PO development theory' (PODT) and it postulates that confronted with development challenges, individuals tend to seek common solutions through organising and that active members and their organisations may succeed in improving societal conditions through broadening networks, although POs in Mwanza have so far been unable to do this. The study outlines a training programme to address limited technical and soft skills, which stifle the potential of POs to deliver. This programme is referred to as 'Developing People's Organisations' Sustainable Initiatives in Tanzania' (DePOSIT) and it entails a nexus of actors in the transformation of POs and attempts to link development theory, policy and practice. The discovery of PODT, the development of DePOSIT as a method for the application of this theory, and the identification of ten criteria for assessing the performance of POs known as a 'PO evaluation template' (POET) are the main contributions of this study to knowledge. The study recommends quantitative research methods on POs' potential contribution to development, using a larger random sample to enhance representativeness. Use of surveys to collect data at the national level, for example, would be appropriate. The study also recommends the coordination of POs as well as the formulation of a national PO policy through the involvement of PO members who are largely untouched in the current national NGO policy. - Key words: People's Organisations (POs), Tanzania, development, GT, civil society