Tanzania Journal of Development Studies

Policy Linkage and the Youth Unemployment Question in Tanzania: A Micro-Analysis of an Entry Point Level

Edwin Ernest Babeiya — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines policy linkage in addressing the challenge of youth unemployment in Tanzania. It was triggered by the frail contribution of key sectors in addressing the challenge of youth unemployment. While several studies on youth unemployment have applied macro-analyses, they have hardly paid attention to multi-sector policy linkage, which is a preliminary and crucial aspect in creating policy implementation paths. Consequently, little is known about the implications of the efficacy of this linkage on youth unemployment. The study employed documentary analysis to examine policy linkage and its implications for youth unemployment in Tanzania. The analysis involved a review of the policies of seven sectors that have the potential for generating employment opportunities for the youth. In addition, 42 annual sectoral budgets for the period 2018/2019 to 2023/2024 were reviewed with a view of determining their commitment to addressing youth unemployment. The study further examined the allocation and flow of funds to youth empowerment organisations during the same period, and reviewed supplementary secondary sources. The findings show that there is a limited policy linkage among sectors, which negatively affects initiatives aimed at addressing youth unemployment. Also, there are significant variations in both policy and budgetary commitments across sectors to create youth employment opportunities. Discrepancies among policies largely explain the failure of the examined sector policies to collectively and adequately address youth unemployment. The implication of the findings is that policy linkage is a key variable to consider in ongoing efforts aimed at addressing youth unemployment in Tanzania.

The Anatomy of Grand Corruption and its Impact on Healthcare Delivery: A Review of Ten-year Experience in Tanzania, 2005–2015

Chakupewa Joseph Mpambije — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Literature on the corruption menace in Tanzania are not in short supply. There are two levels of corruption, depending on how it manifests: grand and petty. In Tanzania, the former has been on the rise since the neoliberal era. Some past government regimes attempted to squarely fight the vice, while others exerted withered efforts toward fighting it. For instance, the epitome of grand corruption was highly evident between 2005 and 2015, and this resulted in the dwindling provision of social services, including health. Drawing from the state capture theory, and through synthesized literature, this article catalogues major grand corruption scandals of the time in Tanzania, and their far-reaching impacts on health service delivery. The article argues that the perverted grand corruption impairs national budget funds. It was observed that grand corruption affected the health system in terms of shortages of human resources for health and acute out-of-stock medicines and medical supplies. The vice also accelerated petty corruption and community mistrust of the health system. This necessitates solid mechanisms to curb it. It is thus inevitable that the leadership in power needs to continue sharpening the existing strategies that are in place to fight corruption, and designing new measures to curb new venues of corruption. It is suggested that legal instruments be strengthened to back up the strategies that are designed to tackle grand corruption.

Effect of Ill Health on Labour Market Earnings in Tanzania: Empirical Evidence

Joseph Cornel, Issa Abdilah — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Evidence shows the presence of many ill health cases in Tanzania, which in other countries have been identified as among key factors affecting labour market outcomes. This study examines the effect of ill health on labour market earnings in Tanzania using panel methods and data extracted from the National Panel Survey datasets. The fixed effect models of labour market earnings with chronic and acute ill health conditions were estimated one at a time, and the results suggest that chronic ill health is significant and negative on labour market earnings, while acute ill health is statistically insignificant. The study recommends policies that intensify efforts to improve the health status of the population to increase labour earnings. It also recommends mainstream employment policy actions to support those with partial work capacity from incurable ill health conditions to take up jobs and earn income.

Regional and National Public-Private Dialogue Structures in Tanzania: Design, Agenda and Challenges

Goodluck Charles — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The main purpose of this study is to analyse the design of regional and national public-private dialogue (PPD) structures in Tanzania, and investigate their main agendas and challenges. The study adopted a qualitative approach that entailed 83 in-depth interviews with senior government officials, representatives of the East African Community (EAC), private sector organisations (PSOs), and development partners. The findings indicate that while the EAC Secretariat and the Regional Summit provided a platform for member states to dialogue on regional issues, the private sector agenda was aligned to the EAC agenda through the East African Business Council (EABC), and regional and national PSOs. However, the private sector-driven PPDs, which included informal forums, prioritised agendas that interested their members. The identified PPD platforms faced challenges of resource limitations; inappropriate design, coordination and representation; inadequate link between regional and national PPDs; inadequate link between sectoral and formal PPDs; and inadequate integration of gender and youth issues. Overall, the study indicates that PPDs create a platform for integrating formal and informal actors into governance processes, especially where both formal and informal systems are functioning together. It recommends bridging the gap between public policy imperatives and the private sector views by encouraging a diversity of voices, and fostering a broad range of interactions through informal and formal PPD structures.

Curriculum Changes and Professional Development in Tanzanian Schools

Eugenia J. Kafanabo — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Changes in curricula are important phenomena in any education system. For these to be effective, there is a need to involve teachers in professional development programs regardless of their educational background. This study provides insights into the effectiveness of professional development programs concerning several curriculum changes made in Tanzania’s secondary schools. Data were collected in Dar es Salaam and Mtwara regions through a survey involving 272 teachers. The findings revealed that few teachers have been able to attend proper coordinated professional development progra ms, such as short courses, seminars and workshops. It was also found that most teachers have experienced at least 2 to 3 national changes of the school curricul a in their teaching career, which makes it imperative to have continuous training and retraining. But more importantly, these teachers have encountered problems in coping with the changes made in curriculum, while the authorities have failed to provide necessary assistance to enable them cope with these changes. The study recommends that the ministry responsible for education, in collaboration with other education stakeholders— including the Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE)—should have a comprehensive plan that should reach out to as many teachers as possible on the ground to effectively cover crucial issues that are needed to bring positive change to student performance

The Contribution of Local Civic Society Institutions in Enhancing Smallholder Farmers’ Adaptation to Climate Change in Songea District, Tanzania

Jackson Raymond Sawe — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article is a result of a study that sought to examine the contribution of local civic institutions in enhancing smallholder farmers’ adaptation to climate change in Songea District, Tanzania. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, with a sample size of 120 respondents. The study findings revealed that local institutions played a significant role in supporting smallholder farmers’ adaptation to climate change through the provision of weather forecasts and market information, farm inputs, promoting the use of drought-tolerant crops, and the use of improved seeds. Furthermore, a local civic society institution has managed to promote smallholder farmers’ adaptation capacity to climate change. It is recommended that a collaborative endeavour between governmental and non- governmental organisations be undertaken to initiate, promote, and reinforce local civic institutions. This collective effort should aim to enhance the adaptation of smallholder farmers to climate change, as such institutions have demonstrated their effectiveness and viability in facilitating climate change adaptation measures.

Challenges Facing Smallholder Farmers in Mono Cash-crop Production in Tanzania: Are Adaptation Strategies Towards Livelihood Diversification a Panacea?

Leonia John Raphael — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Smallholder farmers are those engaged in agricultural activities that include livestock rearing and food crops production in rural areas. This study was carried out in three districts in Tanzania—Newala, Bukoba and Moshi Rural—to look into the challenges facing such farmers who specifically deal with mono cash-crop production. Using a descriptive survey design, data collection involved the use of questionnaires, focus group discussions, interviews, field observation and documentary reviews. Systematic random sampling was used to select 300 respondents in the three districts. The study found that smallholder farmers in the study areas practise both extensive and intensive farming systems; and use both tractors and hand hoes. Production is affected by changes in weather patterns, lack of inputs (fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, and poor infrastructure), inadequate extension services, inadequate information, lack of trust in some cooperative leaders, land scarcity, fall in the prices of cash crops, and pests and diseases. The farmers adapt to these challenges through livelihood diversification, use of alternative inputs, farming intensification, application of indigenous farming systems, use of cooperative unions, reliance on social networks, brewing local alcohol, making furniture, and use of hired labour. These coping strategies differ among smallholder farmers of mono cash-crops depending on their social-economic status, education, marital status, skills and income levels. The study recommends that measures and strategies aimed at improving sustainable livelihoods among smallholder farmers in mono cash-crop production should address the whole range of issues leading to poverty and exposure to disparities within the communities.

Fishing for the Future: Exploring the Effect of Relational Well-being on (Un) Sustainable Practices among Nile Perch Fishers of Lake Victoria, Tanzania

Bigeyo N. Kuboja, Paul Onyango, Lydia K. Gaspare — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

he management of fisheries resources is one of the most challenging endeavours as it deals with human behaviour, which is complex and hard to predict. This study was interested in understanding how social relations within Lake Victoria fishing communities shape the lake’s fishery. We applied a mixed methodology approach to explore social relationships within the Nile perch fish value-chain and their effect on fishers’ fishing behaviour. Using the relational well-being approach, we highlight why enforcing fishing regulations, curbing illegal fishing, and eliminating activities that violate fisheries management rules are challenging. The findings emphasize how relational well-being influences social relationships and affects fishing behaviours. We conclude that interventions aimed at safeguarding the Nile perch fisheries need to consider such relationships in an attempt to create an environment that supports sustainable fisheries in the Lake

Rising Trend of Divorce in Tanzanian and Indian Homes: Gender Dimensions

Mamta Trichal — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Divorce cases are rapidly increasing in both Tanzania and India where, in these largely traditional communities, such occurrences portend a negative omen. Indeed, in many conservative African and Indian societies, for centuries women have had to put up with unhappy marriages. In some areas of these societies, however, the situation is still worse because the social stigma is so strong that it does not matter how difficult the relationship may be for the pair. Because of socialization and social conditioning, women are expected to offer everything up on the altar of patriarchy. This article seeks to determine whether women’s empowerment influence divorce decisions. To find out how women’s employment and educational attainment influenced their decision to file for divorce, the study looked into high divorce rating areas in both societies. The study analysed secondary data, recent census reports, population surveys, and original publications from the two countries under review. It found a strong association between women’s independence and divorce decisions. Its analysis of divorce rate and educational status of females shows a growing upward trend. In 1988 the literacy rate of female was only 48.09% and 31.7%, whereas in 2018 it is rated 78.01% and 66.17% in Tanzania and India, respectively. Moreover, a comprehensive analysis of women’s demographic characteristics and patterns of divorce in high divorce areas revealed an important link between women’s empowerment and the decision to divorce. Implicitly, education had a significant impact on women’s decision- making power. In addition, their self-independence that increased with education altered their fundamental perspectives on relationships.