On 19th May 2023 UNA Tanzania in partnership with The Foundation for Civil Society led CSOs task force comprised of TGNP, ANSAF, WAJIBU- Institute of Public Accountability, Policy forum and IDPC in a strategic advocacy meeting with The Presidents Office Regional Administrations and Local Governments (PO-RALG) to provide concerns and recommendations for the effective governance of the local councils 10% loans to youth, women and people with disabilities (PWDs).
Recently, the government has temporarily suspended the provision of the 10% loans, following the shortcomings in the management and administration as indicated in the report of the Controller and Auditor General of the Government (CAG) for the financial year 2021/22. Following up, The President of the United Republic of Tanzania Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan instructed the adoption of financial institutional systems in order to strengthen the collection, disbursement and return of these funds.
The task force under the chairmanship of UNA-Tanzania, presented CSOs concerns to the PO-RALG officials. Among other things, the issue of using financial institutional systems such as commercial bank which poses many challenges for the target groups including access and possession of collaterals. The taskforce suggested the establishment of a Local Government Bank that will be able to focus on reaching the target groups easily.
Presenting on behalf of the taskforce, the Head of Program from UNA-Tanzania, Lucas Kifyasi said that, “the aim of the visit is to share concerns and suggestions after the temporary suspension of the current system used to govern the loans in order to facilitate evidence-based advocacy from the CSOs working directly with the targeted groups before the new structure and system is put in place. Apart from that to request stakeholders including CSOs to be part and parcel of the reform committee in order to provide room for community inputs”.
The Assistant Director for Governance & Community Development Division at PO-RALG, Steven Motambi, appreciated the taskforce for seeing the importance of communicating with the ministry before the process got too far. In addition, he advised the taskforce to prepare and submit to PO-RALG a model that CSOs proposes which will show best systems and structures to be used that will ensure the target groups benefits from the loans and challenges that have arisen in the past not to be repeated.
