In a compelling morning of insights and discourse, Lucas Kifyasi, Head of Programs from UNA Tanzania, delivered a powerful address during a Breakfast Debate held at the end of July 2023 in Dar es Salaam. Highlighting the pressing issues that young people in Tanzania face, Kifyasi emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address these challenges and empower the nation's youth.
On June 30, 2023, Policy Forum in partnership with Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) hosted a dialogue with the objective of sharing effective approaches for integrating male-friendly services into existing healthcare services to improve service uptake and health outcomes as part of holistic care to men.
In August 2022, Sylvester Chawe participated in the 2nd International Quality Education Conference held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As one of the RYCs (Regional Youth Coordinators) facilitated by the EOL project, Sylvester joined policymakers, delegates from Africa and beyond, researchers, educators, stakeholders, and students in this transformative event. The conference aimed to address the challenges facing graduates, particularly in terms of employment, and foster discussions on improving education.
On 17/02/2023, Joshua Mpossa RYC from Mtembela ward in Mbeya DC visited Idugumbi Primary School after hearing that students were not getting meals at school. Deeply concerned about their well-being, he decided to take action and meet with the headmaster to discuss the challenge. Little did he know, this encounter would mark the beginning of a transformative journey.
Monica Kyando, a passionate RYC from Utengule Usongwe ward in Mbeya DC, had the privilege of participating in a transformative training program organized by Policy Forum under the EOL project, implemented through the KUYENDA alliance. The training equipped Monica with the ability to identify various challenges that hindered access to education within her ward, including issues related to infrastructure, shortage of science teachers, books, and dormitories.
Students in Utengule Usongwe ward, specifically at Nsalanga and Itezi primary schools, endured a distressing two-week period without desks. Shockingly, it was revealed that the cause of this predicament was not due to a shortage of desks but rather the deliberate theft of fifty desks and chairs. This disheartening story is brought to light by Winfrida Solela, an esteemed RYC from Mbeya DC.
In the transformative training program that focused on accountability, structure, system, and coordination in the Education sector, organized by Policy Forum through the EOL project under the KUYENDA alliance, the RYCs were filled with an unwavering determination to ensure that students had a voice in the decision-making processes of their schools. They yearned to address the challenges that burdened their learning outcomes, igniting a flame of hope within their hearts.
The breakfast debate organized by Policy Forum at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel took a critical turn as education stakeholders gathered to discuss the proposed National Education Budget for the fiscal year 2023/2024 in Tanzania. The presentation, delivered by Makumba Mwemezi from HakiElimu, shed light on the budget's allocations, but it also exposed significant shortcomings and raised concerns among the attendees.
The global debate on the energy transition is also heating up in African countries. It relates to the urgent need for climate change adaptation, resilience, and mitigation as highlighted by the Paris Agreement of 2015. This agreement committed member countries to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
It is our pleasure to present to you the analysis of the FY 2023/24 national budget. Policy Forum commends the government’s economic reforms aimed at promoting private sector-led growth and enhancing the business environment and emphasizes the importance of budget credibility in achieving sustainable development goals.