NGO STATEMENT ON NSGRP

1. Representatives of three national networks, the NGO Policy Forum (NPF), Feminist Activist Coalition (FemAct) and TANGO, met on Monday 1st November 2004 to develop a joint position on key issues they wish to raise concerning the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty.

2. The NGO networks acknowledge the major steps taken by the drafting group to incorporate diverse views of different stakeholders, including those of grassroots women, men and youth, as understood and articulated by different NGOs and individuals represented. However, several major issues remain which need to be brought to the attention of the government, and acted upon. These issues have been presented in earlier submissions to the Vice President’s Office, and reflect the outcome of consultative processes carried out at various times during this year.

3. The NSGRP emphasises ‘access’ to basic primary health care, based on exemption strategies and the like. These have been proven to be ineffective in protecting the poor and in achieving equity and justice in access to basic health care for all. The NGO networks urge the government to abolish user fees for basic primary health care and essential life saving services.

3.1 This needs to be combined with reduced costs (official, unofficial) for all basic health care, increased quality of care, reduced distance and improved mechanisms of governance and accountability, with specific steps to ensure access for people with disabilities, PLWHAs and the poor in both urban and rural areas.

4. The broad macro economic framework remains that of structural adjustment, liberalisation and privatisation, or macro economic stabilisation, as noted in paras 3.2 and 5.2. This is so in spite of the evidence provided in the same document that there have not been adequate macro-micro linkages, such that inequalities have increased between the rich and the poor in both income and non-income indicators. The amount of growth resulting from the macro policies has not been adequate, and unemployment and underemployment have grown, especially for the youth.

4.1 The NGO networks urge that the NSGRP put sustainable livelihoods as the centre of the policy, overall and specifically for cluster 1, with a shift in perception of ‘the poor’ and other vulnerables as already and potential contributors to the economy and society, rather than objects of burden to be ‘protected’. The focus of macro economic policy needs to be on promotion of livelihoods, based on principles of equity and social justice, and not on principles of profit and individual advancement. This connotes deliberate steps to nurture the domestic market and national producers [small and big], as a basis for further development of export trade.

4.2 In order to achieve the goals of broader, equitable, people-centred development, there is a need for a strong supportive government role, working within principles of participatory democracy, accountability and transparency. Hence, the NGO networks urge the government to reconsider its present strategy of reducing the government’s role as presented in para 6.3.2. The key question to be asked is ‘what is the right role of government?’ and ‘what kind of government?’ – not ‘less’ government, which contradicts the historical experience of development in the North and among the Asian Tigers in the South.

4.3 Related to the above, there is a need to strengthen local governments according to democratic principles, such that local communities assert real, effective ownership and control over basic resources such as land, minerals, water and other natural resources.

5. The Networks also call for more thorough mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS and disability in all three clusters, and ensuring that it is given central priority in the overall conception of broad-based equitable growth.

6. The Networks are concerned about the fact that the financial base is not adequate to implement all of the strategies. There is a need for openness and transparency and participation in deciding how the prioritisation will take place, by what criteria, and through what form of consultation process – within each sector as well as in linking all sectors together.

7. The networks reiterate the call made by many speakers at the Launching, for a more inclusive process involving all Tanzanians in policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. This connotes as an immediate first step the use of Kiswahili as the language of discourse, and popular forms of communication during all phases.

8. The networks encourage the government to replace the concept of ‘cross-cutting’ with that of ‘equity and inclusion’, thereby reflecting the objectives of the Strategy.