Policy Forum was among representatives of Civil Soceity Organisations from five countries were invited by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) in February 2010 to deliberate on ConstituencyDevelopment Funds (CDFs), a decentralized funding scheme in which the central government transfers funds to each constituency for local development projects. The resentatives from India, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Zambia shared information on how CDFs operate in the countries represented and to discuss strategies for a campaign to amend or end existing schemes and stop the spread to other countries.

During this meeting, Semkae Kilonzo of Policy Forum, and Irenei Kiria of Sikika, presented on Tanzania’s new Constituency Development Catalyst Fund (CDCF), which was approved by parliament in 2009. Civil society in Tanzania opposes the CDCF because it violates the constitutional separation of powers by providing funds directly to legislators to implement projects. Read more: