The Society for International Development (SID) recently shared with Tanzanian parliamentarians new information about East Africa in a bid to create awareness about the progress towards achieving harmonious growth and equity in the region.

Presenting a report entitled The State of East Africa 2013.  Mr. Aidan Eyakuze, the Associate Director of SID said that the concepts of inclusiveness and equity are fundamental to the integration process and economic development of the region.

Policy Forum is supporting efforts to ensure that transparency, accountability and participation are at the heart of the United Nations’ Post-2015 framework. The network has joined groups such as Transparency International, the International Budget Partnership, CAFOD, Save the Children, Integrity Action, Development Initiatives, Publish What You Fund and Global Witness to formulate this framework that will succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to convey our sincere appreciation as civil society organizations to be given an opportunity to give a short statement during this opening ceremony of the Poverty Policy Week for the year 2013.  This invitation is considered as yet another positive gesture by our Government in valuing the contribution and partnership of civil society organizations in the fight against poverty and attainment of the development goals of our country. 

Projections for demand  growth show the demand for cashew kernels will move up rapidly high before the end of the decade.The World needs an increase of 9% per year to meet demand and Africa, which produces 43% of Cashews, is the only region that can supply this. In terms of quality and value, research shows that Tanzania produces one of the best chashew nuts in the world which is exported to India.

Your Excellency the guest of honour, Honourable Peter Mizengo Pinda – The Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania,

Distinguished guests at the high table,

Your Excellency representatives of diplomatic missions,

Representatives from government, private sector and civil society organizations,

Members of the press,

Ladies and gentlemen, a very good morning to you all.

On behalf of my fellow members from Civil Society Organizations, many of whom have greatly contributed to the content of this speech, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the government of Tanzania for extending this invitation to participate at this annual policy dialogue. The presence of non state actors in this meeting indicates the recognition of the vital contribution CSOs have to the development agenda of Tanzania. Our greater expectation during the five days of this dialogue is to see our views and recommendations taken onboard by government as it implements policy.

We, representatives of 55 Tanzanian civil society organizations and networks met in Dar es Salaam on the 18th- 19th of January 2010 under the coordination of Policy Forum, itself a network of over 90 civil society organizations to deliberate on the MKUKUTA implementation reports and the MKUKUTA review studies to be used for the drafting of MKUKUTA II.

Various stakeholders met at the Poverty Policy Week, a three-day forum popularly known as PPW to discuss the country’s development progress. This year, the theme was “Empowering of the Poor is Fundamental in Speeding/Facilitating/Enhancing Economic Growth  and Sustainable Development”.