The National Budget for Financial Year 2015/16 is currently being discussed in Parliament. The consolidated government budget will be tabled by the Minister for Finance after the ministerial budgets have been discussed. Given the importance of this event to the nation, the members of the Policy Forum Budget Working Group, would like to contribute to this key process by sharing our analysis. 

Different civic actors have called upon the government to fully operationalize the reviewed National Education and Training Policy (ETP) of 1995 which now allows pregnant girls to return to school after they have given birth and recommended that sexual and reproductive education be given to young girls and young mothers.

This call was made during the Policy Forum Breakfast debate on 30th January 2015 at the New Africa Hotel.

Issues of water, agriculture, health and education all have a heavy bearing on women. According to Policy Forum Budget Working Group (BWG) 2014/15 position statement, 98% of rural women are working in the agriculture sector, majority as small scale farmers. These women who are defined as economically active are engaged in agriculture and produce a substantial share of the food crops for both household consumption and for export.

As the Minister for Finance tables the National Budget for Financial Year 2014/15 in Parliament tomorrow, we, members of the Policy Forum Budget Working Group, representing over 70 different Civil Society Organisations working together to increase informed civil society participation in policy making, would like to make our contribution to this key process.

Poorer persons in Tanzania are more exposed to crime and tend to be more fearful for their safety, a recent research has revealed.  Speaking at the Policy Forum March Breakfast Debate, Rose Aiko, the Director of Governance and Service Delivery at REPOA said the findings were based on the Afrobarometer survey which is a comparative series of public opinions conducted across countries in Africa.

In September 2013, 13 respondents from Policy Forum participated in the Gender Audit Survey. Among them 6 were women, 7 were men, 62% were Policy Forum (PF) staff and 38% were from member organisations of PF. The Gender Audit Survey operates on a scale of 1-5, with 1 indicating a low level on the gender integration components and 5 indicating high.

Policy Forum Scores High on “Organizational Culture” and “Political Will” With Regards to Integration of Gender Issues!