Tanzania: Government to Enforce Accountability
Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
Pius Rugonzibwa
27 January 2012
THE government will be conducting strict monitoring and evaluation in a bid to ensure effective public financial management and accountability, as it prepares to implement its five year development plan and MKUKUTA II.
Prime Minister Mr Mizengo Pinda said in Dar es Salaam on Thursday that it was high time that Tanzania created environment for efficient budget execution, address challenges in Public Financial Management and have in place appropriate regulations to enforce them.
He was opening the third Annual National Policy Review Dialogue which collects views from various stakeholders and partners on how best the government can implement its development programmes in important areas to the country’s development.
“The government, despite recording some achievements in various areas of economy, is committed to continue strengthening Public Financial Management System so as to achieve high level public service delivery,” he said.
The PM added that the Public Financial Management Reform System phase four is being finalized and will be implemented in a span of five years beginning this year, covering areas of revenue management, planning and budget management as well as transparency and accountability, among others.
He pointed out numerous achievements in the areas of food security, education, health, water, governance and accountability and reassured that the government would keep on conducting Public Expenditure Review (PER), which is an important tool for strengthening budget management.
The premier admitted the country was experiencing excessive poverty in some areas, but boasted various tangible measures were in place to address the condition. He, however, urged the general public to abandon the culture of only talking and complaining and venture into action with intention to achieve results.
“It is true that our major challenge is not lack of understanding of our problems, nor what needs to be done to get out of poverty but how to do it. Without effective implementation our plans and strategies are doomed to fail,” he stressed.
He urged the development partners to keep on supporting the country’s reforms in order to unlock the inherent institutional constraints that inhibit effective implementation of the set reforms.
Giving his comments, the Development Partners Group Co-chair and United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr Alberic Kacou said Tanzania has seen an impressive economic growth rate over the past ten years, but needs to work hard to increase the annual growth rate to double digit as opposed to seven per cent at present.
He said similar attention should be given to public service reforms and implementation of the Medium Term Pay Policy to ensure more balanced human resources allocation in services delivery sectors in underserved areas. While the government and the General Budget Support (GBS) agreed on almost all budget assessment areas in what he termed as the most successful annual reviews ever seen in Tanzania before, he challenged for more clearer and tangible results of the GBS cooperation.
Transparency, accountability and anti-corruption measures, he said, were essential for an increasingly effective development cooperation, attracting foreign direct investments as well as creating space for private sector development.
“Development Partners welcome the political commitments by the Tanzanian leadership to intensify the fight against both the high-profile and petty corruption within specific sectors,” he said.
A representative from the Private Sector, Dr Gideon Kaunda said the country needed to improve its human resources capacity which contributes only three per cent to the growth of economy, which is the lowest in East African region.
New Analysis: Failure to Address Pandemic Among Gay Men and Other Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) Imperils Goal of “AIDS-Free Generation”
NEW YORK, January 18, 2012—Funding to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS consistently fails to reach programs designed to control the disease among gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), according to a new analysis released Wednesday by amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research and the Center for Public Health and Human Rights (CPHHR) at Johns Hopkins University. The report finds that resources dedicated to addressing the epidemic among MSM are grossly insufficient, and that funding intended for this population is often diverted away from MSM-related services. [...]
“These data show an astonishing lack of support for MSM populations around the world, but most especially in countries where MSM are criminalized and persecuted,” said amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost. “Gay men and other MSM pioneered the global response to HIV in developed countries and have contributed significantly to the development of programs globally. However, they have been mostly excluded from these very services and programs in the developing world. This report lays out concrete steps that donors and national governments should take without delay to address the pandemic among MSM.”
The report examines the progress and shortcomings of PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and the UNGASS reporting system, managed by UNAIDS, and draws on data collected from on-the-ground researchers in eight countries: China, Ethiopia, Guyana, India, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ukraine, and Viet Nam.
Access the full report here:
http://www.amfar.org/hill/article.aspx?id=10652
Accountability Now! Presentations now online
Accountability Now! Presentations now available
The presentations of the speakers from this event (in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Wednesday, Dec 07 2011) are now available online.
As part of the Monitoring the MPOA project AIDS Accountability International (AAI) is committed to increasing the dialogue around accountability and improving the response to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs in Africa and this event was an opportunity to do exactly that!
Civil society, policy advocates, networks of people living with HIV, policy makers, government officials, regional and continental health desk representatives, national department of health staff, donors, bi- and multi-lateral agency staff, and all other accountability stakeholders all attended to learn more about accountability and the MPOA, and its potential for impact on SRHR across the continent.
Speakers also included:
Dr Eka Williams, Programme Officer, Ford Foundation
Mr Gavin Reid, Technical Support Officer, GNP+
Presentations available for:
Dr Sheila Tlou, Director, UNAIDS Regional Support Team for East and Southern Africa. Presentation
Dr Ademola Olajide, Head – Health, Nutrition and Population, Dept of Social Affairs, African Union Commission. Presentation
Ms Phillipa Tucker, Senior Researcher, AIDS Accountability International. Presentation
Accountability Now! AAI and Ford Foundation invite you to an evening event at ICASA…
Ras Bar, Harmony Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Wednesday, Dec 07 2011 6:00 PM
As part of the Monitoring the MPOA project AIDS Accountability International (AAI) is committed to increasing the dialogue around accountability and improving the response to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs in Africa.
Thus, AAI is hosting an evening event, followed by a finger supper, at the 16thInternational Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 7 December 2011.
In conjunction with UNAIDS, the African Union Commission (AUC), Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and Ford Foundation, we invite you to join us for brief presentations on the need for accountability in the response to health needs in Africa, with a focus on SRHR and The Maputo Plan of Action (MPOA).
The theme of the Conference is “OWN, SCALE-UP & SUSTAIN”, and this evening event will use this as a lens for discussing the need to accountably respond to SRHR needs in Africa as a matter of urgency.
Civil society, policy advocates, networks of people living with HIV, policy makers, government officials, regional and continental health desk representatives, national department of health staff, donors, bi- and multi-lateral agency staff, and all other accountability stakeholders will learn more about accountability and the MPOA, and its potential for impact on SRHR across the continent.
Speakers
Dr Sheila Tlou, Director, UNAIDS Regional Support Team for East and Southern Africa
Dr Ademola Olajide, Head – Health, Nutrition and Population, Dept of Social Affairs, African Union Commission
Dr Eka Williams, Programme Officer, Ford Foundation
Mr Gavin Reid, Technical Support Officer, GNP+
Ms Phillipa Tucker, Senior Researcher, AIDS Accountability International
Venue: Ras Bar, Harmony Hotel, Bole Road, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Date: 7 December 2011
Time: 18h00
DUE TO LIMITED SPACE AND CATERING NEEDS PLEASE REGISTER SOON
Click here to go to the event website. Accountability Now!!
Blooming lovely! AAI attends Positive Heroes Fashion Fundraiser
The Positive Heroes Fashion Show was blooming lovely!
As a usually very serious bunch of researchers we thoroughly enjoyed our night out with fellow activists and supporters of the Positive Heroes Bloom Fashion Fundraiser!
The designer line-up: Carducci, Christopher Strong, Cleo Droomer, C-Squared, Elbeth Gillis, Francois Rall, Hip-Hop, Jaques LaGrange, Hendrik Vermeulen, Kobus Dippenaar, Luiz de Laja, Malick, Miss Port, Paul Van Zyl, Philosophy, PlumBum, Port Swimwear, Stefania Moreland Undacova, Scorpia and X+O.
The music: Lindiwe Suttle performed two songs from her newest album, the TAC choir as well as last year’s knock out entertainer Odidiva as a bride with a difference!
The auction: included an all-expenses trip to the luxury Sabi Sands Game Reserve and much much more!
The function is organised to raise funds for Positive Heroes. Find out more on their website at www.positiveheroes.org.za
For a local bloggers fashion take on the night (and more beautiful photos!) see: http://doubletakeblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/positive-heroes-bloom-fashion-show.html
AAI and WISE Naturkosmetik in new partnership
Swedish cosmetic company WISE Naturkosmetik, launches its new organic series for men in November and announces its support for AIDS Accountability International. “AAI is delighted to have initiated a collaboration with WISE Naturkosmetik. Both organizations are driven by a desire to change and share a common ground of genuine entrepreneurship” says founder and Executive Director Rodrigo Garay. WISE products are manufactured in Sweden and are based on ancient traditions and knowledge of the importance of medicinal plants, herbs, oils, algae and mud have for our well being. The collaboration is a step in AAI’s ambition to establish partnerships with companies. Contact Rodrigo Garay for more information on how you can get involved. rodrigo[at]aidsaccountability.org
Read the press release in Swedish here.
Nigerian LGBT bill lacks accountability to all citizens
Pink News reports that: “Lawmakers in Nigeria hope to pass a bill which strengthens laws against homosexuality. The legislation seeks to criminalise same-sex marriage. Its sponsor, Senator Domingo Obende, claimed that gay marriage is “spreading” and must be stopped. Nigeria already punishes homosexuality with up to 14 years in prison and gay marriage is not recognised in the country. The latest bill follows two previous attempts to strengthen anti-gay laws in 2006 and 2009. Plans were quietly dropped after international condemnation.” Read more here
However, what few current legislators realise is that many of these kinds of laws were brought by the British during the era of colonization because they thought ‘native’ cultures did not punish ‘perverse’ sex harshly enough. In other words, the colonized needed compulsory re-education in sexual practices. Curiously after 40 years of liberation struggle, African judges, public figures, and political leaders have begun defending these imperial legacy laws as citadels of nationhood and cultural authenticity. Flipping history, they now claim that homosexuality was imported from the colonizing West, forgetting that the West brought in the first laws enabling governments to forbid and repress it. Read more about This Alien Legacy: The Origins of African “Sodomy” Laws in British Colonialism.
The AAI Scorecard on LGBT provides evidence that a lack of accountability with regards to responding to the health needs of LGBT, and worse yet, criminalising same sex activities, only adds to the difficulty of addressing the epidemic and thus adversely affects all people.
Sign a petition here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/21/equal-rights-for-gay-nigerians/
AAI Working Paper No. 4: Accountability Theory Briefing Paper
Robert Behn (2001, p. 6) has noted that the expression, “To hold people accountable,” has become a clichéd substitute for thinking. If he is accurate in his charge, we are indeed hiding our inability to create a clear understanding of accountability, behind a well known phrase that is certain to get some heads nodding. As such, in laying the bedrock of accountability literacy, the aim of this literature review is both to narrow as well as broaden the concept. In other words, it is necessary to narrow our understanding from Behn’s cliché, but also to keep it broad and inclusive at this stage. (Read more here)
AAI launches survey on Maputo Plan of Action Reporting Process
We are currently conducting a research project which is aimed at evaluating the Maputo Plan of Action (MPOA) reporting process.
All stakeholders in the MPOA reporting process should complete this questionnaire: including government, parliamentarians, civil society, experts in Sexual and Reproductive health and Rights (SRHR) and other stakeholders, whether you did or did not participate in the MPOA reporting process.
This research is applicable to people working in the following Southern African countries only: Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Please click here to participate http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9JRSCCD
For further enquiries please contact Phillipa Tucker, Senior Researcher, Cape Town Rating Centre, phillipa[at]aidsaccountability.org
Reuters Article: HIV-Positive Child Spurred Ratings Agency to Scrutinise Governments (Interview with Rodrigo Garay, AAI)
By Katy Migiro
NAIROBI (TrustLaw) – When 11-year-old Nkosi Johnson stood in front of 20,000 delegates at the International AIDS Conference and asked the government to start providing anti-retroviral drugs to mothers and children, South Africa’s president at the time, Thabo Mbeki, was so embarrassed he walked out.
Not only was Mbeki criticised when he publicly questioned the widely accepted link between the HIV virus and AIDS in 2000, but his government was reluctant to supply the drugs at state hospitals, saying they were too expensive and toxic.
As a result, critics say, 5,000 babies were being born with the deadly virus every month in South Africa.
Johnson was one of those children.
While Mbeki was shamed, another man in the audience was inspired. (Read more.)
