Support to Tanzania’s Election Cycle 2013 – 2016 (STEC 13-16)
The proposed intervention supports the Tanzanian Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) and the media in Tanzania for the Constitutional referendum 2014 and local and general elections in 2014/2015. EMBs will be supported for institutional reforms and capacity strengthening to guarantee free and credible elections. The media will be strengthened in its role as watchdog and citizen informer to provide for impartial political reporting.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tanzania |
Governance Rule of Law - Democracy - Human rights
Elections
Decentralisation |
15.09.2013
- 31.10.2016 |
CHF 4'000'000
|
- Election Management Bodies
- Women voters and women candidates
- Young people (15 – 30 y.)
- National media houses
- Legal and institutional reforms are introduced to promote democratic elections
- EMBs’ integrity and management systems are developed to deliver on their core mandate with greater independence, credibility, professionalism, efficiency and accountability
- Ordinary Tanzanians and specifically young women and men feel empowered to constructively engage in civic and political processes in the election cycle
- Media houses demonstrate improved editorial standards during the elections
- National Peace Infrastructure is supported to mitigate and resolve election related conflicts
- Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) perceived as neutral and transparent for the first time, which in turn contributed to peaceful general and presidential elections in Zanzibar
- Voter education funded by the project contributed to the reduction of spoilt ballots Lessons learned:
- Entire electoral cycle should be addressed to sustain Election Management Bodies’ (EMBs) capacities and advance reform of EMBs
- Voter and civic education should start minimum 18 months before the electoral event
- Other international or foreign NGO North
- United Nations Development Programme
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and BBC Media Action
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Elections
Decentralisation and support to subnational government (incl. accountability)
Cross-cutting topics Crisis prevention
The project takes account of gender equality as a cross-cutting theme.
The project takes account of democratisation, good governance and human rights as cross-cutting themes.
The project also supports partner organisation improvements
Type of support Official development assistance (ODA)
Type of collaboration Bilateral cooperation
Finance type Aid grant
Aid Type Basketpooled multi-donor fund
Project and programme contribution
SDC administrative costs
Tied/untied aid Untied aid
Project number 7F07125
| Background |
The new Constitution for the United Republic of Tanzania, to be adopted in 2014, is likely to bring about some considerable changes to the country’s political structure including more political and civil rights, and transparency and independence in the way local and general elections are conducted. This process of political transition is accompanied bypolitical tensions and occasional break out of violence, which are likely to increase closer to the voting and electoral events to be held in 2014 (Constitutional referendum and local elections) and 2015 (general and presidential elections). A good part of the population seems to be tired of the non-performance of the long ruling majority party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and verbal and physical violence among the parties and within the ruling party have increased. Unrest is also fuelled by increasing religious and social tensions. The (CCM-)Government generally takes a hard stance on rioters and those opposing their views, including opposition parties and the media, not showing willingness for dialogue. Tanzania’s position as hitherto existing haven of peace in a region marred by political instability seems to be at high risk. |
| Objectives |
A majority of Tanzanian citizens, in particular young people and women, participates in an informed way in transparent and fair electoral and referendum processes. |
| Target groups |
|
| Medium-term outcomes |
|
| Results |
Results from previous phases:
|
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Credit area |
Development cooperation |
| Project partners |
Contract partner International or foreign NGO United Nations Organization (UNO) |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 4'000'000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 3'813'539 |
| Project phases |
Phase 2 15.09.2013 - 31.10.2016 (Completed) |