Media Council of Tanzania
The main goal of MCT’s program 2012-2015 remains the same: To promote freedom of expression and freedom of the media and to achieve quality in media by promoting standards, accountability, social responsibility and skills development. The objectives also remain as: (1) To enable media to perform their duties freely and effectively and the public to enjoy freedom of expression and access to information; (2) To foster media quality and ensure highest standards so that media effectively fulfils its roles; (3) To establish and promote self regulation in the media so as to improve accountability and build public trust; (4) To enhance ethical practice thus ensuring media efficacy and credibility; (5) To empower media industry and stakeholders to make informed decisions; (6) To provide strategic leadership ensuring institutional capacity development and effective governance for the realization of MCT objectives.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tanzania |
Governance Human rights Rule of Law - Democracy - Human rights
Information and communication technology (ICT)
Human rights (incl. Women's rights) |
01.12.2011
- 31.12.2015 |
CHF 3'130'000
|
- Enabling environment for freedom of expression and of the media assured.
- Media quality and standards enhanced & effective.
- Ethical practice & media credibility enhanced.
- Media and stakeholders empowered through access to critical knowledge and knowledge used to make informed decisions.
- Increased demand for good governance as result of improved investigative journalism.
- MCT headed Coalitions on the Right to Information recognized by the Minister of Information.
- Increased compliance of i) MCT’s arbitration decision and ii) with Media Code of Ethics.
- Media Gender Code of Ethics widely introduced.
- Reinvigorated Tanzania Editors Forum and strengthened Union of Tanzania Press Clubs.
- Standardised diploma level journalisms for the country introduced.
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation COMMUNICATIONS
GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Information and communication technology (ICT)
Human rights
Cross-cutting topics Conflict reduction
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 Core contribution
Project and programme contribution
Tied/untied aid Untied aid
Project number 7F05613
| Background |
The Constitution of Tanzania guarantees freedom of expression. However, there are various drawbacks in the implementation of national laws that set the standard for freedom of expression, access to information and media regulation. Media stakeholders and the public are frequently denied access and right to information and Government is empowered to ban or suspend any newspaper arbitrarily. Despite intense media advocacy there have been hardly any changes at the legislation front. Overall rural and poor citizens, particularly women, remain excluded from access to media and are obstructed from having their voices heard. |
| Objectives |
To expand the perimeters of freedom of expression and freedom of the media and ensure the highest professional standards and accountability so that Tanzanian media are able to contribute effectively to development and democratic processes. |
| Target groups |
Media outlets, journalists, government, parliament and citizens (emphasis on equal information access for all) |
| 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 |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 3'130'000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 3'094'890 |
| Project phases |
Phase 2 01.12.2011 - 31.12.2015 (Completed) |