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Contribution to the Foundation for Civil Society

Project completed
FCS meeting in Zanzibar © FCS

SDC’s contribution to the basket fund of the Foundation for Civil Society aims at strengthening civil society organisations (CSOs) in the following areas: 1. monitoring and influencing of policy processes; 2. Advocacy for increased accountability of public resource use, 3. promotion of conflict resolution and peace maintenance, and 4. strengthening of CSO capacities and professionalism, so that citizens become active participants in their own development processes.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Tanzania
Governance
Other
Decentralisation
Sector not specified
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
Information and communication technology (ICT)
01.12.2014 - 31.12.2018
 CHF  4’000’000
The project in brief
Background

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Tanzania were allowed to form from the early 1990s onward. The number of CSOs has increased dramatically since then and there are now over 4000 registered CSOs. They have grown number-wise as well as in terms of professionalism. Confidence in CSOs’ credbility and effectiveness increased, by the population as well as Government, and CSOs are now recognized as development actors that matter. However, the country is still fraught with governance challenges, facing high levels of corruption and a strong economic growth that happens in an unequal way. This calls for strong CSOs that advocate for accountability of public and private actors and facilitate a more equal distribution of economic growth.
Objectives

To enable citizens to become a strong driving force for change in improving governance and social development processes of Tanzania, fighting poverty and achieving a better quality of life for all Tanzanians
Target groups

  • Direct beneficiaries: Civil Society Organisations

  • Ultimate beneficiaries: Citizens, in particular women, youth, marginalized groups
Medium-term outcomes
  1. Increased CSO awareness of their roles in policy processes
  2. Civic engagement in democratic processes enhanced
  3. Peace maintenance and conflict resolution platforms are established at district and regional levels
  4. Improved organizational and institutional capacity of CSOs
  5. A sustainability strategy for the Foundation for Civil Society implemented
Results

Results from previous phases:  

  • CSOs impact policies and poverty reduction of the population positively where they manage to engage in a constructive relationship with Government.
  • CSO professionalism and effectiveness improved much, which is e.g. expressed by people’s increased trust in CSOs
  • CSOs have become increasingly more influential and recognized as development actors at national as well as local level in Tanzania
  • Monitoring and reporting of results still needs improvement to better understand how change is fostered and for accountability. In particular, effects on women, marginalized groups and poverty reduction need to be captured more systematically.
  • Financial management of the Foundation and its grantees, while considerably improved, needs continuous attention and improvement to minimize opportunities for fund misuse.
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO


Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    4’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    3’865’112
Project phases

Phase 4 01.12.2014 - 31.12.2018   (Completed)

Phase 3 01.10.2010 - 31.12.2013   (Completed)
  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    Unallocated / Unspecified
    GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    Unallocated / Unspecified
    COMMUNICATIONS
    Unallocated / Unspecified
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Decentralisation and support to subnational government (incl. accountability)
    Sectors not specified
    Human rights
    Sectors not specified
    Information and communication technology (ICT)
    Sectors not specified
    Cross-cutting topics Conflict reduction
    Human rights
    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 supports partner organisation improvements as a priority
    Aid Type Core contribution
    Project number

    7F02689

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Last update 05.12.2024