1.Economic And Social Development
Concept of Economic Development
Economic development is the increase in economic growth and the distribution of
the goods and services among the people. It also refers to an increase in
production and quality.
Meaning of Development
Explain the meaning of development
Development is a process to improve
the lives of people in a country. This involved not only raising living
standards, for instance goods and services, but a promotion of self-esteem,
dignity, respect and people’s freedom to choose and to take control of their
own lives.
Types and Levels of Development
Identify types and levels of
development
There are two levels of development,
namely individual and national development. Individual or personal level
refers to the increase of material well-being of a person like a good house,
car and clothes. Also greater freedom of expression, worship, increased human
skills and the ability to produce goods and services in a larger quantity.This
aspect also includes the educational level of a person.
National or community level refers
to the improvement in social, economic, cultural and political affairs of a
community or country. It involves the provision of better health services and
water accessibility. Political development at the national level involves
aspects of good governance, rule of law and human rights.
Types of development
There are two categories of
development, namely economic and social development. It is very important to
discuss the concept of economic development in modern times because there is no
country that can increase the welfare of her people without economic
development. Within a country there is a gap in the living standards of the
people. There are people who live a luxurious life while others face hunger.
Similarly, all countries in the world today are poor; only one third of the
countries are rich. The poor countries have to raise the standards of living of
their people. These countries must be developed economically.
There is another concept in development,
which is economic growth. Economic growth is an increase in the productive
potential in an economy. In other words it is the quantitative increase in
goods and services produced in a country in a specified period of time.
Economic growth increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The GDP is the
actual economic growth.
Meaning of Economic Development
Explain the meaning of economic
development
Economic growth is the rate of expansion of the national income or total
volume of production of goods and services of a country. Many developing
countries have somehow achieved reasonable economic growth but there is less
economic development. In Tanzania for instance, there is a rise of economic
growth every year, yet the lives of the majority of the people are not
improved. In this situation you will find an increase in the GDP but the living
conditions of the people continue to deteriorate.
Indicators of Economic Development
Indicators of Economic Development
Identify indicators of economic
development
Indicators of economic development
are also known as measurements or criteria for testing the degree of economic
development of a country. The most frequently used indicators are per capita
income of a country, birth rates, population growth, life expectancy, literacy
rates and energy consumption. Others are rural-urban migration, unemployment
and poverty.
Indicators of Economic Development
in Relation to Tanzania
Appraise the indicators of economic
development in relation to Tanzania
Activity 1
Find the per capita income of the
people if GNP is Tsh.56 208.4 billion and total population is 40.7 million.
Per Capita Income
Per capita income of a country is
the average income of the people of a given country in a particular year. It is
calculated by dividing the total annual income of the country by the population
of that country. The total annual income of a country is also referred to as
the Gross National Product (GNP) or the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is
always given in monetary terms.
- Per capita Income= Gross National Product (Total Annual Income of the Country)/Total Population of the country
- Per capita Income = GNP/Total Population of the country
- find the per capita income of Tanzania if GNP=28 212.6 Million
- and Total population = 40.7 Million
- per capita =28 212.6/ 40.7
- per capita income=Tsh. 693 185
This indicator is considered to be
the best single indicator of economic well-being.The International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), more commonly known as the World Bank,
classifies countries into three groups according to their Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) per capita.
Birth rates
Birth rate is the ratio of total
live births to a total live birth to total population in a specified community
or area over a specified period of time. The birth rate is often expressed as
the number of live births per thousand of the population per year. This is the
easiest way of distinguishing developing countries from developed countries.
The birth rate in low-income countries as a group is 30 per thousand, twice
that of developed countries at 14 per thousand.
Population growth
This is an increase of population.
In developing countries, the population growth is higher compared to the
developed countries. Over the last 50 years world population has grown very
rapidly compared to any previous time. World population growth needs to be
studied in order to understand its impact on the process of development.
The reason of population growth in
developing countries is the high birth rate. Birth rates remain high even
though death rates have fallen. This is because a larger proportion of girls
get married at a tender age. They have children, and they have more years in
which to have children.
Many governments in world, including
Tanzania, have established policies aimed at slowing the growth of population.
For instance, in Tanzania there is a birth control programme known as “Nyota ya
Kijani”. The aim is to ensure fewer children per family, so that poverty can be
reduced. In this regard, the government will be able to provide adequate social
services to the people.
Life expectancy
This is the average number of years
newborn babies can be expected to live in health conditions stay the same. Life
expectancy is lower in developing countries compared to the developed countries.
In developed countries the deaths of children under the age of live accounts
for 1.3% of all deaths, while in developing countries the figure is 10.5%.
The most commonly used indicators of
life expectancy are:
- Population per hospital bed. Medical care is very scarce in poor countries and that is why the death rate is high in these countries. The governments have to improve the quality of available health care and the number of people per doctor and hospital beds. In Tanzania, there is shortage of doctors and hospital beds. There are cases where three patients share a single bed.
- Calories deficiency is a cause of malnutrition. Our bodies do not have sufficient food to provide energy and to maintain good health.
- Protein per day. Types of food and the quantity are important in the maintenance of good health. Lack of protein will cause malnutrition. Malnutrition affects future productivity of a population – the ability to work effectively.
- Population per physician. In developing countries, physicians attend more patients than in developed countries. This is because there are few physicians in the developing countries.
- The infant mortality rate. This is the number of live-born babies who do not survive to their first birthday out of each thousand babies born in total. The reasons for premature death are the poor quality of drinking water and sanitation. Also, the inadequate nutrition for pregnant women and infants. Another reason is poor health care provision. Many people fall victim to polio, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, tuberculosis, whooping cough, flu, diarrhea, pneumonia, typhoid, cholera and malaria.
Literacy rates
Literacy is the ability to read and
write. Literacy has strong connections with education, openness to change and
labour productivity. Literacy is an objective of development.
Energy consumption
The consumption of energy in a
country is highly correlated to the degree of industrialization. The poorest
countries use very little energy, while the richest industrial countries use a
lot of energy. The most common energy used by poor nations like Tanzania is
firewood. Industrialized countries use gas, solar energy, and hydroelectric
power and coal because they need more energy for their industries. Energy
consumption indicates the level of development of a country.
Rural –urban migration
People in developing countries tend
to migrate from, rural to urban areas. Cities in these countries grow rapidly.
The purpose of migration is to get employment. Most of these migrants remain
unemployed and are subjected to poverty.
Unemployment
This is a situation whereby the able
and mentally fit people in a country become jobless. People do not have proper
jobs. There is a high rate of unemployment in developing countries. It is a
serious matter in our societies particularly among the youths in urban
areas.The high level of unemployment may result in civil unrest, fall of
standards of living; people cannot afford their daily basic needs, increased
crime like drug abuse, robbery, prostitution, theft and loitering. The other
effects are child labour to subsidize family income, separation of families and
increased number of street children.
Poverty
Poverty is a state of being poor.
The poor people are those who fail to enjoy better living conditions in the
society they live in, they are unable to meet the basic needs of life, which
are food, clothes and shelter. Poverty is the most distinguishing feature
between developing countries and the developed ones. In this standard, two in
five people living in developing countries are absolutely poor. This type of
poverty has been eradicated in developed countries. Poverty is a hindrance to
economic development.
Apprising the indicators of economic
development in relation to Tanzania.
Tanzania is gradually developing due
to implementation of modern technology in many production activities like
industries and small scale businesses. We are observing many businessmen and
women in many places. The government has established Export Processing Zones
(EPZ). The act to establish EPZ was enacted in April 2002 and became effective
in March 2003. The main objectives of EPZ are to attract and promote investment
for export, increase foreign exchanging earnings and increase employment
opportunities. These aimed at attracting and encouraging the transfer of
technology and promoting the processing of local raw materials for export.
Currently, eight companies have been
licensed as EPZ developers (two in industrial parks, six in single factory
units), ten licensed as EPZ operators, five in textiles/ garments, one in
mineral processing/jewellery, one in fruit processing, three in reconditioning
mechanical, electrical and electronic devices.
Main sectors for EPZ investment are
textiles, agro-processing, leather processing and manufacture of leather
products. Others are fish processing, lapidary (gold, diamond and gemstones,
including the famous Tanzanite), wood products, electrical appliances, and
information and communication technology (ICT). This will solve the problem of
unemployment, raise the GDP of our country and reduce the rate of poverty.
In Tanzania, agriculture is the
backbone of our economy. With the introduction of the policy “Kilimo Kwanza”,
the number of people involved in this sector will increase. New labour force involved
in farming will be utilized accordingly; hence, this will solve the problems of
malnutrition. This will increase life expectancy.
Factors for Economic Development
Factors for Economic Development
Identify factors for economic
development
Economic development is the change
or increase in the economic growth and the distribution of the increased goods
and services among the population. For production to increase there must be
land, labour, capital, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, technology, education
and good governance.
- Land; Land is the natural resource which includes the surface of the earth, lakes, rivers and forests. It also includes mineral deposits below the earth.Land provides space where production can take place. Industries that depend on land include all extractive occupations such as farming, mining, quarrying and fishing. All these economic activities contribute a lot in the national income.Land is a valuable factor. The value of land depends on locations and fertility. The value of land may depend on what one is going to use it for. For instance, land in Tanzania is valuable to agriculturists and those who want to invest in estates, while in United Arabs Emirates land may have no value to an agriculturist but it is valuable to an industrialist who needs oil for industries.
- Labour; Labour is the human resource, the basic determinant of which is the nation‟s population. It is any mental (intellectual) or physical efforts of human beings made for any material benefit. Labour is the primary factor of production. It is labour that organizes the other factors of production.Labour is an important factor of production because it utilizes other natural resources that are available in production. Without labour, land and capital, nothing can be produced. It supervises the production of commodities. It applies technical know how in the production process.
- Capital; Capital means all man-made productive assets. Capital is used to helot produce other materials. Examples of capital are tools, machines and buildings. Capital increases the productivity of land and labour. Money is used to purchase goods for further production.Capital may be classified into fixed and working capital. Fixed capitals include things like farms, machinery, tractors, and factories. Working capital is used in a single act of consumption, for instance raw materials, goods – in – process and fuel.Capital is important in production because it enables investments. Investments include the building of factories, power stations and the making of tools and implements. If more investments are established, production will increase. Thus, economic development will increase.
- Infrastructure; Infrastructure is the whole web of facilities which need to be in place for productive industry to flourish. Infrastructure includes roads, railways, gas, schools, electricity, telephones, water, sewerage systems and others.Infrastructure is important in economic development. The goods produced have to be transported from the production place to the marketing area. If supply will be low then sales will not be good. Telephones are important to reduce movement of labour during the marketing process. Roads must be passable throughout the year. Poor infrastructure leads to poor development.
- Entrepreneurship Land;labour and capital need to be organized in order to produce. The person who organizes the business is known as an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is a person who is responsible for the profit and loss of the business. He/she is the risk taker. An entrepreneur is important in economic development because he or she provides the funds necessary to bring together the other factors of production. The entrepreneur has to employ labour, buy or rent land and arrange capital. He or she bears the risk of the business. Entrepreneurs make some important decisions regarding the business like what to produce, where to locate the enterprise, and decide on the type of the business organization which may be a partnership or a corporation.
- Technology; Technology is the way people use resources to meet their needs and wants. This includes tools, machines, materials, techniques and the process used to produce goods and services to satisfy their needs. Technology is composed of hardware, software and technical know –how. Hardware is the physical structure and logical layout of equipment or machinery that is used to carry out the required needs. Software is the knowledge of how to use the hardware in order to carry out the required needs. Technical know-how is the learned or acquired skills.The level of output of a firm depends on the quality and quantity of inputs in the existing state of technology. When technology is high, production increases. The level of production in Tanzania is low due to poor technology. For instance in agriculture, despite having fertile and vast land, we cannot produce enough food to satisfy our needs and get surplus for export because of the poor technology we are using in production.In the mining sector, foreign investors have been invited to extract our wealth because we do not have appropriate technology.The availability of technology affects the rate of growth. It increases the productivity of capital and labour and the creation of new products. Lack of or technology causes poor production of goods and services and underdeveloped.
- Education; Education is a vital aspect in production. The quality of labour is a major source of potential growth. Efficiency of labour depends very much on education and training.A worker must have basic skills of reading and writing. They are important to the functioning and productivity of an economy. Developing countries have made a huge effort to provide university Primary Education for all children.Education is very important in the production process, because it reduces the expenditure on the foreign labour. It improves the efficiency of human labour. In Tanzania, the education system trains job seekers rather than job creators. This has led to massive unemployment among the educated people in the country. One of the reasons is that there is low rate of industrial expansion and agricultural modernization.
- Good governance; Governance refers to the exercise of power of the state in managing the country‟s social and economic resources. It also relates to accountability, rule of law, transparency and citizen participation. The government is responsible to see that there is peace in the country so that people perform their duties harmoniously. If there is no political stability in the country, the level of production will decrease.The government plays a vital role in economic development. It has to provide a conducive environment to the citizens to engage in production. The government establishes policies that will favour people to invest. The government should encourage people to participate in economic activities by supporting them financially.The government must enact good policies which will favour the workers in terms of good salaries and a favourable working environment. It should also create favourable conditions for the functioning of markets, operation of private firms, employment of civil society and community-based organizations in the country.
Importance of Each Factor of
Economic Development
Illustrate the importance of each
factor of economic development
land;
- Land; Land provides space where production can take place. Industries that depend on land include all extractive occupations such as farming, mining, quarrying and fishing.
- For instance, land in Tanzania is valuable to agriculturists and those who want to invest in estates, while in United Arabs Emirates land may have no value to an agriculturist but it is valuable to an industrialist who needs oil for industries.
- Labour; Labour is the primary factor of production. It is labour that organizes the other factors of production.Labour is an important factor of production because it utilizes other natural resources that are available in production. Without labour, land and capital, nothing can be produced. It supervises the production of commodities. It applies technical know how in the production process.
- Capital; Money is used to purchase goods for further production.Capital may be classified into fixed and working capital. Fixed capitals include things like farms, machinery, tractors, and factories. Working capital is used in a single act of consumption, for instance raw materials, goods – in – process and fuel.Capital is important in production because it enables investments. Investments include the building of factories, power stations and the making of tools and implements. If more investments are established, production will increase. Thus, economic development will increase.
- Infrastructure; The goods produced have to be transported from the production place to the marketing area. If supply will be low then sales will not be good.
- Telephones are important to reduce movement of labour during the marketing process. Roads must be passable throughout the year. Poor infrastructure leads to poor development.
- Entrepreneurship, Land, An entrepreneur is important in economic development because he or she provides the funds necessary to bring together the other factors of production. The entrepreneur has to employ labour, buy or rent land and arrange capital.
- He or she bears the risk of the business. Entrepreneurs make some important decisions regarding the business like what to produce, where to locate the enterprise, and decide on the type of the business organization which may be a partnership or a corporation.
- Technology; When technology is high, production increases. The level of production in Tanzania is low due to poor technology. For instance in agriculture, despite having fertile and vast land, we cannot produce enough food to satisfy our needs and get surplus for export because of the poor technology we are using in production.
- In the mining sector, foreign investors have been invited to extract our wealth because we do not have appropriate technology.The availability of technology affects the rate of growth. It increases the productivity of capital and labour and the creation of new products. Lack of or technology causes poor production of goods and services and underdeveloped.
- Education; .A worker must have basic skills of reading and writing. They are important to the functioning and productivity of an economy. Developing countries have made a huge effort to provide university Primary Education for all children.\
- Education is very important in the production process, because it reduces the expenditure on the foreign labour. It improves the efficiency of human labour. In Tanzania, the education system trains job seekers rather than job creators.
- Good governance; If there is no political stability in the country, the level of production will decrease.
- The government plays a vital role in economic development. It has to provide a conducive environment to the citizens to engage in production.
- The government establishes policies that will favour people to invest. The government should encourage people to participate in economic activities by supporting them financially.
he Role of Financial Institutions in
Economic Development
Financial institutions are
organizations which deal with financial services, advice, assistance or support
to individuals, companies and the public at large. They are established by the
public and registered by the authorities. Financial institutions may be private
or the publically owned. The types of financial institutions found in Tanzania
are banks, insurance companies, and social security institutions. Others are
loan-giving institutions and, savings and credit cooperative societies
(SACCOS).
- Banks; A bank is an organization that provides financial services like keeping of lending money to people or institutions. In Tanzania, there are two main types of banks, namely Central Bank and Commercial Banks.
- Central bank; The Central Bank of Tanzania (BoT) was established following the decision to dissolve the East African Currency Board (EACB) and the establishment of separate central banks in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. In December 1965, the National Assembly passed the bill of the establishment of the Bank of Tanzania. The Bank was opened by the first President of Tanzania, the Late Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere, on 14th June, 1966.
- The central bank is a national financial heart. The bank is independent from direct government influence when carrying out desirable monetary policies aimed at stimulating economic activities in the economy. The Central Bank of Tanzania carries out its responsibilities in close cooperation with the government and in particular the Treasury which is primarily concerned with the financial policies of the government. The head is BoT is the Governor, who is appointed by the Presidents of the United Republic of Tanzania.
The Role of Different Financial
Institutions in Economic Development
Analyse the role of different
financial institutions in economic development
The Bank of Tanzania has important
subsidiary central banking functions. The bank has the sole right to issue
notes and coins in Tanzania for the purpose of directly influencing the amount
of currency in circulation outside banks, thereby providing the economy with
sufficient but if possible non- inflationary, liquidity.
The functions of the Central Bank of
Tanzania in economic development
The central bank is a bankers’ bank.
This function includes the acceptance of deposits to act as prudential reserves
for these banks (that is the minimum reserves), the willingness to discount
commercial and government paper, and the commitment to act as lender of last
resort to these banks. It also involves the provision of central clearance facilities
for inter-bank transactions.
The central bank is the banker and
the fiscal agent for the government, and may be the depository of the
government. It makes temporary advances to the government through its overdraft
facility, subject to repayment within 180 days and through purchases (direct or
re-discounting) of treasury bills issued by the government, which mature not
later than 12 months from the date of issue. The total amount outstanding at
any time of advances made in this manner shall not exceed one eighth the
average budgeted revenues of government (average of the actual collected
revenues of the previous three fiscal years, excluding loans, grants, other
forms of economic aid, and all borrowing, whether short-or long-term).
The central bank may advise the
government on any matter relating to its functions, powers, and duties. It may
also be requested to advise the government on any matter related to its
functions, powers, duties, the credit conditions in Tanzania or any proposal,
measures, and transactions relating thereto.
The central bank is the depository
of the official external assets of Tanzania, including gold and foreign
currency reserves. Guarding international reserves may imply the determination
of buying and selling rates of gold and foreign exchange in foreign exchange
markets and /or the buying and selling of reserve assets for the purpose of
sustaining the national currency’s external value. It also includes reserve
management, with a view to the prudential investment of the funds, with due
regard to safety, liquidity and profitability and external debt management.
The central bank is the supervisor
of banks and financial institutions. In general, this activity involves
ensuring that commercial banks and other financial institutions conduct their
business on and a sound prudential basis and according to the various laws and
regulations in force. It includes the supervision of banking conduct and the
licensing of financial institutions. According to the banking and Financial
Institutions Act of 1991, and the new Bot Act, the main responsibilities of the
Bank of Tanzania are:
- Implementation of prudential controls concerning capital adequacy, liquidity, concentration of credit and risk diversification, asset classification and provisioning, and prohibited activities.
- Licensing of banks and financial institutions.
- Facilitation and monitoring of Deposit Insurance Fund, the purpose of which is the protection of small depositors.
- Modification and monitoring of the minimum reserve requirements and foreign exchange exposure.
The central bank promotes financial
development. This refers to the establishment of an effective financial system,
with the aid of which financial transactions minimum amount of cost and time
involved. In this connection, the central bank has to be a facilitator of
advanced clearing and transfer systems. It also implies that the necessary
banking services, as for example deposit facilities and loan facilities, are
made available. Included here is also the availability of certain specialized
institutions, which could be represented, for example, by an industrial
development bank and/or an agricultural development bank and micro-finance
institutions, and the facilitation of a money market, a capital market, and a
foreign exchange market.
Commercial banks
Commercial banks are established for
the purpose of earning profit through accepting savings, and utilizing these
savings of their customers to extend loans and advance on which they charge
interest. These banks attract the public to deposit by giving interest rate on
those deposits once made with them. All the commercial banks are controlled by
the Central Bank of Tanzania (BoT).
Some of the commercial banks
operating in Tanzania are National Bank of Commerce (NBC), National Microfinance
Bank (NMB), Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB), Akiba Commercial Bank (ACB),
Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), Stanbic Bank (SB), Habib African Bank (HAB),
Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), Exim Bank (EB) and Cooperative Rural Development Bank
(CRDB).
The functions of commercial banks in
economic development
The following are some of the
functions of commercial banks in economic development:
- Advise their customers on issues concerning investment, trade and how to run them.
- Act as trustees, and can also keep valuable documents like wills, certificates and gold. Hence they ensure safe custody.
- Provide foreign exchange to customers and help their customers in carrying out foreign trade.
- Offer the facility of standing order where they make regular payment to a customer’s creditor on behalf of insurance premium and electricity bills.
- Facilitate withdrawal of money on current accounts any time by the use of a cheque.
- Offer bank draft facility to different persons in the economy, especially the traders.
- Extend loans to several individuals and companies that are engaged in agriculture, ranching, mining, industry and trade. In so doing, the economy of a country grows.
- Facilitate deposits of money. The commercial banks pay interest rates on the deposits.
Condition and Procedures for Getting
Services from Each Financial Institution
Point out the condition and
procedures for getting services from each Financial Institution
There are common conditions and
procedures for getting services from the commercial banks. Any person maybe a
member of any bank he or she wants to join. A person has to take an
introductory letter from his or her employer or from the local government
officials where he or she lives. He or she will present the letter to the
authority concerned in the bank. A special form will be given for filling in
his or her particulars and the type of account he or she prefers. The applicant
must provide the name of a referee. When the bank has approved the application
it will open an account for its new customer. The customer will be given an
account number. There are various types of accounts such as savings account,
current account and fixed deposit account.
The customer may take a loan as per
bank regulations. The purpose of a bank loan is to provide the borrower with a
lump sum of money to facilitate various undertakings. To get a loan a person
will make a formal application to the bank. He or she might be interviewed by
the manager. The manager has the authority of deciding whom it is safe to lend
to. When asking for the loan from the bank, the bank may ask for collateral
security. It is something given by the customer to guarantee the payment of the
loan, the customer would be required to repay the loan by regular installments
over an agreed period of twelve, eighteen, twenty-four or thirty six months.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Each
of the Financial Institutions
Assess the strengths and weaknesses
of each of the financial institutions
Strengths of commercial banks
Commercial banks have the following
strengths in their contributions over the economic development of the country.
They provide
- Easy access of services from the automated Teller Machines (ATM). This makes it easier for customers to access the bank services all the time.
- Security to their customers.
- Investment advice, management of investments, buying and selling of investments.
- Safe custody of valuables (night safes).
- Cash dispensers.
- Loans to their customers who want to run businesses, build houses, and buy cars, for improving their living standards.
Weaknesses of commercial banks
Apart from those mentioned strengths
of commercial banks, there are some weaknesses too, including:
- Loans repayment is high interest rate. Many people are discouraged fro taking loans because of high interest rate. For instance, some banks take up to36%interst rate.
- A lot of bureaucracy in taking loans from the banks. The filling in the application form and the maturity of the loan takes a lot of time.
- Referees and collateral security is a hindrance to many customers. Due to this conditionality not everybody can get loans.
- Owners of the accounts in the banks are paid little interest annually. This discourages people to deposit their money in the commercial banks.
Activity 4
“The central Bank of Tanzania is the
mother bank of the banks in the country”. Discuss.
Savings and Credit Cooperative
Societies (SACCOS)
These are organized groups in which
members contribute capital through savings. The money collected from members is
used to open various ventures, where the profits obtained are used to pay
interest to the saver. Members can borrow money and return it with an interest
within the agreed time. This might be six, twelve, eighteen or twenty-four
months.
In Tanzania, SACCOS are developing
and becoming very popular. Different people including workers have established
SACCOS for the purpose of raising their living standards and eradicating
poverty. Membership of the SACCOS is voluntary. The members know each other and
conduct meetings regularly. In fact, it is family of its kind.
Principles of SACCOS
SACCOS members are bound with the
following principles:
- All members get fixed interest on their capital contributed.
- They get dividends according to their contribution annually.
- Members have equal voice each has one share one vote.
- If one wants to withdraw his or her membership from the society, his/her money is refunded after submitting his/her letter of resignation.
- Leaders are elected in a democratic way.
Importance of SACCOS in economic
development.
Members can take loans for
investment in various economic activities which improve their living standards
as well as the national income. They will be an able to satisfy their daily
needs such as paying school fees for their children and constructing houses.
Members can also borrow money for starting businesses.
Conditions and procedures for
getting services from SACCOS
SACCOS provide a number of services
to their members, like banking services. Any member who deposits his savings
and assets can withdraw them in time of need. SACCOS provide loans to their
members. Money given as loans is collected from the members of that SACCOS.
SACCOS may take loans from other banks or buy shares from different firms and
companies. Through their shares they get dividends, which are usually shared
among the members according to their contributions. To get any services from
SACCOS one must be a member.
There are forms given to the
applicants to fill in how much they want to borrow and how they will refund.
The applicant must be sponsored by other members. He or she should list the
property which will be confiscated in case he or she fails to pay back the
loan. There is a committee which goes through each applicant’s request,
examining the behaviour of the member carefully to find out if he or she can
reimburse the loan. The committee then concludes whether to give or not to give
the loan. Loans are utilized for various purposes such as construction of
houses, starting a business, emergencies, paying school fees, livestock keeping
and buying fishing implements.
Strengths of SACCOS
SACCOS have the following strengths
in their contributions to the economic development of the country.
- They give loans to their members.
- They provide education of entrepreneurship that is how people can start business.
- They create employment opportunities for the members.
- They establish various social and economic ventures such as purchasing land or building a dispensary.
- They provide financial assistance to members who are widows.
Weaknesses of SACCOS
Apart from those mentioned
strengths, SACCOS have the following weaknesses:
- There is bureaucracy in processing the loans.
- There is favoritism in the provision of loans; other people are denied loans without genuine reasons.
- There are not enough educated personnel to run SACCOS.
- There are various conflicts in many SACCOS between the members and their leaders.
- Funds are not properly managed by the members.
Many SACCOS are dormant. There are
members who take loans and do not pay them back hence causing suffering to
those who deposited their money in the society.
Insurance companies
Insurance companies are financial
institutions that deal with managing risk of a firm or business, people and
their properties. There are mainly three types of insurance, namely life
insurance, health insurance and liability insurance.
- Life insurance is a kind of insurance that guarantees a specific sum of money to a designated beneficially upon the death of the insured, or to the insured if he or she lives beyond a certain age.
- Health insurance is an insurance against expenses incurred through illness of the insured.
- Liability insurance insures property such as automobiles and professional/ business mishaps.
In Tanzania there are many insurance
companies. Some of them are national Insurance Corporation (T) Ltd, Reliance
Insurance Co.Ltd, Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, Jubilee Insurance Co.Ltd,
Tajack Insurance Co.Ltd and Prudential Insurance.
Importance of insurance in economic
development
The following are some of the
importance companies in economic development:
- They restore loss because they take you back to the condition you were in before the disaster.
- They cover disasters that might affect the individual (protection).
- They reduce losses from auto accidents on the roads and fire. In running a business or any production activity mishaps may occur, thus it is advisable to insure against uncertainties that might occur.
Strengths of insurance services in
Tanzania
Insurance services have the
following strengths in their contributions to the economic development of the
country.
- Many clients have been compensated in case of loss of poverty.
- In other types of insurance, for instance life insurance, the insured is paid back his or her contributions with interest at the end of the contract.
Weaknesses of insurance services in
Tanzania.
Apart from those mentioned strengths
of insurance services, there are some weaknesses too, including:
- Insurance services are not accessible in rural areas.
- There is a need to educate Tanzanians on the importance of insurance services.
- Many insured people complain that insurance companies delay to compensate them in case of a loss.
- The procedure to get compensation takes a long period of time.
- There are unfair methods applied by some of the insurance companies to avoid full and timely compensation for the insured asset.
Social security institutions
Tanzania, like many other countries
in the developing world, has strong informal social security and formal social
security systems. Informal social security systems are such as Village
Community Banks (VICOBA) UPATU, UMASIDA and VIBINDO. These are locally formed
by people in their areas or community for the aim of helping each other in
socio-economic issues.
The formal social security systems
found in Tanzania are the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Parastatal
Pension Fund (PPF), National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), Local Authorities
Provident Fund (LAPF) and Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF).
NSSF is offering social security
coverage to employees of the private sector and non-pensionable parastatal and
government employees. The PSPF is providing social security protection to
employees of the central government under pensionable terms, while PPF is
offering social security coverage to employees of both private and parastatal
organizations. LAPF is offering social security coverage to employees of local
government and the NHIF is offering health insurance coverage to pensionable
employees of the central government.
The Social Security Regulatory
Authority (SSRA)
Social Security Regulatory Authority
(SSRA) is a regulatory and supervising body of the functions of all social
security schemes in the country. It has been created under the Social Security
Regulatory Authority Act, 2008, which President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete assented
to in June 2010 and which became operational in September 2011. The authority
has the role of ensuring the funds are sustainable, project interests, increase
coverage and reduce the burden to the government.
Functions of Social Security
Regulatory Authority (SSRA)
The following are some of the
functions of Social Security regulatory Authority in economic development:
- Register all managers, custodians and social security schemes.
- Regulate and supervise the performance of all mangers, custodians and social security schemes.
- Issue guidelines for the efficient and effective operations of the social security sector.
- Protect and safeguard the interests of members.
- Create a good environment for the promotion and development of the social security sector.
- Advice the minister concerned on all policy and operational matters relating to the social security sector.
- Adopt the conventional broad guidelines applicable to all managers, custodians and social security schemes.
- Monitor and review regularly the performance of the social security sector.
- Initiate studies, recommend, coordinate and implement reforms in the social security sector.
- Appoint an interim administrator of schemes, where necessary.
Strengths of social security institutions
Social security institutions have
the following strengths in their contributions over the economic development of
the country.
- Provide security to their member’s contributions.
- Doing business by giving loans to firms, associations, and individuals with interest.
- Invest in the construction of houses for accommodations in town and sell some of them to individuals.
- They give benefits to the members when they retire.
- Assist members when in trouble such as sickness or treatment to expectant mothers.
- Refund expenses incurred during the funeral of their member to the family concerned.
Weaknesses of social security
institutions
Apart from those mentioned strengths
of social security institutions, there are some weaknesses too, including:
- Poor record-keeping as some members sometimes complain that their contributions are not shown on the respective records.
- Delays when giving services to the members. It takes about six months to get benefits when a member retires.
- Education to the members is inadequate because most of them are now well informed about their rights and contributions.
- Some employers do not provide the correct contributions to the concerned social security scheme.
- Some social security institutions are not giving loans to the members especially when a child wants to go to school and other development activities.
- Money value always fluctuates which causes a negative impact to members since it affects their purchasing power.
Loan –giving institutions
There are several financial
institutions like banks, finance companies and private money lenders, which
provide loans to people. The loan taken will depend on the purpose for which it
is to be taken. There are various types of loans which are available like
commercial lending, house-building loans, home financing and mortgage
financing.
The financial resources of a person
help him or her to ascertain whether it is a rational decision to take a loan.
The loan should be taken at reasonable interest rates. The person needs to
compare the interest rates from multiple lenders. The repayment of loans is
dependent on the prevalent interest rates of the market.
The time of the actual repayment of
the principal amount should be decided in advance. A favourable adjustable rate
protects a person from being in trouble in future. Any lending agency will be
interested to know your creditability, if you will be able to pay monthly
installments or not.
Strengths of loan institutions.
Loan-giving institutions have the
following strengths in their contributions to the economic development of the
country.
- People who take loans from these institutions establish petty businesses which raise income to their families.
- Education provided is free of charge to all members. They are trained on how to invest and spend money wisely.
- When members sit together and train, they form unity among themselves. They sit in groups of five, six, seven or ten.
Weaknesses of loan-giving
institutions
- Apart from those mentioned strengths of loan-giving institutions, they loans and put their guarantors in trouble.
- The interest imposed on the loan is very high.
- The loans given are small in quantity and cannot finance a large investment.
The role of Government in Economic
Development
The government formulates policies
which aim at attaining economic development. The government creates good
conditions for all sectors of the economy. For instance in agriculture the
government provides storage facilities for crops produced in rural areas.
The Role of Government in Economic
Development
Explain the role of government in
economic development
the farmers on modern methods of
production and how to look after their harvests. It also provides subsidized
pesticides, fertilizers and equipment such as sprayers, hoes and power tillers
in rural areas. The government encourages farmers to join cooperative societies
and gives them loans.
The government encourages the
society to have a culture of saving and investing. The culture and habit of
saving and investing generates wealth for individuals, households, communities and
the nation, in the same vein, a culture of wealth creation and accumulation for
development must also be reinforced by a culture of maintenance to prevent
unnecessary loss of capital stock.
The government promotes a broad
human development strategy; it encourages the society to upgrade itself and
improve its productivity. The government creates an incentive system that
encourages and rewards individuals, groups, and firms to embrace initiative,
creativity, innovation and excellence. This transformation is reflected in the
education system, training institutions, and recruitment and promotion process.
The government provides a good
environment for actors to effectively harness domestic resources in order to
attain competitiveness in their diverse economic activities. Competence and
competitiveness, as driving forces, are realized through sound macroeconomic
policies, adequate and reliable infrastructural development, quality education,
effective utilization of domestic resources, higher productivity and strengthening
of the capacity to effectively anticipate and respond to external changes. The
government also has a duty of providing security and favourable environment for
investors in the country.
Effectiveness of the Government in
Economic Development
Assess the effectiveness of the
government in economic development
The government plays an important
role in economic development. For instance in the 1980s the government adopted
the policy of trade liberalization, which led to the mushrooming of commercial
activities in Tanzania. Many local and foreign investors started investing in
this sector. Since then, the commercial sector has been expanding tremendously.
Areas where the government has been
ineffective in economic development
Apart from the mentioned effectiveness
of the government in economic development, there is some ineffectiveness too.
Some of this ineffectiveness is:
- Signing weak contracts with investors which do not consider the national interests, for instance mining contracts and privatization of Tanzania railway Cooperation (TRC) to Tanzania Railway Limited (TRL).
- Poor tax collection where the government loses a lot of money due to unnecessary tax exemptions and tax avoidance.
- Failure to control inflation. The increase in inflation is attributed to a combination of exogenous shocks. Some of the exogenous shocks include the hike in global oil and flood prices, the decrease in demand and price of primary exports in the world market. Other shocks include extreme weather conditions, which adversely affect agricultural produce and power supply, and consequently inhibit the growth of other sectors of the economy.
- The poor transport system affects the economic development of Tanzania. For instance, traffic jams in cities is due to poor infrastructure and city planning.
- Inefficiency of power supply. The government has failed to make proper use of the available waterfalls, natural gas, coal and uranium to solve the power problems in the country hence affecting economic production in various sectors like industries.
- Lack of good governance and accountability shows the inefficiency of the government in spearheading economic development. There has been rampant corruption in Africa which hinders economic development.
- Dependence on foreign aid to finance the budget of the nation affects the economic development of the country especially where the aid is not given on time. For instance, the government prefers the General Budget Support (GBS) as one of the sources of external financing modalities. The GBS contributed Tshs.4 billion in 2008/2009 budget.
he Role of the Private Sector in
Economic Development
The private sector in an economy is
formulated under government policies but owned individual or privately.
Although the private sector provides services to the public, it aims at
maximizing profits. In a private sector there are two components, namely the
formal and the informal sectors.
Components of the Private Sector
Identify components of the private
sector
The private sector in an economy is
formulated under government policies but owned individual or privately.
Although the private sector provides services to the public, it aims at
maximizing profits. In a private sector there are two components, namely the
formal and the informal sectors.
The formal sector
The formal sector encompasses all
jobs with normal hours and regular wages, and is recognized as income sources
on which income taxes must be paid. This sector is composed of all those
private firms established legally by the registrar of companies. Their businesses
are legally performed, opened at an area known publicly. They pay tax and other
duties to the government. Examples of businesses undertaken in the formal
sector are industries, agriculture, commerce and trade, transport and
communication. The owners of these sectors of the economy follow rules and
communication. The owners of these sectors of the economy follow rules and
regulations established by the government.
Importance of the formal sector in
economic development
The formal sector plays a significant
role in economic development.
- Provides employment opportunities to skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour. People are employed according to their skills in a particular job. Thus, their living standard increases.
- Helps to mobilize aid from foreign countries and international organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
- Increases income to the country as owners of the firms pay tax to the government. The tax is utilized by the government in various development projects in the country.
- Brings in foreign exchange, skilled power and capital.
- Encourages competitions because of the existence of the formal sector.
- Creates availability of goods and services which are of good quality due to competition.
- Provides support to the people who have been affected by disasters.
The informal sector
The formal sector has many names;
some of them are invisible sector, non-planned activities and unstructured
sector. Others are informal economy, people’s economy, one-person enterprise and
urban subsistence sector.
The informal sector or economy as
defined by governments, scholars or bank is the part of an economy that is not
taxed, monitored by any form of government, or included in any Gross National
Product (GNP). Examples of people who engage in the informal sector are water
sellers, street vendors, buckers and shoe shiners.
In developing countries, around 70%
of the potential working population earns its living through the informal
sector. They define the sector as that type of sector where people earn a
living self-employment and they are not on anyone’s payroll. Most of them live
and work in this sector not because it is their wish or choice but because they
have no chance of being hired by an employer from the formal sector.
In describing this sector, one
should bear in mind that the formal economy is not a deviation of the formal
economy. The sector shows the initiative of people who have failed to get
formal employment engaging in various economic activities to earn a living.
Characteristics of the informal
sector
The formal sector involves economic
activities that are not regulated by labour or taxation laws or monitored for
inclusion in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates.
There are two types of the informal
sector activities, namely coping strategies (survival activities) and
unofficial earning strategies (illegality in business). Coping strategies
include causal jobs, temporary jobs, unpaid jobs, and subsistence agriculture.
Importance of the Informal Sector in
Economic Development
Illustrate the importance of the
informal sector in economic development
Though most of the activities in
this sector are performed illegally, they contribute to the economic
development of our country. The following is the importance of the informal
sector in economic development:
- Provides jobs which reduce the unemployment problem
- Generates income for individuals linked to these activities.
- Helps to alleviate poverty.
- Bolsters entrepreneurial activity.
- Helps to bring commodities to the customer‟s doors. This helps those customers who stay away from the city center.
- Make easier the supply of goods and services since the exchange takes place on the same day.
- Contributes income to the local government.
Problems Facing the Informal Sector
Analyse the problems facing the
informal sector
Apart from the mentioned importance
of the informal sector in economic development, there are some problems too.
Some of those problems are:
- Many jobs are low-paid and the job security is poor.
- There are no proper places set for them to conduct their businesses.
- Lack of transportation means. For instance, “Machinga” guys walk long distances to sell their goods.
- Some of the businesses do not address the issue of hygiene.
- Lack of enough capital which limits the expansion of the businesses.
- Lack of warehouse for traders to keep their stock or commodities.
- Lack of creativity among the members due to low levels of education.
- They are not recognized by the authorities and therefore there is no freedom in doing their businesses.
- No fringe benefits from institutional sources because the activities are not recognized.
- Absence of trade union organization.
Ways of Improving the Informal
Sector
Propose ways of improving the
informal sector
The informal sector may be improved in
several ways. Some of these include the following:-
- The government should recognize the sectors by registering all the owners of these businesses.
- Proper places should be located where people can operate their activities comfortably
- People should be educated on how to conduct their activities properly and the importance of cooperation and unity. If they are united it will be easier for them to get loans from financial institutions.
- Health officers must visit these areas to inspect and educate people on all issues relating to health.
Social Development and Social
Services
Social development is the
improvement of the welfare of the people in the community. It deals with the
development in social, cultural and political aspects of the society. Social
development is the process of improving people’s living standards, reducing
poverty and unemployment, enabling people to invest in profitable ventures,
widening trading opportunities and reducing inequalities among the people.
Meaning of Social Development and
Social Services
Explain the meaning of social
development and social services
Social development is a long-term process. There are a number of factors that
must be considered to achieve social development. People should get a balanced
diet, good shelter and health care. The government also has to provide
important services which will facilitate them in production. Such services are
banking, insurance, loan facilities and social security protection. These will
support production of goods and services which will stimulate high levels of
living, high income, more employment opportunities and better education.
Social services are those services which are in a form of consumption. They
include education, housing, insurance, health, pension schemes, and cultural affairs.
Sports, games and entertainment. From these services, people get satisfaction.
These services are provided by the government through its agencies and the
private sectors as well.
It is very difficult to draw a line
between social development and social services because they are closely relate.
The third President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Benjamin William
Mkapa, named them as social hardware infrastructure and software
infrastructure. He meant that social hardware infrastructure are those services
which help directly to improve production in the country and are usually in a
form of investment. These include transportation and communication, and water
supplies for agricultural purposes. The social-software infrastructures are
those services which provide aids to the services. These include banking and
others.
Different Social Services Provided
in Tanzania
Analyse the different social
services provided in Tanzania
Education sector
The United Republic of Tanzania
realizes that equality education is the pillar of national development, for it
is through education that the nation obtains skilled manpower to serve in
various sectors of the national economy. It is through quality education that
Tanzania will be able to create a strong and competitive economy which can be
effectively cope with the challenges of development and which can also easily
and confidently adapt to the changing market and technological conditions in
the region and the global economy.
As at 2011, the structure of the
formal education and training system in Tanzania constituted 2 years of
pre-primary education, 7 years of primary education, 4 years of junior
Secondary (ordinary level), 2 years of Senior Secondary (advanced level) and up
to 3 or more years of Tertiary Education. Specifically, the education system
has three levels, namely basic, secondary and tertiary levels. Basic level
includes pre-primary, primary and non-formal adult education. Secondary level
includes ordinary and advanced education, while tertiary level includes
programs and courses offered by non-higher and higher education institutions.
The current education system
The overriding goal of the United
Republic of Tanzania is that of eradicating poverty under the framework of
Tanzania Development Vision 2025 and the Poverty Reduction Strategy 2015. Both
of these identify education as a priority. The Ministry of Education and
Vocational Training (MoEVT) therefore recognized the need to develop the
Primary Education Development Plan (PEDP), 2002 -2006, and Adult and Non-formal
Education Strategy and implementation Plan (ANEIP), 2003/04 – 2007/08.
Both the PEDP and ANEIP have been
developed within the context of the Education and Training Policy (1995) and
the Education Sector Development Programme (ESDP 2000). PEDP aimed at providing
Universal Primary Education (UPE). It was expected that all school-age children
(7 to 13 years old) would be enrolled in primary schools by the year 2006. This
translates into a total of 6.5 million children. The key components of PEDP
are:
- Enrollment expansion
- Quality improvement
- Capacity building
- Institutional arrangements
- Finance and resource allocation.
Those who missed basic education for
various reasons are being absorbed into non-formal education centres under the
approved Adult Education/Non Formal Education (AE/NFE) strategy and plan,
developed after five years of experience in piloting the Complementary Basic
Education in Tanzania (COBET) and the Integrated Community Based Adult
Education (ICBAE).
The ANEIP is expected to contribute
to the creation of lifelong learning mechanisms, to improve people’s livelihood
and to be used for the creation of awareness of prevention of HIV and AIDS.
ANEIP will also contribute to the creation of a conducive environment to
address gender issues, sustained socio-economic development, good governance
and poverty reduction. The plan targets to enroll 3.5 million adults and almost
a million out out-of school children and youth.
Secondary education does not
currently absorb all primary school-leavers. In 2002 a total of 497 688 pupils
completed Standard VII. Out of 497 688 pupils only 107 282, which is about
21.7%, were admitted to secondary education in both public and private schools.
The age range in ordinary level secondary schools is 14 to 17 years and in
advanced level it is 18 to 19. In the real situation, however, there is a wide
range of age groups in both ordinary and advanced levels depending on age at
first enrollment in primary schools and other factors.
Although initial enrollment in
primary education is almost equal between girls and boys, fewer girls than boys
complete primary and secondary levels or attain higher-level education. There
are a number of reasons for this disparity: gender relations, pregnancy at young
age, and parental preference for boys to continue with education.
The accessibility, quality,
efficiency and distribution of education services in Tanzania.
The Education and Training Policy
adopted in a policy for the education sector reform. The importance of
education for Tanzania’s development is also echoed in the National Strategy
for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP) which builds on three pillars:
growth and reduction of income poverty , improvement of quality of life and
social well-being, and governance accountability.
The main role of the Ministry of
Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) is so set policies based on
accessibility, equality, distribution efficiency. In addition, the ministry is
responsible for improving the education standards in the country, to
systematize school; syllabi and oversee the implementation, to arrange the
format of examinations for primary and secondary schools and distribution of
school necessities and to promote national culture.
In the implementation of the
education policy in Tanzania, the government through the Ministry of Education
and Vocational Training (MoEVT) introduced various programs. Some of those
programs are the Primary Education Development Program (PEDP) and the Secondary
Education Development Program (SEDP). The aim is to improve the education
system in the country and increase the enrollment ratio in schools.
From 1995, communities have played a
big role in the establishment of primary and secondary schools. The community
builds schools and the central government supports it in many ways such as
providing teaching materials, books and teachers. Today about 90% of the
schools are community-owned schools.
Achievement of the government in the
provision of education.
Following the education sector
reforms established by the Tanzanian government, the following achievements
have been observed:
- Increased gross and net enrollment of boys and girls, including children with disabilities, in primary schools from 90.5% in 2004 to 99% in 2010.
- Increased enrollment of orphans and other disadvantaged children in attending and completing, primary education from 2% in 2000 to 30% in 2010.
- At least 50% of boys and girls aged 14 to 17 years had been enrolled in ordinary level secondary schools by 2010.
- At least 25% of boys and girls were enrolled in advanced level secondary schools by 2010.
- Pupils who have passed primary education are given access to secondary education.
- The introduction of Information and Communication Technology studies (ICT) in primary and secondary schools gives students skill to fit in the modern society.
Problems facing the government in
the provision of education services.
Despite the achievements registered
by the government in the education sector, the sector is still facing numerous
problems, including:
- Poor resource allocation to the sector. The education sector has inadequate laboratories, libraries and their equipment, textbooks and reference books for students and teachers.
- Lack of qualified teachers.
- The number of teachers is less compared to the number of students enrolled into Tanzanian schools.
- Low salaries to the teaching profession which forces many people to leave the profession.
- Unavailability of electricity in remote areas which discourages teachers to go to the villages once employed. As a result, they decide to find employment in private schools.
- Lack of important school infrastructures like classes, desks, offices, toilets and teacher’s houses.
- Transport problems for both students and teachers from their homes to schools, making them waste a lot of valuable time while on transit.
- Lack of in-service training for the teachers.
Activity 7
Suggest some possible measures or
solutions in the challenges facing the education sector in Tanzania.
Health Sector
For a period of almost fifty years,
health services delivery has been largely done by the government, with a
limited number of private health institutions especially in large towns or
cities of the country. After independence, health care facilities were
redirected towards rural areas and free medical health services were introduced
except for Grades I and II. In 1977, private health services for profit were
banned under the Private Hospitals Regulation Act, 1977. This act had negative
implications on health services in the country. However, after a series of
major economic and social changes, the government adopted a different approach
to the role of the private sector.
New were developed that favoured the
private sector. The importance of the private sector in health care delivery
was further recognized with an amendment to the Private Hospitals Regulation
Act, 1977 which resulted into the establishment of the Private Hospitals
Regulation (Amendment) Act, 1991. Following this act, individual qualified
medical practitioners and dentists could now manage private hospitals, with the
approval of the Ministry of Health.
The National Health Policy
The National Health Policy was
introduced in the early 1970s in the wake of the Arusha Declaration 1967. The
broad objective of the National Health Policy was to provide comprehensive
basic health services equitably to the whole population. Strong emphasis was
put on promotion of health and prevention of diseases rather than curative
services. It also called for a shift from building large hospitals to smaller
to smaller health centres throughout the country. In addition, emphasis was
given to training mid-level health workers to manage these health units.
The government of Tanzania has clear
polices on the implementation of health services to its people. These policies,
currently the citizens are required to share the costs of the services provided
in those hospitals.
The specific objectives of the
health services in Tanzania are:
- To reduce diseases and death so as to raise the life expectancy of Tanzanians. The government gives more attention to special groups like children under five years, cold people.
- To make sure that primary health care services are available and are offered efficiently to the people.
- To prevent and control communicable and non-communicable diseases such as HIV and AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, diseases caused by malnutrition, environmental health, and working places as well as chemical control.
- To enlighten the citizens about the preventable diseases in order to know them and find techniques of controlling them.
- To create cooperation among the public sector, the private sector, religious organizations and non-governmental organizations that provide health services.
- To provide education and increase the number of professional health workers.
- To identify, rehabilitate the infrastructure according to the needs of the disabled, and lay down rehabilitation systems.
- To evaluate health policies, laws and standards of giving health services.
Primary Health Care (PHC) Approach
Following the Alma Ata Declaration
of 1978, the government adopted the PHC approach as a means of achieving
“Health for all by the year 2000”. The Alma Ata Declaration defined Primary
Health Care as the essential health care based on practical, scientifically
sound and socially acceptable methods and technology. Under PHC, health
services are made universally accessible to individuals and families, through
their full participation and at an affordable cost.
- Provision of essential health care in all villages through village workers.
- PHC committees at each level to promote community involvement and intersect oral collaboration.
- Strengthening health services especially at district level.
The purpose of primary health is to
strengthen the health of the citizens from the family to national level by
involving the citizens themselves. This includes education, prevention and
treatment.
Public health education
Public health is mainly concerned
with identifying prevailing health problems and disseminating information about
the public methods of preventing and controlling them. This is an integral part
of community involvement in Primary Health Care (PHC). It is assumed that the
health of an individual, the family and the community at large is dependent
upon factors such as environment, socio-cultural traditions and lifestyles.
Hence, public health education
focuses on strengthening and addressing g issues related to agricultural
development, child upbringing, environmental sanitation and development in
general. For instance, school children are a special target group for health
education through the school health program. Public health education is
provided by a variety of methods including mass media, dissemination of health
education materials and through dialogue with communities.
Public health education is a very
important method in offering health services. It involves communication
technology and sends messages to the individuals, families, and the society in
order to reduce diseases in the society. The government uses a variety of
technologies like the media, signboards, fliers, journals, books and websites.
Environmental health and hygiene
Our health depends very much on how
our environment is properly maintained. Our land, plants, air, water bodies,
buildings and sewage must be well taken care of. The diseases which attack
people are mostly caused by an unhygienic environment. Our environment may be
degraded by many economic activities, such as the smoke produced form the
industries which contaminates the air and destroys the ozone layer. Waste water
from industries which contains chemicals is thrown into the rivers. Human
beings are also affected by water pollution as they use this water for
different purposes.
The accessibility, quality,
efficiency and distribution of health services in Tanzania
The distribution of health
facilities has a heavy rural emphasis because more than 70% of the population
lives in rural areas. Plans for the establishment of health facilities have in
the past taken into consideration the population ratio. However with time this
has in some areas been seriously overtaken by the high population growth rate.
The health system and specially the government’s referral system assume a
pyramidal patter of a referral system recommended by health planners, which is
from dispensary to consultant hospital.
The structure of health services at
various levels in the country starts with the village health service. This is
the lowest level of health care delivery in the country.
They essentially provide preventive
services which can be offered in homes. Usually each village health post has
two village health workers chosen by the village government amongst the
villagers and given a short training before they start providing services.
Dispensary is the second stage of
health services. The dispensary caters for 6000 up to 10,000 people and
supervises all the village health posts in a particular ward. Health centres
come after dispensaries. Health centres are expected to cater for 50,000 people
which is the approximate population of one administrative division.
District hospitals are another
important level in the provision of health services in the country. Each
district is supposed to have a district hospital. District hospitals provide
services to an average of 250 000 people. In Tanzania, almost all districts
have districts hospitals. In those few districts without district hospitals,
Faith Based Organization (FBO) hospitals are designated as district hospitals.
Referral hospitals are the highest
level of hospital services in the country. currently there are four referral
hospitals, namely Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) which caters for the
eastern zone; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) which caters for the
northern zone; Bugando Hospital which caters for the western zone; and Mbeya
Hospital which serves the southern highlands.
However, there are some diseases and
cases that require special treatment whose facilities and equipment are not
available in the country. Depending on the resources available, some patients
have to be sent abroad for treatment.
The Role of Government in the
Provision of Social Services
It is the duty of the government to
promote the welfare of its people. In Tanzania particularly, the government is
trying its level best to improve the provision of social services. There are a
number of economic and social sector reforms and policies which the government
has implemented. These are like Primary Health Service Development Plan. The
plan intends to minimize the problem of human resource shortage through
advocacy for increased funding and reallocation of staff for optimum
utilization.
Meaning of Social Development and
Social Services
Explain the meaning of social
development and social services
The National Healthy Policy of 2007.
The healthy policy vision is to have a healthy community, which will contribute
effectively to individual development and the country as a whole. The mission
is to facilitate provision of basic health services, which are proportional,
equitable, of high quality, affordable, sustainable and gender
sensitive.Government provision of health, education and water services has
consistently been rated as the key public priority. The government plays a
vital role in the provision of social services. The following are the roles:
The Role of the Government in the
Provision of Social Services
Appraise the role of the government
in the provision of social services
Government provision of health,
education and water services has consistently been rated as the key public priority.
The government plays a vital role in the provision of social services. The
following are the roles:
To make policies which support
private and non-governmental institutions in the provision of social services2.
To construct and maintain the transportation system.3. To distribute teaching
and learning materials to schools.4. To distribute important facilities to
hospitals and other areas where health services are provided.5. To educate
Tanzanians on environmental preservation so that water sources are not
polluted.6. To train the required personnel who will assist in the provision of
social services. Examples of such personnel are teachers; water experts;
railways; road and electrical engineers; doctors and nurses.7. To train
citizens on the best use of those social services and be responsible. The
citizens must realize that social services are for their own use hence they
should protect them
Appraising the role of the
government in the provision of social services in Tanzania.
The government plays a vital role in
ensuring that social services provided to the citizens. Effective access to
functioning and well equipped social services is a prerequisite ofimproving the
quality of life and for promoting the well-being of all Tanzanians. The
following are some of the evidences on the role of our government in the
provision off social services to its people:The government has extended the
provision of water in many places in rural and urban areas. For instance,
Kahama, Shinyanga Water Supply Project from Lake Victoria and the Chalinze
Water Supply Project which was implemented in the year 2001, targeted at
supplying water to 105 000 people for the 18 villages by the year 2015.
The Tanzanian government has
continued to focus on education provision since independence. The aim is to
address the shortage of skilled national manpower. In the mid-1970s, a decision
was made by the government to introduce Universal Primary Education (UPE) by
1984. Funding was concentrated on primary education and secondary school enrolment.
The statics for primary enrolment and adult literacy in the early 1980s were
impressive. For instance, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in 1980 was 98%.
In the 1980s the government allowed
private and voluntary sectors to run non-governmental schools. The education
sector expanded rapidly. Higher education in Tanzania during the late 19th
century was predominantly provided by the University Of Dares Salaam (UDSM).
The University of Dares Salaam was
first established in 1961 as a College of the University of London. In 1963 it
became a Constituent College of the University of East Africa. In August 1970,
it became a national University.
In 1965, Sokoine University of
Agriculture (SUA) was established as the second university in the country. It
started as an Agricultural college offering Diploma training in the discipline
of agriculture. The establishment of this university showed the importance of
agriculture in the country. With the dissolution of the University of East
Africa and the consequent establishment of the University of Dares Salaam
(UDSM) in 1970, the College was transformed into a Faculty of Agriculture of
UDSM and thereby started offering Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
In 1965, Sokoine University of
Agriculture (SUA) was established as the second university in the country. It
started as an Agricultural college offering Diploma training in the discipline
of agriculture. The establishment of this university showed the importance of
agriculture in the country. With the dissolution of the University of East
Africa and the consequent establishment of the University of Dares Salaam
(UDSM) in 1970, the College was transformed into a Faculty of Agriculture of
UDSM and thereby started offering Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
1994, the Institutional
Transformation Programme was initiated and since then, there has been a
considerable increase in students‟ numbers. Several other tertiary training
institutions have become universities. More recently, a number of private
universities have been opened, mainly run by religious bodies. Vocational
training as also provided in National VocationalTraining Centres. In 1994,
these came under the newly formed Vocational Education and Training Authority
(VETA). VETA colleges offer a wide range of courses.
Since 2001, there has been a
dramatic expansion of primary education due to the introduction of the Primary
Education Development Programme (PEDP). In 2002, standard one enrolments
increased by 43.1%. The enrolment in primary school has increased by 5.8% between
2006 and 2010. Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) was 106.4% in 2010 and Net Enrolment
Ratio was 95.4%, indicating adequate absorption capacity at primary schools for
all school ages (7 to 13).
In 2003, the government embarked on
ambitious plans for the expansion of the secondary education through the
Secondary Education Development Programme (SEDP). All those are the efforts
which the government is doing to raise the level of education in Tanzania,
hence eradicating the problem of illiteracy and unemployment.
The government, in collaboration
with other stakeholders, has continued with the implementation of the Child
Health strategic Plan (2005 - 2010) and the Road Map strategic Plan to
accelerate reduction of maternal, newborn and child deaths. Notable achievements
have been recorded. The deaths of children fewer than five years of age (the
probability of dying between birth and fifth birthday) have continued to
decline significantly. The rate declined from 12 per 1000 live births in 2004/
05 to 91 per 1000 live births in 2007/08 and thereafter to 811 child deaths per
1000 live births in 2009/10.
The government provides free primary
education to the pupils. For instance, Primary Education Development Programme
Phase 2 of 2007 -2011 aims at ensuring that the objective of providing free
pre-primary and primary education is achieved. The enrolment in primary schools
has increased by 5.8 percent between 2006 and 2010. The government also
provides loans to students of higher learning institutions through the Higher Education
Students Loan Board (HESLB).
The government provides modern
medical equipment and rehabilitation to most off its hospitals. For instance ,
general rehabilitation of Muhimbili National Hospital, Amana, Temeke,
Mwananyamala and other regional hospitals in the country.
The government also provides
assistance to health researchers, for instance Ifakara Health Research Centre.
The Government recruits new personnel from health colleges found inTanzania
like Muhimbili College of Health Sciences and others. It also provides medicine
to its health centres through the government agent, namely Medical Stores
Department (MSD).
The Role of the Private Sector in
the Provision of Social Services
The government of Tanzania
recognized effective partnership with the private sector in the provision of
social services in the country. Such services are education, health, water,
electric supply, communication and transportation. The involvement of the
private sectors in the provision of social services has contributed to the
improvement of the quality of life and promotion of the well- being of
Tanzanians.
Religious group, community-based
organizations, individual-owned institutions, non-governmental organizations
and private companies are stakeholders in the provision of social services.
After a series of major economic and social changes the government adopted
different approaches to the role of social services delivery. New policies were
developed that looked favourably in the role of the private sector. For
instance, the Private Hospitals Regulation Act, 1977 which allows the
establishment of private hospitals.
The Role of Private Sector in the
Provision of Social Services
Explain the role of private sector
in the provision of social services
The government of Tanzania recognized
effective partnership with the private sector in the provision of social
services in the country. Such services are education, health, water, electric
supply, communication and transportation. The involvement of the private
sectors in the provision of social services has contributed to the improvement
of the quality of life and promotion of the well- being of Tanzanians.
Religious group, community-based
organizations, individual-owned institutions, non-governmental organizations
and private companies are stakeholders in the provision of social services.
After a series of major economic and social changes the government adopted
different approaches to the role of social services delivery. New policies were
developed that looked favourably in the role of the private sector. For
instance, the Private Hospitals Regulation Act, 1977 which allows the
establishment of private hospitals
Challenges Facing the Provision of
Social Services in Tanzania
Analyse the challenges facing the
provision of social services in Tanzania
The major challenges facing the
provision of social services in Tanzania are:
- Some of the government and private institutions face financial constraints which complicate the provision of high quality social services.
- People living in rural areas have the worst living conditions. As a result, they migrate on urban areas where they cause intensive scramble over the available social services.
- Delivery of household water continues to be a problem for Mainland Tanzania; water supply is not sufficient in rural and urban areas.
- Transportation systems in the rural areas are still a problem. People living in remotes areas do not have access to transportation systems. Poor transport makes it difficult for people to go to hospitals or farmers to transport their produce.
- Bad behaviour among individuals of destroying public and private infrastructure. Some destroy the railways and cause accidents. Others steal transformer oil and telephone cables.
- Services are too expensive and the citizens are unable to pay for the costs of the services rendered. For instance, most of the private schools set high school fees which are not affordable to a majority of Tanzanians.
- Corruption has become a big problem in the provision of quality social services
Appraisal of the role of the private
Sector in the provision of social services in Tanzania.
- The private sectors play a vital role in the provision of social services in Tanzania. This is clearly observed in the provision of education, health services, clean water, transportation and communication.
- The private sector has established many schools and colleges for offering education in the country. Many people have benefited from the education services offered by the private sector. Some of the university colleges established by private institutions are St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) Tumaini University owned by Lutheran Church, and Muslim University of Morogoro (MUM). Others are the Hubert Kairuki Memorial University (HKMU), the University of Arusha of Arusha, Zanzibar University and Mount Meru University.
- Many people have benefited from the health services offered in hospitals established by the private sector in the country. examples of the established hospitals include; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (Moshi), Shia Ithnashery Hospital (Arusha and Dares Salaam)), Peramiho Hospital (Ruvuma), Dr.Kairuki Hospital and Tanzania Heart Institute (Dares Salaam), Ilembula Hospital (Iringa), Tayabali Mohammed Jaffer Hospital (TMJ) Dares Salaam), Regency Hospital (Dares Salaam) and Bugando Hospital (Mwanza).
- Various private companies have been established to offer communication services in Tanzania. The companies include telecommunication companies such as Vodacom, Airtel, Zantel and Tigo. Broadcasting stations such as ITV and Radio One stations, Channel Ten TV and Magic FM station, Clouds TV and Radio station, Tumaini TV and Radio stations, Star TV and Radio Free Africa. Newspapers such as Mwananchi, the Citizen, Tanzania Daima, Nipashe, Raia Mwema, Kiongozi, the Express, Rai, Mwanahalisi, Annur and Alhuda.The private sector has contributed in the improvement of transport services.
- Many people are enjoying the social services offered by the established transport companies in Tanzania. Examples of the companies established by the private sector in Tanzania are Precision Air and Community Airlines, Dar Express Bus Services, and other companies that include sea ferries such as Azam marine and Sepideh Express.Considerable efforts have been made by the private sector to promote access to clean and safe water. Tanzanians are enjoying water services provided by the private sector. Examples of water companies offering water services are Kili water in Kilimanjaro region, AfricanMuslims Agency in various areas of the country, Aqua Drilling Company in Dares Salaam and Maji Tech based in Arusha.
Success and challenges facing the
provision of social services in Tanzania.
- There is no doubt that both the government and the private sector work hand in hand in offering good social services to the people of Tanzania. The social reform policies enable Tanzania to succeed in the following areas.
- There has been considerable progress in primary education following the implementation of the Primary Education Development Plan (PEDP) in 2000. Enrolment rates have gone up. The number of classrooms and desks in primary schools has increased, but more qualified teachers and more books are needed to keep pace with increased enrolment. The data from the Ministry of education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) indicates that the pupil –to teacher ratio has increased from 1:64 in 2008 to 1:59 in 2009 and 1:51 in 2010 against the required ratio of 1:40.
- The government has taken to measures to improve the provision of water services to the public. The government has implemented water projects since 2007. There was a change in the implementation modality, whereby quick-win projects were implemented while procurement of consultants was taking place. A two year working plan was developed which targeted to construct 12 000 water points during the period. From July 2007 to June 2010 some 3 897 water sub-projects were constructed, resulting in 8 277 operational water points.
- The government has taken measures to improve the provision of electricity both as hydro and thermal power. There are many private companies in Tanzania today that avail generators to the public for the public for use when there is power cut or no power installation
Activity 10
Even though the private sector has
done very good job in the provision of social services in our country, what do
you think are the setbacks facing this sector in fulfilling their mission?
Suggest the possible measures to alleviating those setbacks.
Solutions of the Challenges Facing
the Provision of Social Services
Recommend solutions of the
challenges facing the provision of social services
The following are some
recommendation on the challenges facing the provision of social services in
Tanzania.
- Enabling environment for increased private sector involvement, including incentives and legal recognition to be created.
- To educate communities on the importance of the private sector participation in the provision of rural and urban water supply and sanitation services.
- To allocate enough budget in provision of social services such as education, water, health and infrastructure in the country.
- To give regular education to the public on how to take care of the public social services in their localities. People should be made aware that these services are for their own benefits.
- To construct better infrastructures; this will improve the living standards of the people.
- To encourage community – based organizations to fund and run their own social services. They can construct schools, dispensaries, water supply systems and others.
- . To set a conducive environment for people to invest in the provision of social services in the countryside.
- Physical planning should be seriously carried out to solve the problems of electricity and water supply.
- The government should impose fines and take drastic measures against people who destroy the environment.
2. Promotion
Of Life Skills
Life skills are the means through
which a person can live well in a society, Or it’s the ways an individual can
manage properly his/her life and that of other people. Promotion of life skills
is of great important in modern society because of the prevailing
socio-economic, political and cultural change that has been accelerated by the
scientific and technological advancements. The undergoing changes require good
leadership, teamwork, positive relationships, self-worth and self-confidence
from among the members of society or community so as to survive in this
competitive world.
Good
Leadership, Team Work, Positive Relationship, Self-Worth and Confidence
Importance of Good Leadership,
Teamwork, Positive Relationship, Self-Worth and Confidence Qualities
Explain the importance of good
leadership, teamwork, positive relationship, self-worth and confidence
qualities
A leader is a person who guides or
directs others in a group, an institution, a company, a village or a country.
Good leadership refers to proper leadership which adheres to the important
characteristic of a good leader.
Characteristics of a good leader
The following are the
Characteristics of a good Leader
- A good leader should be task-oriented or people oriented leader. The task oriented leader will place emphasis on training and performance with the ultimate aim of achieving and winning. He/she should be able to identify the community goals or specific targets. The leader then should be able to impart these goals to his people and commit them to work hard and intelligently to achieve the desired community goals.
- A good leader should not simply issue orders for people to follow, but he/she should be able to instill good characteristics to them which will make it possible to achieve the stated goals.
- A good leader should have confidence, determination and perseverance. There will be many complex issues that must be addressed by the leader; therefore the leader should be bold enough to encounter such situations.
- A good leader should be able to create an ideal situation that will encourage his/her people to perform. The leader should be ready available for his/her people and they should be free to approach him/her for consultations.
- A good leader should be able to identify good opportunities that can be utilised to achieve the stated community goals. The leader has to be optimistic that opportunities can be exploited to yield the intended goals. Good leaders should have a vision which they work towards. Good leaders know where they are heading and lead their people towards the same vision. Good leaders are not passive people. They are usually extremely passionate in whatever they are doing.
- Good leaders should be wise if they are to be successful. Being a leader often means that crucial decisions will have to be made at one point. Having wisdom to make a right decision is most important in ensuring success. Good leaders have compassion for their followers. While they understand they have a goal to pursue, they constantly look back and care for the people that are following them. They are not selfish people who only think about their own needs and luxuries; they also must care for the people who are working for them. In Africa, for instance, we have Mzee Nelson Mandela, the former president of the republican of South Africa and leader of ANC. Mzee Mandela is the one of the few African leaders who possesses such kind of leadership characteristics.
- Good leaders should be charismatic, attractive to the people through their good personalities. This can be through the way they speak. They are extremely well-versed in public speaking and they can influence and inspire people with the things that they say. A good example of such kind of a leader is the late Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere. The former president of Tanzania.
- Good leaders must be persistent in the attempt of meeting their goals. They realise that the goal to success is not simple; despite that, they see that the benefit of reaching the goal are greater than that of the setback that they will experience.
- Good leaders should have integrity. They mean what they say, and they say what they mean. They are people who keep their promises and they do not play the two-faced political game that a lot of others do.
- Good leaders must be ready to pursue their dreams until they become true. The fears are real, but the courageous leader pursues them despite the fears. Good leaders are extremely disciplined in their pursuit of their goals. While most people would be easily discouraged, good leaders make sure they achieve their goals.
In our community where good
leadership is practiced, a leader adopts a participatory approach in
decision-making. A good leader will always consult his/her people before any
important decision is made. For instance, in an institution like a school, a
good leader should recognize that his/her employees are more than just
employees; they are also the people to be involved in making decision.
Leadership
styles
Leadership styles have been
classified on the basis of how leaders use their authority.There are four
leadership styles, namely dictatorial, autocratic, democratic and laissez-fair
leadership.
- Dictatorial leadership. This is the type of leadership governed by a dictator that is dominated by fear, threats, disgrace, and frequent dismissal of the workers.
- Autocratic leadership. This type of leadership is characterised by central authority. All the powers are controlled by one individual; a leader can give or withhold rewards or punishments.
- Democratic leadership or participative leadership. This type of leadership involves the leader consulting the subordinates on the proposed actions and decisions and encourages their participations.
- Laissez-fair leadership. This is the type of leadership where the leader is really not in control. The leader is only consulted if information is required, and he/she can make only a small contribution. This type of leadership gives chance for the subordinates to decide on their own.
Importance of good leadership
The following are some of the
importance of good leadership in a community
- Earns trust from the people by involving them in decision-making. Hence they can work together with their leaders to achieve their goals.
- Increases efficiency and effectiveness in a community, as people are satisfied with their leaders work or performance.
- Enhances public relations in a community. The positive image of a leader enhances public relations that will lead to the achievement of community goals.
- Enhances people’s confidence, especially when leaders are transparency and accountable to their decisions.
- Reduces conflicts in a community. With good leadership neither the people nor the leaders shall be involved in conflicts. The community do have proper channels to forward their problems through democratic ways based on decision making-making procedures.
Good
Leadership, Teamwork, Positive Relationship, Self-Worth, Confidence Qualities
Demonstrate good leadership,
teamwork, positive relationship, self-worth, confidence qualities
Leadership can be defined as
interpersonal influence exercised in a situation and directed through the
communication process towards the attainment of specified goal. Leader ship
does not mean power, prestige, wealth or great education but it means
initiative and willingness to serve man kind and showing a real concern to
others.
Teamwork
A team comprises any group of people
with a common purpose. A group in itself does not necessary constitute a team.
However there are many components that up a team like managers and
agents.Teamwork is a joint action done by a group of people (team) with a
common goal.The notion of teamwork does not that the individual is no longer
important. It means that effective and efficient teamwork goes beyond
individual accomplishment. The most effective teamwork is produced when all the
individuals work together to achieve a common goal.
To effectively achieve the goals of
an organisation, all the people should combine their efforts. If everyone does
his/her job well, and then it increases what the team can accomplish. Teamwork
has to be recognised by everyone knowing that great things happen if individuals
work together as one unit. Everyone has a unique role, but each individual role
must be recognised and appreciated.
For instance, at school both
teachers and student are supposed to live and work as a team. This will help in
building student discipline and academic performance. However, this can only be
achieved through participation of students and teachers in school governance.
Teamwork is something that must be a high priority and must be given constant
attention. Every player must understand how important for them to work together
if they want to be successful. Each player must be dedicated to the whole team
and be ready to act unselfishly. When challenges arise the team need to have
the resources, accountability and commitment to deal with them in a constructive
and positive manner.
Aspects
of teamwork
A good and strong leadership is
essentially for successful teamwork. While each teamwork member will be
encouraged to share thought and opinions as well as skills, the leader will be
responsible for the final decisions and implementations that are made. A leader
should be strong and confident as well as competent in his/particular area of
expertise
Goal-setting is an essential part of
teamwork. A team should set its goal for easy accomplishment of a task. A team
cannot work well and achieve its goal if it does not have well-defined goals to
be achieved. It is also very important for team members to understand their
roles and responsibilities. The team leader can make it possible by defining
the purpose in a clear-cut manner in the beginning of the formation of the
team.
Communication is another important
part of teamwork. The team members must communicate all aspects of a project
and be willingly to listen to each other. The lines of communication should be
open at all times and to all team members. Teamwork can be very successfully if
everyone is willingly to accept one another and work together for the good of
the group.
The team must have a unified
commitment. This does not mean team members must agree on everything. It means
that all individuals must be directing their efforts towards the foal. If an
individual's efforts are going towards his/her personal goals, then the team
will confront this and resolves the problem.
The team must have a result-driven structure.
The team should be allowed to operate in a manner that produces results. It is
often best to allow the team to develop the structure.
The team must have high standards
that are understood by all. Team members must know what is expected of them individually
and collectively. Vague statements such as “positive attitude” and
“demonstrated efforts” are not good enough.
The team must have competent
members. In the education settings this can taken to mean that the problem
given to the team should be one that the members can tackle given their level
of knowledge and skills.
The team must have a collaborative
climate. It is a climate of trust produced by honest, open, consistence and
respectful behaviour. With this climate team perform well and without it they
will fail.
Conflict resolution. Conflict will
rise no matter how teamwork functions together. The best way to counter
conflict is to have structured method of conflict resolution. Team members
should be able to voice their concerns without fear of offending others.
Instead of avoiding conflict, its better to resolves them quickly. It’s often
advised that, the team leader should sit with the conflicting parties and help
to work out their differences without taking sides and trying to remain
objective if possible.
COMPOUNDS
OF TEAM BUILDING
The most important compound for team
building is selecting of participants to be in the group or team. The team
leader usually looks specific things from the members in order to ensure
success in the group or team projects. It’s very important to have members that
have confident and are able to build trust among other participants. Most
importantly, the participant must have a positive attitude at all times.
Training on how to work together is
also a very important compound of teamwork. A team must know how to work
together in order to be productive and successful. If a team can work together,
It will be able to resolve issues that are standing on the way to accomplish a
goal. Working together may not come easily at first, but with proper training
and mutual communication the team will be able to adapt quickly.
Balanced skills set. When creating
teamwork, it’s important to have balanced skills sets. One way to achieve this
is by having experts in different fields. If some members provide some of their
theoretical skills, for example, individuals that are knowledgeable about the
course materials are confused about technology part of it. On the other hand
the individual may fill that the technical side of the problem is more
important than the theoretical side of it. By combining both sides, the team
can come up with the solutions that benefit everyone.
Allocation of roles within the team
is one of the elements needed for team building. Assigning roles to team
members help them to know the team’s place. Each member should be assigned a
role that is clearly defined. This will facilitate easily decision making and
will ensure the completion of the task assigned within the required time
Harmonizing personalities. The
personality of some one play a bigger role on how the team performs. The leader
must understand the kind of people and personality they need to have in order
to gain success from the team group. For instance someone who shows
supportiveness is dedicated to the team’s success. The person who takes more
responsibility, is very easy to work with and listen attentively to the ideas
of other people.
Importance
of teamwork
Large ambition plans usually require
people to work together. Thus, a team work has become an important concept for
work organisations. Effective teams are necessary if the industry is going to
realise good and sustainable results.
- Teamwork can make more effective and efficient use of labour and prove productivity by maximizing the different strength and skills of team members, encourages team members to undertake a wide range of tasks and make team members accountable to customers.
- Teamwork improves quality and encourages innovation of product or services. Innovation has been the outcome of many team works initiatives. Involvement of team members/workers in productive activity through team work contributes a lot to the improvement of the quality of products and various innovations.
- In an institution like a school, students learn to work together in many ways. They learn to rely on each other and take advantage of every opportunity they have. Most often high-performing students in exams experience the benefit of teamwork at school. They consistently perform better than others, especially by attending group discussions.
Positive
relationships
Positive relationships can be
defined as the state of having meaningful, loving, supportive and cooperative
relationships between two or more people. It’s not difficult to establish
meaningful, loving, loving, supportive and cooperative relationship.
Principles for developing positive
relationships
In order to develop positive
relationship, someone needs to understand the following principles of human
behaviour;
- Time and patience. Building positive relationship is like building a house; it take a lot of time and patient to accomplish likewise to understand human life it take time and it need patient to cope with them.
- Applying the principle of brotherhood and allowing others to become more responsible.
- Allowing people to make choices
- Every human behaviour has a social purpose. It should be notes that some people misbehave they are searching for self-attention and some look for revenge
- Changing your negative behaviour can most effectively influence the negative behaviour of others.
- Someone’s positive relationship are influenced by his/her positive actions, thus people must appreciate others peoples positive’s positive behaviour.
- Avoiding retaliation if offended; instead express good will. You will improve the quality of relationship. Retaliation stimulates further violence.
- Avoid finding faults in others; focus on their strength and not their weaknesses
- Show strong confidence in your team members; this will develop their confidence.
- If the members lack strong confidence, focus on their past legitimate successes.
- If it is difficult to speak to a busy person, communicate with him/her through your loving actions
- Withdraw from conditions that can easily lead to power struggle.
Importance
of positive relationships
- Positive relationships are important in maintaining a sense of good among ourselves. A destructive relationship is not always good because it leads to various problems such as abuse. It’s obvious that people needs positive relationships, because they need to be supported, comforted and have fun.
- Positive relationships are important and are a source of success in every area of life as they enhance love, family happiness, business success and spiritual fulfilment.They also promote good principle that ensures success to everyone, partners, family, friends and work colleagues. This means that there is a need to identify key principles and techniques that attract positive relationships because they heal any relationship issues.
- Positive relationships enlighten the people on how to make a right decision in relationships, communicating better, enjoying greater intimacy and confidence.
Self-worth
Self-worth refers to a feeling of
confidence in yourself that your good and useful person. It’s a favourable
estimate or opinions of oneself. Worth means how much we value something, how
important it is for us and how much priority we give it compared to other
things.
Self-worth is a measure of our
unconditional self-love. High self-worth means loving ourselves unconditionally
in all areas of our lives. To have a higher degree of self-worth, we must love
ourselves even when we make mistakes.
Self-worth is frequently based on
our feelings of worth in terms of our skills, achievements, statutes, financial
resources or physical attributes. This kind of self-worth often cultivates an
independence and arrogant attitude. When we find ourselves not measuring up to
societies’ criteria for worth, we suffer serious consequences.
Our self-worth depreciates
dramatically. The illusion of being successful and admires gives way to
disillusionment as our possessions and achievements that once nourished our
souls fail to satisfy our appetite. Every individual experience, hunger,
thirst, fatigue and so forth, we are conditioned to satisfy such needs by
getting food, drinks or rest. By getting these things we will achieve an
acceptable self-worth. Nothing depreciates self-worth faster that regrets,
anger or fear.
Aspects of self-worth
Taking good care of yourself shows
you really do love yourself unconditionally. This is a sign of self-worth. If
you love yourself wholeheartedly, you will prioritize your time and resources
to reflect the relative important of each part of yourself. You will have to
create some balance in your time and your life so that you can take good care
of your body and main interest and needs. Spend time and money on activity
wisely.
Importance of self-worth
Self-worth is a vital belief for
empowering oneself. A valid sense of self-worth is necessarily in order to
attain love, peace, joy, power and a sound mind. A Valid sense of self-worth
eliminates the possibility of committing suicide. Without self-worth, doubts
and fears about our very existence will persist and will destroy dreams and
vision and undermine our greatest accomplishments.
Self- confidence
Self-confidence is a belief in one’s
own abilities to do things and be successful. People with high self-confidence
typically have little fear of the unknown. They are able to stand up for what
they believe in, and have the courage to risk embarrassment, such as delivering
a presentation to a large group of people.
Aspects of building self-confidence
Although many of the factors
affecting self-confidence are beyond your control, there are a number of things
you can do to build self-confidence, these are;
- Dressing style. Clothes affect the way someone feel about him/herself. It changes the way you feel about yourself and interact with other people. I f you dress well you will fill confidently in all places and if you wear improperly you will feel shy and lose confidence.
- Practising good posture. By practising good posture you will automatically feel more confidence. Stand up straight, keep your head up and make eyes contact. You will make a positive impression on others and instantly and feel more alert and empowered.
- Walking fast or quickly also build one’s self-confidence. One of the easiest way to tell how a person feel about him/herself is to examine his/her work. Is it slow, tired, painful or energetic and purposely? It is believed that people with confidence walk fast or quickly. They have places to go, people to see and important work to do.
- Listening to motivational speech. Another way of building self-confidence is listening to motivational speech. You can feel this need by creating personal commercial. Write a short speech that highlights your strength and goals. Then recite it in front of a mirror aloud whenever you need a confident boost.
- Compliment other people around you and refuse to engage in criticizing them. When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling on to others in the form of insults and gossip. To break this cycle of negativity, get in the habit of praising other people. In the process, you will become more liked and build more self-confident. By looking the best in others, you indirectly bring out the best in yourself.
- Make efforts to speak up in a group discussion. During group discussions many people never speak up because they afraid that people will judge them for saying something wrong. By making efforts to speak up at list once in every group discussion, you will become a better public speaker, more confident in your own thoughts, and recognised as a leader by your peers.
- Sitting in the front rows helps in building self-confident, in school, officers and public assemblies around the world, people constantly strive to sit at the back rows. Most people prefer sitting at the back because they are afraid of being noticed. This reflects a lack of self-confidence.
- Physical fitness has a huge effect on self-confidence. If you are out of shape, you will feel insecure, unattractive and less energetic. By working out, you improve your self appearance, energies yourself and accomplish something positive. Having a disciplined to work out not only makes you to feel better; it creates positive momentum that you can build on the rest of the day.
Importance of Self-confidence
- Self-confident is essential to success in many aspects of the individual’s life. It is the key factor in business success. This is because a confident person knows how to balance risk. He/she can borrow money from banks to run the business and pay back the dept.
- Self- confidence involves doing what you believe to be right decision, even if others criticise you for it, being willingly to take risks and go to the extra mile to achieve better things, admitting your mistakes and vowing to learn from them.
- Self-confidence also allows an individual to increase his/her level of control in situations that are important. As your self-confident grows your excitement and energy will help you to be in a control. People may have confident in other people or forces beyond their control. For instance, one might have confident that he/she will pass well the final exams.Self-confident enable an individual to gain confidence from both happiness and sadness.
- Self-confident is generated not only in achievement, ability and success but also from adversity and failure. It is difficult to understand happiness unless you have experiences sadness. You cannot appreciate light unless you have been in the dark.
- Self-confident also promotes individual’s personality in terms of dressing and communication skills. Good and attractive dressing and communication skills affect the way someone feels about him/herself. It changes the way you feel about yourself and interact with other people.
3. Poverty
Indicators of Poverty
Meaning of Poverty
Define poverty
Poverty means a situation where a
person cannot attain the minimum level of well-being. The concept of well-being
can be applied to different dimensions like consumption, income, education and
other basic needs.
- Poverty is characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information.
- Poverty is also characterized by lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods,hunger and malnutrition, ill health, limited or lack of access to education and other basic services. Poverty also includes homelessness and inadequate housing, social discrimination and exclusion.
- It is also characterized by lack of participation in decision making and civil, social and cultural life.
The main poverty line used in the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European
Union is based on “economic distance”, a level of income set at 60% of the
median household income. This states as follows:
- In1985, a poverty line set as US $ 14.40 a day per person. This was suggested for industrialized countries like the USA.
- By 1987 a poverty line set at US $ 2 a day per person. This was suggested for Middle East and North le East and North African countries.
- In 1990 a poverty line set as US $ 4 a day per person. This was suggested for Latin America and the
- In 1990 a poverty line set as US $ 4 a day per person. This was suggested for Eastern Europe and Commonwealth independent countries.
- In 2008, a poverty line set at US $ 1.25 a day per person. This was suggested for sub Saharan African countries.
The International Poverty Line gives
us a convenient way of understanding the state of poverty. However, it is a very blunt instrument for measuring a
complex phenomenon. This is because:
- It does not take into account the cost does not take into account the cost of living differentials within countries. US $ 1 will buy different amounts of goods in urban and rural areas. For instance, food may cost more in urban areas.
- It does show who lives in permanent and who lives in temporary poverty.
- It does not consider the distribution of income within the household. Distribution of income is sometimes affected by gender.
- It only values goods which are delivered on the market. In many poor countries people grow and rear food and animals respectively for their own consumption.
Different Levels and Types of
Poverty
Point out different levels and types
of poverty
Levels of poverty
The assessment of levels of poverty
and trend is complicated by lack of consistent information and absence of
officially recognized poverty lines. This problem has forced some studies to
use their own lines. Thus, the lower lines donate basic food needs based on
specific assumptions about eating habits, nutritional requirements and cost,
while the upper lines cover in addition to such food requirements, and other
essential needs such as clothing, housing, water and health. A poverty line of
US $ 1 per day in real terms has been used by the World Bank to facilitate
comparison with other countries.
The situation and level of poverty
varies among community members and can be groupedinto three categories
depending on the degree of dependency and possession of valuableassets.
- The first group consists of those who have no money or possessions and have lost hope. They do not have enough food and in most cases they depend on charity for survival. They are unable to sustain themselves. Most of these people are either too old or young and handicapped to work.Within this group also is a small fraction of the less poor who consists of few families, mainly single parents, widows and women married to irresponsible alcoholic husbands. They have inadequate standard of living and are often the most vulnerable in society. For those families, meeting the most basic needs is a daily struggle. These people are the source of cheap labour in communities.
- The second group consists of people who can meet their basic needs but do not have sufficient income to have any surplus income. This group comprises of many workers who are being paid low or insufficient salaries, the salary which enables a person to meet only his or her basic needs.
- The third group consists of the rich. At a village level, a rich person has all the material necessities of life like adequate food to feed the children properly and live in good houses made of bricks and roofed with corrugated iron sheets. They are able to assist others or hire their labour. They have a reliable source of income either from livestock or agriculture. They produce in surplus; they possess valuable assets such as radios, television, bicycles, and motorcycles, and have money to purchase basic essentials like clothes.
The World Bank has set the
International Poverty Line at an expenditure level of $ 1 for every person a
day. This figure represents the minimal amount on which a person is considered
to be living in absolute poverty, if his or her income falls below this line.
By this measure, at the present time about 1.2 billion people are living below
this line calculated using purchasing power abilities which take into account
difference in prices of goods in different countries, and allows us to compare
poverty levels internationally. However, if someone is below the poverty line
it is probably the person is living in a community without access to clean
water, but this is not always the case and some countries have managed to
reduce elements of human poverty than income poverty.
A developing country is a nation
where the average income is much lower than in industrial nations, where the
economy relies on a few export crops, and where farming is conducted by
primitive methods.
Types of poverty
- Absolute and relative poverty. Absolute (extreme) poverty refers to set standard which is consistent over time and between countries. The World Bank defines extreme (absolute) poverty as living on less than US $1.25 per day, and moderate poverty as less than US $ 2 a day. It estimates that in 2001, 1.1 billion people had consumption levels below US $ 1 a day and 2.7 billion lived on less than US $ 2 a day.
- Relative poverty views poverty as socially defined and dependent on social context, hence relative poverty is a measure of income inequality. Usually, relative poverty is measured as the percentage of population with income less than some fixed proportion of median income. Relative poverty measures income inequality rather than material deprivation or hardships. The measurements are usually based on a person‟s yearly income and frequently take no account of total wealth.
Indicators of Poverty
Identify indicators of poverty
The indicators of poverty include
high rates of morbidity and mortality, prevalence of malnutrition , illiteracy,
high infant and maternal mortality rates, low life expectancy, poor- quality
housing, inadequate clothing, low per capital income and expenditure, and poor
infrastructure. Others include high fertility rate, lack of access to basic
services such as safewater, food insecurity and poor technology. These features
can be used to identify poor and non-poor individuals, households or
communities. An individual, household or community found to be characterized by
some or all of these features can be identified as being poor.
Most elements of indicators of
poverty are mainly based economic considerations. Consequently, many of these
indicators are quantify these indicators are quantifiable. Recently, the
definition of poverty has been further broadened. New definitions incorporate
problems of self-esteem, vulnerability to internal and external risks,
exclusion from the development process and lack of social capital. The new
definition of poverty captures the qualitative aspect of socio economic
wellbeing. A combination of the quantitative and qualitative definitions of
poverty are utilized to identify who the poor are the extent of their poverty,
where they live and what they do for a living. These definitions also influence
the design of pro- poor policies for economic growth, public expenditure,
safety net programmes and tools for assessing the impact of programmes and
projects on poverty reduction.
Generally poverty is a result of
many and often mutually reinforcing factors including lack of productive
resources to generate material wealth, illiteracy, prevalence of diseases,
natural calamities such as floods and drought, and man-made calamities such as
wars.
At the international level, an
unequal economic and political partnership, as reflected in unfavourable terms
of trade and other transactions for developing countries, is also a major cause
of poverty in these countries. Some causes of poverty are not direct, for
example traditions and norms which hinder effective resource utilization and
participation in income –generating activities.
Poverty is
one of the global problems that have hindered socio-economic and political
development of many societies.
Different Indicators of Poverty to
the Tanzanian Situation
Relate different indicators of
poverty to the Tanzanian situation
The Tanzanian economy is heavily
dependent on agriculture, which accounts for about 50 percent of the gross
Domestic Product (GDP). Agriculture provides 85 percent of exports, and is by
the largest employer. Lack of technical know – how, agricultural inputs,
capital, unpredictable climate and unreliable markets contribute to low levels
of output.
Lack of clean and safe water in a
community is one of the major indicators of poverty. Tanzanian statistics show
that by 1993 this service was provided to 75 percent of urban dwellers compared
to only 46.4 percent of those living in the rural areas. As discussed
earlier,more than 70 percent of Tanzanians reside in rural areas; therefore the
majority of the population has no access to clean and safe water. Women and
childbirth are the most affected citizens. Traditionally, women have the role
of fetching water for the family; they have to walk many kilometers looking for
water currently, community members rely on swamps and other dirty water
sources, which are mostly used by cattle and wild animals.
It is estimated that up to 1977, 73
percent of Tanzanians had basic literacy skills. However, this has been
declining year after year. For example, in 1993 it had declined to 63 percent,
while only 68 percent of all children of school going age were enrolled in
primary schools.
The main reason for the decline is
the introduction of the cost-sharing system in the 1990s whereby every family
is required to pay school fees and other school-related costs, which was covered
by the government previously. As a result of poverty in the country, many rural
families found it difficult to meet the costs, which partly contributed to
increased number of illiterate cases and school dropouts in the country.
The per capita income of Tanzania is
estimated at about $ 250 per year. Through experience the $ 250 would not last
for more than three months in a normal Tanzanian family which in most cases
includes children and members of the extended family.
The situation of family income,
particularly in rural communities, is probably worse today because most
families are heavily dependent on agriculture which is affected by
unpredictable rainfall, lack of capital, agricultural inputs and unreliable
market. This has caused a higher rate of poverty among rural communities, and
distorted the traditional Tanzania support system.
There is a common belief that that
traditionally the extended family in Tanzania provides social and economic
support for its members in times of need. This has shown a high degree of
self-reliance in the past in coping with other social disasters including
famine, drought and economic hardships. Under this system the majority of
family members spend their resources in supporting and caring for a person in
need. However, as result of poverty, members of the extended family find it
difficult to meet the traditional obligations for all members of their extended
family and even their children.
Inadequate health services are
another sign of poverty in the country. Most of the illness are associated with
poverty. In Tanzanian, poor health services have been responsible forinfectious
diseases such as diarrhea, malaria, and tuberculosis. For example, according to
Health Statistical Abstract (1977) there was one hospital bed per one thousand
people.
A high mortality rate is another
sign of poverty. According to the Health Statistical Abstract (1977), the
average life expectancy at birth in Tanzania is 50 years compared to life
expectancy of 77 years in developed countries. The infant mortality rate is
96per 1 000 live births compared to 7 in developed countries.
Women –to women marriages are
another classic example of a poverty situation in rural communities. This
behavior is common in the northern part of the country, Tarime and Serengeti
districts in particular. Through this, rich women choose young women from poor
families and pay the bride price in terms of cash or materials, such as land,
cows or crops to their parents. The rich women later identify any man of their
choice to be boyfriend of the chosen women so that they can reproduce. The
offspring belongs to the husband that is rich woman. The poor families
including their married daughters get involved in this system because of the
economic hardship they experience. This puts poor women at risk of being
infected with HIV and AIDS.Activity
Causes and Effects of Poverty in
Tanzania
The Causes of Poverty in Tanzania
Analyse the causes of poverty in
Tanzania
The incidence of poverty varies
greatly across the country but is highest among rural families living in arid
and semi-arid regions that depend exclusively on livestock and food crop
production. The people of the central and northern highlands are nutritionally
the most deficient, while the coastal and southern highlands zones register the
severest levels of poverty. From the point of view of policy and strategy
design, no region is significantly better off than other, and are very poor any
international standards.
Poverty is caused by both internal
and external factors. Whereas the internal causes can be clustered into
economic and social factors, the external factors relate to international
trade, the debt burden and refugee issues.
Internal Causes of Poverty
- A poor agricultural sector contributes to poverty in the country. Failure in the agricultural sector has contributed to the increase of poverty. It is claimed that though agriculture is the backbone of the economy, the support given to the sector over the years has not been relating its importance. This is indicated by the poor rural infrastructure, lack of modern farm equipment, lack of fertilizers and pesticides at reasonable prices, low prices for agricultural produce, and lack of irrigation schemes.
- A low level of science and technology has contributed to poverty in Tanzania. The use of scientific and technological knowledge in production helps to increase the economy of an individual country. In Tanzania, we still use poor technology or inappropriate technology that leads to low productivity in all sectors of production. For instance, a majority of farmers are still using hand hoes in agriculture. This act has contributed a lot to the increase of poverty in Tanzania.
- The government contributes to poverty by increasing taxes without considering people‟s ability to pay.
- Lack of self-motivation to perform one‟s duties due to laziness and irresponsibility has contributed a lot in increasing poverty. At the government level, its officials do not deliver relevant services and goods to the people as required. This habit has hindered many people in implementing their various projects, for instance the issue of land and right of occupancy.
- Another cause of poverty is mismanagement of public funds that could develop the common people. This is done by the government officers and top leaders who ought to set a good example. As a result, our country loses a lot of public funds through mismanagement, almost daily. For instance, government officers and politicians are paid big allowances and use very expensive cars.
- The common and communicable diseases such malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, TB and anemia are the main causes of death in Tanzania. Children less than five years old are the most affected. Explosion of diseases such as HIV and AIDS, cholera and typhoid have increased the poverty problems. The government and family members are spending a lot of money for curative and preventive measures. Money which could have been used to finance the agricultural and industrial sectors is used to fight such diseases.
- The majority of the people of Tanzania like other Africans are uneducated; this limits the ability of the people to participate in the development of their country profitably, especially the adults. For instance, FAO‟s report of 1974 on the state of food andagriculture shows that Africa‟s annual population growth from 1952 was 2.2% while food production growth from 1952 to 1962 was 0.0%. World Bank‟s Development Report of 1982 shows that Africa‟s annual population growth from 1960 to 1970 was 0.1%. The same report of the World Bank shows that Africa‟s annual population growth from 1970 to 1980 was 1.1% while food production growth dropped by 1.1%. This low percentage in food production in relation to high increase percentage in population growth indicates ignorance and lack of technical know –how.
External Causes of Poverty
- External debts burden. The government spends the little resources she has to pay external debts. This trend
- Unequal exchange in international trade has contributed to poverty in Tanzania. The developed or rich countries are the ones who control “world market”. The developing or poor countries have no say in the world market because they are economically poor. Tanzania is one of the developing countries, so the prices for her goods and imported goods are fixed by the rich countries. The prices offered to the goods from developing countries are very low but for those from developed countries the prices are very high. This imbalance of trade has forced poor countries like Tanzania to remain poor. This trade relationship is difficult to break out of the poverty circle. reduces resources we have and finally increases the magnitude of poverty to Tanzanians.
Activity 2
Suggest some possible measures which
can be taken by the Tanzanian government in reducing or alleviating internal
causes of poverty to her people.
The Effects of Poverty in Tanzania
Analyse the effects of poverty in
Tanzania
There is widespread poverty in the
country which has contributed to numerous effects. At present, about 38 percent
of people living in rural areas are classified as poor. This progress is
reflected in the United Nations Development Programme‟s Human Development Index
for Tanzania, which rose from 0.3% in 1991 to 0.4% in 2002.
Poverty in Tanzania is more common
in the rural areas. About 85 percent of the country‟s poor people live in rural
areas and rely on agriculture as their main source of income and livelihood.
According to the Household Survey of 2000/01, some 20 percent of rural people
live in extreme poverty and about 39 percent are considered poor. Within the
agriculture sector, food crop producers are generally poorer than cash crop
farmers, but both operate under cyclical and structural constraints, are
subject to frequent natural calamities (drought and flooding), and lack market
linkages, inputs, credit and irrigation water.
Income inequality for rural areas
has remained more or less constant and is rooted in inequitable access to
productive assets, including land, financial services, livestock and education.
According to a poverty profile survey of rural households, the percentage of
the rural population producing food for home consumption has dropped by 10
percent in the last decade. Few rural households have access to safe drinking
water, primary education and medical treatment. There is also clear evidence
that poverty increases with the distance from markets, drinking water supplies
and health clinics.
Observations show that poverty has
caused a lot of socio – economic and political effects in Tanzania, such as:
- Increase of illiteracy; normally society which is poor fails to send its children to school. There are so many cases of parents failing to pay school fees for their children after they have been selected to join secondary schools.
- People cannot afford to use modern equipment and machinery such as electric or gas cookers. Hence, they rely on cheap sources of energy like charcoal and firewood which causes deforestation.
- Lack of modern agricultural machinery such as tractors forces people to use hand hoes which leads to allow agricultural yields.
- Poverty in local communities has contributed to the increased number of commercial sex workers, street girls, malnutrition and infant mortality, disruption of Tanzanian traditional support system and spread of HIV and AIDS in the country.
- There is an increase of criminal acts such as robbery, prostitution, drug abuse, and theft. Many people are forced to indulge themselves in these social evils because of poverty.
- Poor people cannot afford a balanced diet; this leads to malnutrition and failure to engage in economic activities for development.
Strategies for Poverty Alleviation
in Tanzania
Strategies in Place for Poverty
Alleviation in Tanzania
Analyse the strategies in place for
poverty alleviation in Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is
the only country in Africa, and perhaps in the world, that within a span of 40
years has gone through rapid and radical transformations from a colonial system
to a programme linking rural households to social services, to a market
economy, without sacrificing basic democratic ideals and social equanimity.
During the process, all of the
country‟s social, political and economic institutions underwent drastic transformations
to adjust and conform to rigid national guidelines and priorities. Such changes
seriously affected the economy, and resulted in a gradual and protracted
decline of all growth indicators during the 1970s and the 1980s. Since then,
the country has recovered significantly, mainly through the implementation of
various structural adjustment and restructuring programmes led by the
government with the help of a coalition of donors.
The strategies suggested by the
international community to alleviate poverty in this country at grass-roots
level in particular have been ineffective. This is mainly because the poor
people were not involved in designing, implementation, or evaluation of the
poverty reduction strategies. However, a way forward should be the strategy
which seeks full representation of the poor and other stakeholders in the
designing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the poverty alleviation
strategy. The strategies should address the actual needs of the poor
communities and target them directly.
After independence in 1961, Tanzania
developed different strategies and policies to alleviate poverty such as the
Arusha Declaration of 1967, whereby the Government nationalized all means of
production such as land, industries and mining. In 1986 the government embarked
on Structural Adjustment Policies (SAPs) including trade liberalization, public
sector reform, elimination of price controls and established monopolies,
multiparty system and good governance. These strategies were suggested by the
international community and were set as a condition of accessing loans and any
other assistance.
Despite all these efforts, the
situation of poverty in Tanzania is worse than it was in the 1970s. The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) findings conclude that poverty in Tanzaniahas
stagnated, and that some social indicators have worsened, but that the main
characteristics of the poor have remained unchanged.
One of the intervention measures
suggested by the government of Tanzania is;
The introduction and implementation
of social and economic policies which address the issue of poverty both at
national and individual level. This may necessitate increased state
intervention in education and other social welfare services, and the creation
of an enabling environment for private investment in the production sector.
In addressing the key challenges of
strategizing to reduce pervasive poverty, Tanzania prepared and adopted the
Development vision 2025 in 1999 and the National Poverty Eradication Strategy
(NPES) in 1997 which spell out a vision for the society with object poverty and
improved social condition. The NPES that was adopted in 1997 aimed at providing
guidance to all stakeholders in identifying, formulating, implementing and
evaluating their poverty.
The overall goal of NPES was to
provide framework to guide poverty eradication initiatives in order to reduce
absolute poverty by the year 2025. For achieving the goals of NPES the
government identified five key sectors, namely education, health and nutrition,
water, agriculture and rural roads.
The NPES has identified three areas
of strategic interventions, namely creating an enabling environment for poverty
eradication, building the capacity for poverty eradication and eradicating
poverty. The strategy has also spelt out roles at various levels for poverty
eradication initiatives. This vision 2025 is in line with the international
developing goal.
Strategies to eradicate poverty are
viewed as instruments for channeling national efforts towards broadly agreed objectives
and specific inputs and outputs. The elaboration and implementation of the
strategy are fundamentally an ongoing process. While a wide variety of key
interventions have already been launched, the preparation of strategies for
certain sectors such as agriculture and education are still under way. The
implementation of reforms aimed at shifting the responsibility of formulating
and monitoring poverty reduction intervention by districts, municipalities, and
communities at the grass roots.
The fight against poverty is
nationwide. The government‟s role is to ensure that its people are free from
poverty and live a decent life including putting in place an
enablingenvironment for all stakeholders to effectively participate in poverty
eradication activities. The government should also strengthen good leadership
and coordination mechanisms for poverty –eradication initiatives.
The government recognizes the role
of the private sector in poverty eradication. The private sector has a role of
creating employment opportunities by increasing investments. The private sector
needs to invest in the provision of social services, provision of credit
facilities and dissemination of information on poverty eradication efforts. Non
–Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have the ability to contribute effectively
in poverty eradication efforts because their activities are based at the grass
roots. Non-Governmental Organizations play a role of sensitizing people and
expand participation of beneficiaries in poverty eradication.
The National Poverty Eradication
Strategy (NPES) recognizes the important role of donors and other stakeholders;
hence they are included in the implementation of poverty eradication plans and
programmes.
People are the main stakeholders in
bringing about decent living conditions. It is their duty to denounce poverty
and carry out efforts to eradicate it. At different levels, people themselves
have to identify the available resources at their disposal and direct them into
poverty-eradication programmes.
Therefore, the strategies for
poverty alleviation in Tanzania are;
- The Arusha Declaration of 1967, whereby the Government nationalized all means of production.
- In 1986 the government embarked on Structural Adjustment Policies (SAPs), including trade liberalization, public sector reform and elimination of price controls.
- Tanzania prepared and adopted the Development vision 2025 in 1999 and the National Poverty Eradication Strategy (NPES).
Effectiveness of the strategies in
Place for Poverty Alleviatio
Assess the effectiveness of the
strategies in place for poverty alleviation
The effectiveness of the strategies
in place for poverty alleviation rests within the Tanzanians as well as their
government. As far as the effectiveness of the strategies is concerned, some
significant changes have been observed. These include:
- Agricultural output has grown at 3.7 percent per annum since 1990.
- Mining has begun to generate higher output as a result of the investment undertaken by multinational corporations.
- Social service sectors like health and education have expanded rapidly since the 1990s due to government consideration as priority sector and expansion of the private sector into social service sector.
- The government is paying more attention to cross-cutting issues like environment, gender, HIV and AIDS, employment, and malaria and restructuring local government.
- Policy formation and strategy are more transparent than before.
Ineffectiveness of the strategies in
place for poverty alleviation
The vision 2025 strategy projected a
future free of poverty and characterized by good governance and the rule of
law. But the document did not provide a strategy of how to achieve them. The
National Poverty Eradication Strategy of 1997 defined areas for economic
growth, income levels, primary education, literacy, access to water and
sanitation, unemployment, mortality and health and infrastructure. This
strategy failed to specify priorities among many planned activities. It did not
incorporate the costs and targets to be made.
The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
(PRSP) was a strategy for poverty reduction with the country‟s own ongoing
processes and agenda. The shortcoming of PRSP was lack of concrete operational
guidelines and costing of interventions. The proliferation of poverty-eradication
strategies made it harder for officials and other stakeholders to see the PRSP
as different from the previous attempts.
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