Canadian University Projects in International Development Database (CUPID)

Africa

Tanzania

• Building civil society capacity for poverty reduction
• Sustaining Coastal Fishing Communities

Sustaining Coastal Fishing Communities

Project purpose:
The project aims to (a) enhance the capacity of the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries (DASF) of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) to contribute to Tanzania's needs in marine/fisheries sciences and (b) to improve the ability of the UDSM Institute of Journalism and Mass Communications (IJMC) to contribute to rural development. It also aims to enhance the capacity of UDSM to address gender-equality and socio-economic issues in fishing communities in partnership with the UDSM department of sociology and anthropology.

Key results to date:
The project helped support two PhD students, one masters student and one graduate Diploma student. One masters and one diploma have been completed, and the masters graduate is teaching at UDSM. The remaining individuals have not yet finished their studies. At least 100 communication students were trained in new digital video and broadcast skills. Six videos on fisheries issues have been produced and are being used in the BSc Fisheries Program. Improvements have been made to laboratories, classrooms and the library. Two workshops were held with 10 women seaweed growers in Songosongo to find answers for the poor growth of their crop. At least 300 villagers saw video footage from the DVD "Anatomy of Fisheries Research" and other footage shot in the area, to demonstrate the results and thus get a dialogue going with the community on the importance of research in fish stock preservation. A radio broadcast series "Voices of the Coast" has been implemented by SJMC Radio Mlimani, and over 35 episodes have been re-broadcast on Radio Tanzania. An assessment of selected fish stocks/species completed by the project has provided information and techniques for the future management of coastal fisheries therefore addressing an important governmental policy priority.

Building civil society capacity for poverty reduction

Project purpose:
The project aims (a) to develop the capacity of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) to deliver gender equitable programming on civil society and poverty reduction; (b) to provide information and resources for outreach, policy dialogue and programming; (c) to create and sustain poverty reduction initiatives; and (d) to strengthen the ability of civil society organizations to participate in policy dialogue on poverty reduction with communities and government.

Key results to date:
Curriculum development for programming in civil society studies at the master's level is in development. Input on the draft curriculum is being sought from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) community, as well as from other development studies programs in the country and civil society stakeholders, including the private sector and government. The information centre at the Institute of Development Studies at the UDSM has been strengthened by 237 new volumes on civil society and poverty. A December 2009 meeting of resource centre managers in Dar es Salam was held to discuss how to better connect weaker CSOs to the information they need to work effectively. As part of the Monduli district pilot, communication strategies are being developed between universities and government with some of the most marginalized communities in Tanzania. For example, partnerships are being pursued with the Monduli Pastoralist Development Initiative to develop sustainable information services at the community level as well as civil society partnerships at the district government level. Project brochures are available in both English and Swahili. The project has re-established the publication of the Tanzanian Journal of Development Studies.