Local Government Capacity Building for LAMP

In January 2000 the Government of Tanzania started the implementation of a local government reform programme whereby 38 councils on the mainland Tanzania entered the first phase of implementation. Since then, the programme has been expanded and to date (2005) all councils in Tanzania mainland are implementing the programme. The main purpose of the reform, at national level, is to create an enabling and conducive environment for the reforming local government authorities to improve the standard of services being offered to their stakeholders. Strengthening of the democratisation process is an important part of the Local Government Reform Programme (LGRP) as it aims to bring decision-making closer to the grass root levels of the population, which in Tanzania is the lowest level of government, the Villages. Democratisation of rights and responsibilities from Central to Local Government levels and the capacity development of the latter have been stated as objectives of both Civil Service and Local Government reforms in Tanzania. These reforms are designed to directly improve the capacity of those levels to serve the local population and to support the fundamental level of governance in Tanzania – the Village Governments. The LGRP aims at making the local authorities efficient in delivery of services to the population. Reform of organisations is necessary in ensuring efficient delivery of services to the population and also to have in place a small and efficient organisation that quickly responds to the needs of the population.

A big part of the long term technical support in the Land Management Programme (LAMP) aimed at supporting the Local Governments capacity to plan and implement development activities together with the communities. Apart from the long-term technical assistance in LAMP a number of short term assignments have also been carried out in assistance of this process, for example:

1. District Organisation Study 
2. Revenue Collection Training
3. Anti-Corruption Seminar
4. Financial Management Training
5. Training in Registry Management
6. Study on Experiences from Tax Recollection 
7. Training Workshop for Village Executive Officers
8. Disaster Management Plans
9. Management Training for Manpower staff
10. Analysis of Alternative Incomes of District Councils 
11. Head of Department Training
12. PLANREP Training
13. Council Status for Capital Development Grants