Development in Dar es Salaam

1. Development in Dar es Salaam Eleanor Meegoda Princeton 2012

2. Funding for Two Projects Thank you to Grand Challenges for providing me a stipend to intern at CCI Tanzania and to intern for a professor at the University of Dar es Salaam on Tanzania’s transition from Socialism to Capitalism.

3. Research: “From Socialism to Capitalism” • During the months of July and August, I was supposed to conduct research with the guidance of a University of Dar es Salaam Professor. • While the actual research did not pan out, I learned informally about issues facing academic research in Tanzanian Universities.

4. “Academic Obstacles” • 2 PhD graduates last year from U. of DSM • The University gives PhD graduates, those with the most knowledge and desire for research, administrative work. Research in Dar es Salaam requires government approval, i.e. lots of red tape.

5. From Socialism to Capitalism From the few meetings and attempts at research, I learned • Tanzanian or Nyerere’s Socialism is different from the Marxist or even South African “socialism.” • Development is often juxtaposed as “capitalism” against socialism, where we might see it more specifically as “globalization vs. domestic status quo/government policy.” • Christian Extremism has increased in Dar es Salaam – even next door to me were two churches for which the services included singing, crying, loud preaching, and even tongues. • Academics blame the rise of Christian Extremism on funding by Western and (especially) American churches and conservative groups.

6. CCI Tanzania • CCI Tanzania (Center for Community Initiatives) is an NGO (an affiliate of) that works under the model of Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI). • SDI affiliates support a network of savings and loan groups, called the Federation, by helping to form savings and loans group, training financial knowledge, and helping the group members coordinate different types of development such as: settlement development, toilets, water sanitation, community policing, and income generation.

8. Let Me Count the Ways During my 3 months working with CCI: • I conducted interviews to evaluate the improvements in and identify new strategies to improve the developmental and financial activities of a ward level Savings and Loans Group • Participated in Climate Change Adaptation research • Helped with the first ever compilation of census data collection from all of the Dar es Salaam slums • Created a Microfinance Lesson Plan for Federation Workshops • Attended Federation Meetings • Attended Meeting with International NGO funders • Met with Tanzanian City Council and NGO representatives to discuss urban planning for the next 5-10 years • Attended a Tanzania-Wide Federation conference

10. Skills Developed • Researching and writing Questionnaires • Conducting Semi-structured Interviews • Swahili • Writing Reports • Taking Dar es Salaam Public Transport • Getting used to public latrines. • **Identifying the difference between supporting Federation development and developing reliance**

12. Conclusion Good and Critical Research by Tanzanians in Tanzania is impeded not just by funding or internet and academic resources, but by institutions. CCI viewed professors as a resource to add credibility to the NGO-State research we were doing, rather than substantive support Important Development Bodies relied on the research undertaken by Federation Members, which CCI helped to compile.

13. Conclusion • Research, especially to continually check up on the activities of NGOs and CBOs, is necessary to continue to improve the services received by poor people and to reduce the barriers they face in taking control of their own development. • I was ecstatic to be part of the evaluation process and to realize just how easy it was for an NGO to monitor and improve its strategies. • I am incredibly appreciative of the opportunity to participate in Development Strategies that are new to Tanzania and see the kind of planning it requires.

14. Conclusion Thank you to my two superiors, Tim Ndezi and Stella Stephens for the opportunity to work with them. They showed me the kind of commitment it takes to work in the type of NGO I’d like to work in. They taught me not only about how to navigate office dynamics, NGO funding and resources, but also about living in Dar es Salaam.