Improving Health and Welfare in Tanzania by Increasing Local-Level Accountability
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Abt Associates will support the Government of Tanzania’s progression towards decentralization and devolution, through a USAID-funded project called “Wajibika,” which means “be accountable” in Swahili.
To encourage replication, the Abt Associates team will develop a plan that can be expanded to all districts in Tanzania to improve performance and accountability, and which other countries can then adapt and use.
The three-year project focuses on strengthening the country’s government-funded programs to promote health, combat HIV/AIDS, and protect orphans and vulnerable children. This will be accomplished by building the capacity of district-level local government authorities (LGAs) in accountable management. Accountable management includes prioritized budgeting, monitoring and technical oversight, and financial management.
During its first year, Wajibika will focus on improving governance in five pilot districts; in years two and three, the project will expand to a total of 25 districts. To encourage replication, the Abt Associates team will develop a plan that can be expanded to all districts in Tanzania to improve performance and accountability, and which other countries can then adapt and use.
Abt Associates will partner with Family Health International and Techno Brain, Ltd. on this initiative. Building on Abt Associates' extensive experience in strengthening health systems, the project will employ a variety of interventions that:
Increase accountability through better use of data
Establish feedback mechanisms
Create incentives for improved performance
Provide coaching and on-the-job training
This comprehensive approach will assist the Tanzanian government in fostering greater country ownership, improved governance, and increased potential for sustainable and high-quality programs. Wajibika will promote strategic advocacy with stakeholders at all levels of government, spurring competition among LGAs to encourage better performance, and motivating health workers through a pay-for-performance system. In addition, the project will facilitate skills transfer at the LGA level through mentoring and on-the-job coaching.
