One UN Joint Programme: Capacity Building Support to Zanzibar

The Act of the Union, signed in April 1964, established a Union between the formerly separate states of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The Act of the Union sets out the administrative responsibilities devolved to the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and those that are attended to under the provisions of the United Republic of Tanzania. Within the Union arrangement, the Government of Zanzibar maintains autonomy over a number of issues including its own political structure and a large degree of fiscal independence.

National context
Over the past decade, Zanzibar has achieved some progress in economic performance and growth, recording an average annual growth of about 4-5%, with Gross Domestic Product (DGP) growth reaching 6.1% in 2006. Economic growth has been driven mainly by the service sectors, largely tourism and agriculture, which have contributed 43% and 30% respectively to the GDP.

During the past five years, the Revolutionary Government has implemented several aspects of core reforms, which have created an enabling environment needed to promote pro-poor growth and development of poverty-reduction policies.

Despite these reforms, there are critical challenges that still face Zanzibar related to employment, agriculture, health, education, water and sanitation, disaster management, governance, gender and development management and aid coordination.

Objectives and outcomes

To address the challenges facing Zanzibar, the Zanzibar Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty, popularly known by its Kiswahili acronym, MKUZA, was adopted. It focuses on the reduction of poverty and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The UN in Zanzibar has jointly been reviewing and developing a framework for supporting the strategy.

The UN assistance is through the Joint Programme on Capacity Building Support to Zanzibar, which falls under the One UN Programme in Tanzania. This joint pilot programme will be implemented under the leadership of the Revolutionary Government to ensure national ownership and government leadership. The programme will focus on the following areas: (a) Wealth Creation, Employment and Economic Empowerment; (b) Reduction of Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality and Improved Social Services; and (c) National Capacity Development Management.

It is expected that, through this programme, there will be increased access to sustainable income opportunities, productive employment and food security in rural and urban areas by 2010. It is also envisaged that by focusing on the poor and most vulnerable, access to quality basic social services for all is likely to increase. The programme is also expected to strengthen democratic structures and systems of good governance, as well as the rule of law and the application of human rights.

Overall, Capacity Building Support to Zanzibar is expected to contribute to the achievement of the goals and objectives of the MKUZA and the MDGs as they relate to Zanzibar, covering both isles of Pemba and Ungunja.