United Nations Volunteers Programme in Tanzania
UNV has been operational in Tanzania since 1974.
As the volunteer arm of the United Nations, UNV works with UNDP
and other UN agencies in delivering their country programmes as
well as with government providing support in the formulation of
a policy aimed at the creation of an enabling environment for the
wider promotion and practice of volunteerism among various sectors
of the Tanzanian society.
The UN reforms through the One UN pilot programme in which Tanzania
is one of the eight pilot countries, is considered as a strategic
opportunity for UNV. Participation in the UN joint programmes allows
UNV to be more focused and relevant as joint UN programmes are envisioned
to be sole guiding documents replacing the UNDAF and CPAP, which
direct the development efforts of both the UN agencies and Government.
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(Photo: UNV Staff in group photo)
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As of this date, there are a total of 105 UNV volunteers in service,
composed of 25 International UNVs and 80 National UNVs who are deployed
to several projects and programmes of UNDP and other UN agencies as
well as with a government department.
A considerable number of the UNV volunteers are with UNHCR assisting
in the ongoing repatriation of thousands of Burundian refugees and
with the UN Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS supporting the implementation
of the Community Capacity Enhancement Initiative.
UNV volunteers are also working with UNICEF, UN-Habitat, UNAIDS, UN
Capital Development Fund, UN Dispensary and for the Asia -Africa Volunteers
Exchange Programme, a UNV-executed project funded from the Japanese
Trust Fund. |
UNV BUSINESS MODEL IMPLEMENTATION / RESULTS ACHIEVED
1. ADVOCATING for the concept of Volunteerism for Development
and Peace
As a support to volunteer infrastructure development, in collaboration
with UNDP Tanzania Pro-Poor and Poverty Monitoring Unit, UNV has
initiated the formulation of the draft National Volunteer Policy
that was completed in early 2007 and submitted to the Ministry of
Labour, Employment and Youth Development - MoLEYD. The draft policy
focuses on recognition, promotion, facilitation and coordination
of volunteerism in the country. It would promote the mainstreaming
of volunteer development issues in Ministries, Departments and Agencies
policies and other stakeholders development programmes. The draft
policy document is now undergoing review at MoLEYD for preparation
of a cabinet paper to guide approval/legislation of the volunteer
policy.
2. INTEGRATING “Volunteerism for Development”
into development planning and programming
The assistance of UNV volunteers are integrated in 3 of the 7 UN
joint programmes under the One UN Pilot Initiative. The One UN Programme
document completed in October 2007 covers seven programmatic areas
with their focus fully aligned with national priorities outlined
in the National Strategies for Growth and Poverty Reduction (MKUKUTA
and MKUZA) on which the larger UN Development Assistance Framework
(UNDAF II) is also based.
3. MOBILIZING VOLUNTEERS
Anchoring on the national development strategies – MKUKUTA,
MKUZA, the UNDAF, the CPAP and now, on the One UN Joint Programmes,
UNV is now concentrated in the areas of governance, crisis prevention
and recovery, humanitarian relief, HIV/AIDS, youth and development
as well as in private sector development. UNV volunteers have been
engaged in the following initiatives during the last two years:
- UN Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS – Fifty one (51) National
UNVs are with the Community Capacity Enhancement Initiative of
the joint programme. The CCE was initiated by the UN to support
the district and community level response to HIV/AIDS. The NUNVs
help in strengthening capacity of communities and local government
to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate community-driven response
to the AIDS epidemic an ensuring inclusion and participation of
all sectors in the response. It was launched in the regions of
Kagera, Kigoma, Rukwa and Lindi.
- UN Joint Programme on Human Security (UNDP) – Eight National
UNVs are currently assisting two components of the programme particularly
focused on two areas. The first is on strengthening the capacity
of local governments to identify, plan and undertake long-term
and emergency response measure on emerging human security threats.
The second is on the reduction of illicit proliferation of small
arms and light weapons and concomitant armed violence including
SGBV. Through the NUNVs, enhanced capacity and motivation among
local government staff people in the target communities to carry
out development initiatives has been achieved.
- UNHCR - A total of 34 International and National UNVs are assisting
in programme activities of UNHCR and in the operation of several
refugee camps in the northwestern part of Tanzania which are hosting
refugees from Burundi, Congo and Rwanda. They are working in the
camps in various capacities ranging from refugee camp management,
refugees protection and data management work. The assistance of
the refugees helped a lot in bringing humanitarian relief especially
to the group of refugees who have smoothly repatriated back to
their home country.
- UNICEF - An IUNV Project Officer is providing assistance to
the Early Childhood Development Program aimed at facilitating
maternal well being as well as the best start of growth and development
for all children in Tanzania while the other IUNV is providing
operational support by managing its fleet of vehicles and radio
communication. Aside from the two IUNVs, two UNV Interns have
are also providing assistance to UNICEF’s programmes on
Education and Paediatric HIV/AIDS Care.
- UN Habitat – A National UNV is working on UNH’s
Global Partnership Initiative on Urban Youth in Africa assisting
in strengthening urban youth participation in decision making
through the One Stop Youth Center mechanism, the NUNV has contributed
in raising awareness of the youth about national issues and instilling
among them the sense of duty to help in building their own country.
- UNIDO - A National UNV is assisting in the implementation of
improved food processing and value addition technologies and techniques
aimed at reducing the vulnerability of communities in NW Tanzania
to food insecurity, low income and environmental degradation.
- UNAIDS – A fully funded UNV Coordination and Programme
Officer is being provided to the UN Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS
in Zanzibar to assist in ensuring a smooth coordination between
all actors in the UN agencies and the Zanzibar National Programme
in responding to AIDS in Zanzibar.
- UNCDF – An Internationall UNV Monitoring and Evaluation
Specialist is deployed to the project “ Support to Local
Economy in Mwanza”. SLEM is aimed at reducing poverty in
the Mwanza region using Local Economic Development Approach, which
is strengthening and promoting an enabling environment for sustainable,
equitable poverty reduction and pro poor economic development
and growth.
- UN Dispensary - An International UNV UN Physician contributes
in ensuring that satisfactory medical care is provided to UN staff
and dependants. He handles the overall management of the UN Dispensary
enduring adequate health care for the staff.
- Asia Volunteers Exchange Programme - A total of 8 UNV volunteers,
4 IUNVs and 4 NUNVs are being provided under this programme which
is a mechanism for volunteers from Asia to go to Africa and transfer
skills and knowledge in the fields of agriculture and the private
sector especially small to medium enterprises. The component of
the programme in Tanzania is focused on the enhancement and provision
of support to the growth of small to medium enterprises especially
informal businesses that have failed to record any meaningful
growth.
UNV Country Office Team in Tanzania
Ruby T. Banez, UNV Programme Officer
Restitute Lyimo, Country Operations Assistant
Veronica Laiser, Programme Assistant
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