THE REPORT OF THE ANNUAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FORUM HELD IN 29 – 30 SEPT 2021 DODOMA REGION

Introduction

The Annual Non Governmental Organizations Forum organized by Ministry of Health Community Development, gender, elders and children in collaboration with National Council of Non Governmental Organizations (NACONGO), was conducted for the aim of strengthening the efforts and contribution of NGOs towards National Development. The forum was participated by all Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from United Republic of Tanzania, Ministers, Government entities, and other community Development Stakeholders.

The theme of the Forum: Strengthening the efforts and contribution of the NGOs towards National Development

PARTICIPANTS INTRODUCTION: Introduction of the Participants was done by general secretary of the Ministry of Health Community Development, gender, elders and children

• Hon. Samia Suluhu- The president of the United of Republic of Tanzania
• Non Government Organizations (NGO’s)
• Minister of the Ministry of Health Community Development, gender, elders and children
• Ministers from various ministries
• General Secretary of the Ministries
• Dodoma Reigional Commisioner
• Late and former ministers
• Representative from different nations
• Politicians leaders Company and other private sector
• Company and other private sector

THE MAIN ISSUES DISCUSSED

•  Reviewed various related policy, guidelines and regulations for running the NGOs. This was discussed for the aim of improving and resolute the main areas that hinder the running of the Organizations
•  The concept of accountability and reporting the activities implemented by the NGO’s
•  Discussed the system that facilitated the NGOs to perform their activities efficiently and effectively, registration on time, approval, consent and tax exemptions for the things that support the community needs

THE FORUM MESSAGE The message was provided by Dr lilian badi to Hon. Samia Suluhu,The president of the United Republic of Tanzania. It started with congole to the President Samia Suluhu for her good Governance. It’s Also explained the importance of NACONGO and their members different projects/programs including Health and education interventions, Empowerment and capacity building to the community, community safety and security, human rights and law support. Women, youth and children Empowerment

The massage also explained the challenges that hinders the NGO’s, these including;-

•  Lack of tax exemption for NGO’s
•  Delay /not approval the clearance of project implementation
•  Delay of the work permit for the guest/foreigners from outside the country

MINISTRY OF HEALTH SPEECH;- The Government has succeed to establish NGOs Information system (NIS) that help the NGOs to fulfill their needs including application for approval, payment invoice, report submission instead of transport from their origin area direct to the ministry

The minister also talked about the changes of donors’ priority, donors’ scarcity due to COVID 19. She insists the NGOs to prepare the project that goes with donor latest priorities and work collaboratively with AZAK to fight against COVID 19 Pandemic

THE PRESIDENT SPEECH;- the following are the key issues explained by the President Samia Suluhu

• She provide congulatulations to NACONGO and the responsible Ministry for organizing the NGOs Forum, and will be conducted annually
• There are 11,603 Registered NGOs, among these only 4,663 are active. In 2020/2021 they managed to provide 17,436 employments
• The NGOs are stimulate the National Development through different projects and interventions such as Health, education etc.
• The improvement of good environment for NGOs to implement their projects
• Starting on processing the tax exemptions for Charitable Organizations
• Processing of work and residential permit not take a long time, three days it’s enough
• The NGOs should set their strategic planning in consideration with Government priorities
• The NGOs should understand the 5 years National Strategic plan and incorporate with their activities implementation
• The NGOs do not depend much on foreign donor support, the Ministry and NACONGO should join together to form the plan on how to remove dependency of the NGO. It also to involve other stakeholders like Bank and other NGOs to support the NGOs Economy
• The NGOs should set their work to relies with Tanzania tradition and customs
• The National guidelines should be taken consideration when the NGOs performs their implementation
• The president also insists that the population census should be among of the work agenda to emphasize citizen during our interventions