Tanzania is among the signatory countries to the Cotonou Agreement – a cooperation agreement signed in June 2000 between the European Union and a group of countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia (known collectively as the ACP Group). Tanzania has benefitted from this aid envelope granted within the framework of the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) which finances the ACP-EC cooperation covering the period 2002 to 2007 as laid down in the current Country Strategy Paper (CSP).

The Government of Tanzania and the EC Delegation to Tanzania are committed to the involvement of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in the implementation of the current CSP . The strategy recognises NSAs as important partners in the realisation of its objectives. It recognises that NSAs involvement in development processes helps to ensure broad participation, sustainability and increased local ownership. The CSP is committed to deepening NSA participation in all sectors of national development. To this end the strategy recommends strengthening the capacity of NSAs, particularly in terms of research and analysis, communication, networking, lobbying and advocacy.

In 2006 the Government of Tanzania signed an agreement with the European delegation to implement this programme to support NSAs in Tanzania under the National Authorising Office (NAO), Ministry of Finance. The overall objective of this programme is to empower Non-State Actors to be informed of and contrib-ute to the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development policies and processes at all levels in a more structured manner. Thus, the programme facilitates a deepening and broadening of public participation in national development processes. This in turn is helping to nurture a culture of accountability, transparency and civic responsiveness in national processes.

To carry out implementation of the programme the Ministry of Finance has established a Programme Management and Facilitation Unit (PMFU), the operations of which are guided by a 17 member Coordinating Committee.  A Steering Committee, comprising members of the Government, NSAs and the EC will govern the overall direction of the programme.