Seven Zonal NSAs' Resource Centres Equipped

As part of improving communication and access to information, which is the second result area of Non-State Actors Support Programme, seven zonal resource centres for Non-State Actors have been provided with basic equipment.

Zonal Resource Centres are apparently being hosted by different institutions, namely Teachers’ Trade Union (in Mbeya) for the Southern Highlands Zone, HAKIKAZI ANALYST for the Northern Zone (in Arusha), Mwanza Non-Governmental Organization or MNGON for the Lake Zone (in Mwanza), TCCIA Kigoma for Central and Western Zone (in Kigoma), MANGONET for the Southern Zone (in Masasi), ZACPO for Pemba and UWZ for Unguja. 

Equipment provided includes computers and their accessories, printers, photocopiers and office furniture. The Programme Coordinator, Ms Tabu Ndatulu, says that provision of the facilities is part of capacity building of the centres to enable them deliver services to their stakeholders effectively.

The stakeholders are Non-State Actors, namely the Private sector, Trade Unions and Civil Society Organizations in the largest possible diversity. In the structure of NSASP, Zonal focal centres are the information and implementation hubs for project implementation linking the programme with Non-State Actors including affiliated networks and umbrella organizations in the respective areas.   

The ZFCs were established in each zone as a result of consultative meetings with NSAs, during which they selected effective and reputable institutions to fulfill a programme role. The process of equipping   ZFC, to make them effective in providing services, is ongoing.

They are to serve as hubs for the two-way flow of information between NSAs in their zones; and for both the Programme Management and Facilitation Unit (PMFU) and NSAs in other areas. They are also responsible for identifying opportunities for local or national policy engagement by NSAs in their respective areas.

According Programme set-up, the zonal focus centres are to be charged with the task of ensuring that identified functions are carried out to the satisfaction of their constituencies. It is their responsibility to ensure that all information disseminated by the programme reaches stakeholders and ensure that members participate in programme activities.

“Policy or Zonal Resource Centres are selected programme centres where NSAs can access information on development policies and related information”, she says noting that the centres are linked to the Dar es Salaam Central Resource Centre, which is on the third floor of Mwalimu House. 

The Dar es Salaam NSAs Resource Centre is now operational with computers, a TV set and other reading materials which are available for various stakeholders. The plan is making the centre, a real one-stop reference room whereby books, research reports, journals, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, videos and other items of interest to the NSAs, can be found. 

The centre has been established to empower NSAs with the necessary information so that they can effectively contribute in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development policies and processes at all levels in an organized manner.

Kiswahili and English materials are being sourced including policy related info produced by different institutions be it by development partners like international agencies, or donor programmes, embassies and their related institutions; the government and its agencies; the private sector, be they investors, traders and service providers as well as trade Unions and civil Societies in all their  diversity.