CSO Letter Regarding the CPF Consultation Process in Tanzania

6 June 2023

Nathan Belete,

The Country Director,

World Bank Tanzania,

Dar es Salaam,

Tanzania.

CSO Joint Letter Regarding the Consultation Process with Civil Society Organizations in Tanzania’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) Development

Dear Mr. Belete,

The initiation of the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF FY2023-2027) in Tanzania marks a significant step in shaping development priorities to address extreme poverty eradication and promote shared prosperity over the next four years. In light of this, comprehensive and robust consultations with all stakeholders are crucial. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Tanzania play a vital role in amplifying the development needs of communities.

The World Bank, guided by its citizen engagement framework, emphasizes the importance of involving citizens in the development process of country frameworks, including the CPF. It is essential for the bank to ensure an inclusive outcome by following the best practice consultation procedures during the creation of this critical policy document. As we strive for meaningful participation and engagement from

CSOs and affected communities, we urge the Bank to adhere to the best practice consultation guidelines outlined in the World Bank Group’s policies.

With this in mind, we propose that the bank takes the following measures to ensure meaningful CSO participation in the process of developing the new CPF in Tanzania:

● Firstly, we urge the bank to publicly share information regarding the consultation process and its timelines on all World Bank platforms. The draft documents, including the Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCD) and the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) drafts, should be accessible to all stakeholders in advance of any consultation. The consultation process should commence at least four weeks after the information has been made available.

● Secondly, and in light of the above, we request an extension of the consultation period for the SCD until the end of July this year. As part of this extension, we kindly request that the Bank organizes additional consultation meetings with civil society organizations and affected communities in the country. The consultation meetings should allow sufficient time for engaging with stakeholders and gathering feedback.

● Thirdly, we recommend conducting consultations at the district level to gather perspectives from local communities. It is crucial to hold a consultation in the Dodoma region, which currently serves as the administrative hub, for regional-level input.

● Lastly, in cases where physical participation in the consultations is not feasible for CSOs, we urge the bank to provide a timely virtual participation option. Furthermore, CSOs should be able to submit their written contributions to the bank seamlessly, emphasizing the need for open communication channels during the consultation process.

We appreciate your attention to these recommendations and look forward to fruitful and inclusive consultations that incorporate the voices and perspectives of all stakeholders in Tanzania’s CPF development.

Sincerely,

List of Signatories:

Civil education is the solution to poverty and environmental management (CESOPE)

NOURISH AFRICA

Women Action on Health and Legal Rights-WAE-HEAL

FORUMCC

Rural Development Concern-RUDECO

Media Aid for Indigenous and Pastoralist Community (MAIPAC)

Foundation for Environmental Management and Campaign against Poverty-FEMAPO

ECOPLANET CONSULT SERVICES

Tanzania Gender and Sustainable Energy Network (TANGSEN)

Tanzania Women in Energy Network(TAWOED)

Recourse