33 TRAINED AS TRAINERS IN
CEGO IN NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PROJECT .
A
total of 33 individuals from Mufindi and Iringa districts have participated in
training of trainers (TOT) in citizen engaging in Government oversight of the
management of natural resources (forestry and wildlife) in the just ended ten
days training held at VETA Conference Hall in Iringa town, Iringa Region.
The project on Citizen Engagement in Government Oversight (CEGO) in
Natural Resources Management and Social Accountability Monitoring (SAM) is the
project aimed at making sure that government leaders and service providers are
held fully responsible when they fail to deliver the required services as they
are indicated in the strategic plan, annual work plan and the district budget.
According to the Senior Project Officer, Dr. Naima Besta, the government
leaders and service providers are equally required to prepare, submit and
disseminate implementation reports at the end of
financial year.
The training process involved four Community Based Organizations from
Mufindi district is ASHTECH and MUVIMA and Iringa rural are MJUMIKK and MBOMIPA
along with other 17 including ward councilors, ward
executive officers, and division officers.
Dr. Naima Besta said the training is divided into four parts where
training of trainers was first given to Lawyers Environmental Acton Team (LEAT)
workers; next level of training was given to 33 trainers from mentioned CBOs
and ward leaders, and it will be followed by training at the district level.
More training will be conducted at the village level to all committees
members involved in natural resources management and the villagers in the
selected villages in Iringa rural and Mufindi districts.
She said that the training at the district level will involve district
natural resources Officers, wildlife officers, land officers, forestry officers
and other officials dealing with natural resources at the district level in
Iringa rural and Mufindi districts.
"This project of citizens engaging in natural resource management
aims to empower people to participate in government oversight in managing
natural resources through Social Accountability Monitoring.
This project aims at making sure that government leaders and service
providers are held fully responsible when they fail to deliver the required
services as they are indicated in the strategic plan, annual work plan and the
district budget in relation to natural resources. They are equally required to
prepare, submit and disseminate implementation reports at the end of financial
year, "said senior project manager.
Other facilitators who accompanied Dr. Naima Besta in conducting the
training of trainers in Iringa region include Mr. Runyoro Adolf (Alawyers), Mr.
Franklin Masika (A wildlife Management specialist) and Hana Lupembe (Natural
resources management specialist) Citizens Engaging in Government Oversight in
Natural Resources Management (CEGO-NRM) is implemented under USAID/Tanzania's
Democracy, Human Rights and Governance (DRG) "Supporting Accountability to
Tanzania Citizens" (SATC) Program.
In implementing the CEGO-NRM project, Lawyers' Environmental Action Team
(LEAT) will collaborate Community Based Organizations (CBOs) aiming at empowering
the citizens in Natural Resources Management (NRM), Social Accountability
Monitoring (SAM), as well as Income Generating Activities (IGA's).
LEAT is conducting the project to empower the citizens of Iringa rural
and Mufindi districts in Iringa region and later in Mvomero and Kilombero
districts in Morogoro region in order to improve accountability and oversight
of public resources through increasing citizens' participation in natural
resources management, benefit sharing, governance, and oversight of services
delivery at the local government authority levels.
In another development, the senior project officer said the engagement
of citizens in the management and monitoring of natural resources intends to
reduce illegal harvesting of forests and poaching by introducing other income
generation activities like beekeeping as an alternative measure.