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.