Trust in Public Finance: Citizens’ Views on Taxation by Local Authorities in Tanzania

Part of the problem of raising local government revenues in Tanzania is persistent public resistance to paying, as evidenced by widespread tax evasion and non-payment of fees and charges. In the standard economic model of taxpayer behaviour, the perceived quality of the government does not influence the level of taxes remitted. The basic behavioural assumption […]

Low awareness amongst citizens of local government reforms

The overriding goal of the Local Government Reform (LGR) Programme is to improve public services to ordinary citizens. This reform programme appears to be one of the least known policy reforms in Tanzania. In this brief, we present the results from a comprehensive citizens’ survey of the LGR. This survey was conducted recently and identifies the […]

Are fees the major barrier to accessing public health care?

The major concern of the current health sector reform is the impact on the poor on their access to public health services. Reseach on the performance of user fees at the hospital level in Tanzania has found that the expenditure contribution from cost sharing has averaged between 20 to 65% and the availability of drugs […]

Citizens’ access to information on local government finances

Citizens’ access to information on local government and accounts is often considered a necessary condition for good governance. Without basic information on public revenues and expenditures, people cannot hold their leaders and executive officers accountable.

Vulnerability and Social Protection Programmes in Tanzania

This report describes the extent to which major social protection and risk management programmes and strategies adopted in Tanzania have contributed in shielding the extremely vulnerable individuals, households and communities in urban and rural areas from becoming poorer.

The Role of Privatisation in Providing the Urban Poor Access to Social Services

The Case of Solid Waste Collection Services in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania A study to examine the role of privatisation in providing the urban poor access to essential social services was conducted in sixteen streets of Dar es Salaam classified as low-income areas. The study employed Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) approach whereby information was collected […]

Demographic Factors, Household Composition, Employment and Household Welfare

This study has analysed two different Household Budget Survey (HBS) data to find out how the composition of poor households varies with the chosen method and index of distinguishing the households between poor and the non- poor. The objective of the study was to obtain evidence as to whether factors, other than large household size […]

The Role of Traditional Irrigation Systems (Vinyungu) in Alleviating Poverty in Iringa Rural District

This study was conducted to assess the role of vinyungu irrigation system in alleviating poverty in Iringa rural district in the southern highlands of Tanzania and covered five villages, Wasa, Uhominyi, Kihanga, Kising’a, and Lulanzi, representing three different Agroecological zones. Qualitative statistical methods were used to identify priorities in vinyungu farming and to establish relationships […]