Lessons learned

Quality Engagement: Towards better working terms between Government and Civil Society

While there have been instances where Government and civil society have worked together constructively, the relationship between the two sectors is more often characterized by mutual suspicion and antagonism. Government has validly criticized civil society for not being transparent, and for not always offering tangible solutions when it is critical of Government policy or practices. On its part civil society has often had to fight to be included in policy processes, and has on many instances been included in a superficial manner not intended to give it an opportunity for substantive input. Developing a binding agreement on the way in which these two sectors can engage with each other in a constructive manner can address these problems, and contribute to creating a healthy and beneficial working relationship between civil society in all its diversity and Government. In this note, we are guided by the Code of Good Practice on Policy Dialogue developed in Canada. The document is available at: http://www.vsi-isbc.ca/eng/policy/policy_code.cfm . Tanzania is about to undergo an African Peer Review Mechanism self-evaluation exercise on a national scale, and this could provide an excellent opportunity to address the possibility of an agreement between civil society and Government on quality engagement between the two sectors. Read More

Hindsight 20/20: the advocacy learning document produced by Policy Forum

This document could take the shape of a weblog, or a regularly produced compilation of advocacy experiences and lessons learned. It may be electronic, but it will certainly be paper-based. It will also be produced in Kiswahili, once we have the resources in place to manage such a thing. The intention of this document is to record the advocacy experiences of Policy Forum members and staff in a candid way. It is intended to facilitate the sharing of information as well as lessons learned in the practice of advocacy. Read more

Notes on Parliamentary Advocacy

According to the Roadmap produced by PACT Tanzania as a tool for policy work, there are several different entry-points for CSO in the legislative process. Below are a few that have been picked up from that document and the Fact Sheet on the legislative process that is available from the parliament website. Read more