MKUKUTA II : National Multi-stakeholder Meeting

MKUKUTA which stands for MKAKATI WA KUONDOA UMASKINI NA KUKUZA UCHUMI TANZANIA, (National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty Tanzania-NSGRP) is set to begin its second phase in July 2010. It is a strategy that is used to guide national efforts towards reducing poverty and improving the living conditions of Tanzanians for the next five years. It outlines priority areas that will be given special emphasis and have shown to be catalyst for accelerating economic growth and contribute towards achieving Vision 2025. The government has been seeking inputs from various stakeholders consultations in developing and improving the second generation of MKUKUTA to be more inclusive of priorities proposed by the public.

The CSO MKUKUTA review process coordinated under Policy Forum has gathered opinions of CSOs actors from all the regions in Tanzania, special groups (such as youth and disabled) and thematic groups in Tanzania in an effort to review the MKUKUTA II plan. The consultation as a whole has reach more than 2100 stakeholders one-to-one and are continuing to gather opinions through the ‘Kila Sauti lazima isikike’ media campaign.

As a completion point for the direct consultation, A national multi-stakeholder meeting will take place 7^th-8^th June 2010 at Blue Pearl Hotel-(former Ubungo Plaza)-Dar es salaam. The meeting is  organised jointly with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs-Poverty Eradication Department and the CSO MKUKUTA review process. It will bring together various development actors such as the government, civil society organisations, the academia, development partners, the private sector, the media and trade unions.

This is a unique opportunity for the media to ask questions and gain insight on what the MKUKUTA phase two has in store for the next five years. There is still room to influence the final draft. We encourage the media to use this critical window to get acquainted with what MKUKUTA is, secondly, inform the public about what and why MKUKUTA it is important.  Finally, the media must use their voice to instigate further inputs of priority areas that Tanzanians will point out as being imperative avenues for succeeding in this reducing poverty but  most importantly what they think can be used to accelerate growth. Tanzanians must be given a voice to speak, their  issues and most importantly their  solutions must be included if  MKUKUTA II is to succeed. It is their right, their responsibility and their plan and so their voices must be heard.