Background

In 2005 Tanzania published its second PRSP. Due to the sustained involvement of DPOs during the review and formulation process, the document includes a disability dimension at various points. Although this represented a great success, DPOs nevertheless discovered various weaknesses in the document: it did not consider all aspects, and the implementation and monitoring stages were still vague. For this reason, the Christoffel-Blindenmission started a project based at the CCBRT Headquarters in Dar Es Salaam to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the ongoing PRS process.

Step 1: Orientation

First, the project coordinator surveyed the relevant Tanzanian stakeholders and analysed the PRSP and the PRS process with regard to their relevance to disability.

Step 2: Meeting of possible allies

As second step, the coordinator organised two meetings of representatives from four important DPOs. At these meetings the participants discussed setting up a workshop to develop a strategy to include disability in the PRS process. Finally, a variety of possible allies participated in the workshop, including more than 60 persons from DPOs, organisations working for people with disabilities, government departments, United Nations (UN) organisations and international NGOs (INGOs).

Step 3: Identification of possible entry points

As they were already part of the Tanzanian participatory PRS process, participants confirmed that they saw the implementation phase as the most relevant entry point for their future contribution.

Step 4: Joint strategy

Following the workshop, many organisations took on responsibility for certain action points of the PRS and introduced projects which they are currently implementing. A newly created PRS Disability Network observes and coordinates these activities. Members or advisors of this network comprise representatives from DPOs, organisations working for people with disabilities, government departments, UN organisations and (I)NGOs.