Formative Process Research on the local Government Reform in Tanzania
This is the first issue in a series of Project Briefs from the formative process research (FPR) on the local government reform programme (LGRP) in Tanzania. The Project Briefs intend to present and discuss cases illustrating experiences from various councils in implementing the reform. The Project Briefs will also provide discussions on special issues and […]
Local Government Finances and Financial Management in Tanzania
Observations from Six Councils, 2002 – 2003 The major focus of the Formative Process Research Programme is to observe changes in local authorities in the provision of basic services to the public. Moreover, the research aims to analyse changes in local authorities’ capacity for financial management and revenue enhancement, and changes relating to governance, including […]
New challenges for local government revenue enhancement
The recent rationalisation of local government taxes and, in particular, the abolishment of the development levy, imply that many district councils, in the short run, will lose 40-50 percent of their own generated revenues. This has raised concern among stakeholders at both the local and central levels that the financial autonomy of local authorities is […]
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 […]
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.
Governing Petroleum Resources Prospects and Challenges for Tanzania
Part I of the book comprises of two chapters that provide the scope and context for the ensuing sector analysis. This introductory part explores the underlying macroeconomic environment for Petroleum resources, institutions and politics. Analysis of both the empirical and theoretical literature on Petroleum resources forces the authors to review the concept of a “resource […]