ILO Constituents Develop Decent Work Country Programme (2017 – 2021) for Tanzania

Dar es Salaam (ILO News) - More than 70 representatives from the ILO constituents (Government, workers and Employers’ organizations), in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar met recently during end-September 2016 to review the current Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) and kick-start the formulation of its third generation. The Country Programme is a guiding document through which the ILO performs its activities in line with the country’s strategies and priorities.

The meeting, among others, agreed on four key priority areas for the new country programme in Tanzania, namely - Promoting employment and employability, enhancing fundamental principles and rights at work, social protection and social dialogue, covering the period 2017 to 2021.

Officiating at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled (PMO-LEYD), Mr Eric Shitindi, said that the forum was an opportune time to build a common understanding of the links that exist between the global, regional and local development plans including the UN Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP), the SDGs and clear understanding of the Decent Work Agenda.

He said, “Considering the current government’s move to shift from subsistence to industrial economy, the Decent Work Agenda should be an integral part in all sectors of the economy".

Mr. Shitindi called upon the members to ensure selection of key priority areas that are achievable, setting a workable coordination mechanism and a clear results framework with notable indicators. He also insisted on inclusion of some of the key national priority areas during implementation of the programme including – services for vulnerable groups and the informal economy.

During the meeting the ILO Country Office Director for Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, Ms. Mary Kawar, highlighted on three opportunities that are available to support and make decent work a reality for all in Tanzania. They include - the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), of which the ILO and its social partners weaved in the decent work agenda and as a result, SDG 8 is solely geared toward addressing employment challenges and inclusivity.

The second Five Year Development Plan (FYDPII) for Tanzania, she said, is another opportunity through which the government has set out its development vision.
“…It is now our challenge to make this plan augur well with the Decent Work Agenda and make it a reality…” She emphasized.
The third pillar is the United Nations Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP II) which was signed in June 2016 by the government and all UN agencies present in Tanzania.

At the conclusion of the meeting a steering committee comprising of representatives from the government and the social partners to lead in the development and finalization of the programme was formed. The committee, led by the PMO-LYED, will foresee the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the programme, promote the DWCP to all government institutions, workers, employers and public, provide policy guidance, and ensure priorities are clearly set-out and integrated into the relevant national strategies.

Background

DWCPs are based on priorities of constituents and national development objectives. They detail the policies, strategies and results required to realize progress, in each country, towards the goal of decent work for all. They are ILO governance documents at the country level, which, among others, specify the Office’s support to the constituents to achieve results as defined in Country Programme Outcomes during a specific time period in a country and in line with the outcome strategies in the organization’s programme and budget.