Development in
Dar es Salaam
Eleanor Meegoda
Princeton 2012
Funding for Two Projects
Thank you to Grand Challenges for providing me
a stipend to intern at CCI Tanzania and to intern
for a professor at the University of Dar es
Salaam on Tanzania’s transition from Socialism
to Capitalism.
Research: “From Socialism to
Capitalism”
• During the months of July and August, I was
supposed to conduct research with the guidance
of a University of Dar es Salaam Professor.
• While the actual research did not pan out, I
learned informally about issues facing academic
research in Tanzanian Universities.
“Academic Obstacles”
• 2 PhD graduates last year from U. of DSM
• The University gives PhD graduates, those with
the most knowledge and desire for research,
administrative work. Research in Dar es Salaam
requires government approval, i.e. lots of red
tape.
From Socialism to Capitalism
From the few meetings and attempts at research, I learned
– Tanzanian or Nyerere’s Socialism is different from the
Marxist or even South African “socialism.”
– Development is often juxtaposed as “capitalism” against
socialism, where we might see it more specifically as
“globalization vs. domestic status quo/government policy.”
– Christian Extremism has increased in Dar es Salaam – even
next door to me were two churches for which the services
included singing, crying, loud preaching, and even tongues.
– Academics blame the rise of Christian Extremism on funding
by Western and (especially) American churches and
conservative groups.
CCI Tanzania
• CCI Tanzania (Center for Community Initiatives) is an
NGO (an affiliate of) that works under the model of
Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI).
• SDI affiliates support a network of savings and loan
groups, called the Federation, by helping to form
savings and loans group, training financial knowledge,
and helping the group members coordinate different
types of development such as: settlement development,
toilets, water sanitation, community policing, and
income generation.
Let Me Count the Ways
During my 3 months working with CCI:
• I conducted interviews to evaluate the improvements in and
identify new strategies to improve the developmental and
financial activities of a ward level Savings and Loans Group
• Participated in Climate Change Adaptation research
• Helped with the first ever compilation of census data collection
from all of the Dar es Salaam slums
• Created a Microfinance Lesson Plan for Federation Workshops
• Attended Federation Meetings
• Attended Meeting with International NGO funders
• Met with Tanzanian City Council and NGO representatives to
discuss urban planning for the next 5-10 years
• Attended a Tanzania-Wide Federation conference
Skills Developed
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Researching and writing Questionnaires
Conducting Semi-structured Interviews
Swahili
Writing Reports
Taking Dar es Salaam Public Transport
Getting used to public latrines.
**Identifying the difference between supporting
Federation development and developing
reliance**
Conclusion
Good and Critical Research by Tanzanians in Tanzania is
impeded not just by funding or internet and academic
resources, but by institutions.
CCI viewed professors as a resource to add credibility to
the NGO-State research we were doing, rather than
substantive support
Important Development Bodies relied on the research
undertaken by Federation Members, which CCI helped
to compile.
Conclusion
• Research, especially to continually check up on the
activities of NGOs and CBOs, is necessary to continue
to improve the services received by poor people and to
reduce the barriers they face in taking control of their
own development.
• I was ecstatic to be part of the evaluation process and
to realize just how easy it was for an NGO to monitor
and improve its strategies.
• I am incredibly appreciative of the opportunity to
participate in Development Strategies that are new to
Tanzania and see the kind of planning it requires.
Conclusion
Thank you to my two superiors, Tim Ndezi and
Stella Stephens for the opportunity to work with
them. They showed me the kind of commitment
it takes to work in the type of NGO I’d like to
work in. They taught me not only about how to
navigate office dynamics, NGO funding and
resources, but also about living in Dar es Salaam.