Browsing by Author "Madaha, Rasel"

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A comparative analysis of RIPAT and other selected participatory rural development approaches used in Tanzania.
(Mkuki na Nyota, 2023) Madaha, Rasel; Martin, R.; Mwakatoga, J.
Influenced by the African socialism philosophy of the late Julius Nyerere and the participant research practices of Marja Liisa Swantz, Tanzania is one of the pioneers of participatory action research in the world. Within the mentioned milieu, participatory approaches have become widespread. The approaches are geared at enabling rural communities to address their challenges through participatory approaches. This book chapter focuses on a comparative analysis of locally improved rural development approaches that have been developed and improved in the Tanzanian context. Using primary and secondary data from some Tanzanian rural interventions by Uluguru Mountains Agricultural Development Project (process approach) and World Vision Tanzania (ADP approach), the chapter focuses on a comparative analysis of the mentioned strategies and RIPAT (Rural Initiatives for Participatory Agricultural Transformation) to shed some light on rural development efforts in the Tanzanian context. The process approach involves participatory endogenous processes of development that start with the recognition of the local capacities of the people. The ADP (Area Development Programmes) approach is a participatory approach that seeks to induce communities with capabilities to undertake appropriate actions to accomplish economic and social progress. More recently, World Vision Tanzania (WVT) reframed the acronym ADP by calling it Tanzania Empowerment ADP Model (TEAM). RIPAT is a participatory extension approach that transfers a ‘basket’ of agricultural technology options, including various crops and livestock, to groups of 25 to 30 smallholder farmers in a way that allows for joint, experiential, and participatory learning. In 2017 Research, Community and Organisational Development Associates (RECODA) entered a two year contract with WVT of co-owning the approach; the agreement ended in 2019. The engagement allowed World Vision Tanzania to use the RIPAT approach in ADPs. All in all, some literature suggests that participatory approaches fail to empower people in real life situation. In this regard and drawing from the participatory theory and practice, the chapter assesses the sustainability of the approaches.
Can local African communities be empowered through participatory budgeting?
(International Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences, 2020) Madaha, Rasel
Tanzania used to be one of the poorest countries in Africa. Although the country attained a middle-income status on 1st July 2020, the majority of grassroots communities have not experienced improvement in their standard of living. Participatory budgeting (PB) is one of the variants of public budgeting geared at community empowerment through participation of non-elected citizens in the management of public resources. This article has explored the intent of the participatory public budgeting in the empowerment of local communities in the Tanzanian context. The key question is are marginalized people been empowered to participate in the PB? The study used a qualitative research design. The main unit of analysis was a district council. An administrative ward and a household served as secondary units of analysis. The findings have divulged that there is a framework for the implementation of PB capable of empowering communities in Tanzania. However, the PB structures have been underutilized. If the government commits to effective implementation of the existing set up of the PB process, allowing full participation of local communities at all levels, community empowerment can be attained. Overall, the article adds to a new body of literature on the contribution of PB on community empowerment. The article is useful to practitioners and academicians interested in the implementation of participatory approaches and community empowerment. The study is based on an original research.
Challenges and opportunities of Village Community Networks within the neoliberal context: a case study of women’s networks in Africa
(African Identities, 2018) Madaha, Rasel
Given the fact that neoliberalism continues to affect the way people view today’s world and it will continue to do so for sometimes, women and their networks need to make use of some of the opportunities presented by neoliberalism. In particular, the government of Tanzania has created an atmosphere to allow grassroots networks and NGOs to directly implement development interventions in Tanzania. The NGOs have implemented welfare interventions benefiting the entire communities as well as providing financial services to a limited number of people. As the role of welfare NGOs declines, there has been an unplanned surge of grassroots networks including VICOBA Women Networks following a government’s call for community’s ownership of the development process. Although VICOBA Networks are an unplanned change, they possess a potential which can be used to improve microfinance projects. Besides, the government of Tanzania has created a framework to recognize the role played by such networks in provision of social services to the public. This is a key opportunity that needs be utilized. Other key opportunities have been discussed in the article. The knowledge presented in this paper will benefit several fields including African studies, human geography, gender studies and community development both in the field and academia.
Factors for joining village community networks in Tanzania
(Asian Economic and Social Society (AESS), 2021-05-06) Madaha, Rasel
Self-created social networks play key role in the development of communities across the globe. Self-created community networks serve as platforms for social networking among marginalized communities in Africa and the rest of the world. Although community members are motivated to network, social networks face some micro and macro structural challenges. Despite the challenges, community members continue to join and benefit from social networks. However, the reasons for them to join the networks, especially in the African context, are inadequately documented. Using a qualitative methodology and longitudinal research design, the article explores “push and pull” factors for joining a strand of self-created social network known as Village Community Networks (VCONEs). The findings suggest that challenges emanating from the neoliberal context push some community members to join VCONEs. The push prompts them to seek some protection against the negative forces of neoliberalism. VCONEs also pull women to access opportunities offered by the network. Noteworthy, VCONEs have managed to retain some autonomy from external agents such as local governments, donor and NGOs. The autonomy from external agencies makes VCONEs more sustainable than other strands of social networks.
Foreword for Volume 1 Issue 1
(Sokoine University of Agriculture and Community Development Professionals Association of Tanzania (CODEPATA), 2021-08) Madaha, Rasel; Malima, Regina
Editorial message for Vol. 1 Issue 1
Gendered access and control over Quality Declared Seeds (QDS) resources among rice producers in Kilombero district, Morogoro, Tanzania
(African Journal of Accounting and Social Science Studies (AJASSS), 2021-06) Lyimo, Nora E.; Sikira, A. N.; Madaha, Rasel
Quality Declared Seed for increased agricultural productivity is pertinent to farmers. This study assessed the gendered access to and control over QDS resources among rice producers. A cross sectional research design was used, whereby a questionnaire was administered to 218 rice farmers in Kilombero District. Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant interviews were conducted to complement and allow triangulation of data. Descriptive statistics were analysed using SPSS, while content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data Specifically, SPSS computer software was used to analyse descriptive statistics such as Tab. The results show that access to credit was very low among farmers in the area even though women (45%) were found to have more access to credit than has been the case with men (13%). On the other hand, men were found to have more access to inputs (22%) and agricultural training (29%) than was the case with women. Women in the study area had access to land, but lacked control over it. Cultural barriers strongly affect and influence ownership of resources including land for rice Quality declared seed production among women farmers. ,. It is concluded that women get less benefits in rice QDS production due to poor access to and control of productive resources. There is a need of removing all cultural barriers by creating awareness on equitable access and proper control of productive resources among both men and women using gender sensitive programs in collaboration with relevant government machinery.
How do local subjectivities interfere with the domestic enforcement of International laws on corruption in selected regions of Tanzania?
(BRILL (see https://brill.com/view/journals/tare/tare-overview.xml?contents=About), 2022) Madaha, Rasel
Although Tanzania has ratified several international laws on corruption, the domestic enforcement of such laws remains problematic. Some social structures that sustain corruption in the country continue to exist. The article is informed by the theory of constructivism of international law. Some insights from cultural relativity theory, clashing moral values theory of corruption, Critical Theorist paradigm, and anti-colonial discursive framework have also been useful in informing the article. Using ethnographic longitudinal case study methodology, this article explores local subjectivities that interfere with the domestic enforcement of International laws on corruption in selected regions of Tanzania. The study has also attempted to answer the following question: can international law on corruption influence the local context and actors in an attempt to eliminate corruption in Tanzania? They key finding is that the presence of systemic corruption and local subjectivity hinders the fight against corruption. In turn, the situation hinders the domestic enforcement of international law. The study also highlights that the fifth phase government adopted an anti-corrupt cultural approach to address corruption in Tanzania. The cultural approach enabled Tanzania to attain significant achievements in the fight against corruption. In this regard, the study recommends a cultural approach to the elimination of corruption. The focus should be on creating an anti-corruption culture through good governance and democratization. The paper adds to the scholarship on cultural studies, development studies, human rights, African studies, governance, international law, and international relations.
Networking by the rural poor as a mechanism for community development within the Neoliberal context: the case of women networks in Mkalama District, Singida region, Tanzania.
(University of Dar es salaam, 2017-11-08) Madaha, Rasel
This study examined the role of Village Community Networks (VCONE) in the promotion of community development. Specifically, the study examined “push and pull” factors for joining VCONEs; the role of VCONEs and associated gendered implications in community development; and finally, problems, challenges and coping strategies of VCONEs. The study has employed a case study research method. It has been informed by socialist feminism and social network theories. A sample of 13 VCONEs with members totalling 363 participated in the study through semi-structured questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, transect walks, informal mapping and in-depth interviews. The overall findings of the study indicate that women, despite the barriers associated with the neoliberal context and patriarchal culture, join VCONEs to address some of the challenges of neoliberalism. Moreover, the networks have led to the attainment of community development through channelling important resources to women. Finally, VCONEs have taken some initial steps for coping with neoliberalism. Contrary to the dominant knowledge, this study has revealed that free market policies are functionless in communities with scarce resources subjecting women to new forms of patriarchal exploitation. Therefore, it is recommended that the government needs to come up with policies that specifically target victims of neoliberalism and marginalised women in particular. Concomitant with that, it is also recommended that patriarchal culture be changed to facilitate full realisation of community development. On the whole, VCONEs add to the socialist feminist theory and social network theory by serving as platforms for grassroots organisation and activism.
Role of food securty groups network in poverty reduction:A case study of Chamwino district, Dodoma region
(Sokoine University of Agriculture., 2007) Madaha, Rasel
This study focused on the role of food security groups’ networks in poverty reduction in Chamwino district, Dodoma region Tanzania. The objectives of the study were to a) describe FGNs in terms of membership, activities and sustainability; b) identify the roles and extent to which Food Security Groups Networks have contributed towards poverty reduction: c) identify factors of success or failure and best practices in Food Security Groups Networks; d) identify and describe strategics for strengthening FSGNs. The study population consisted of all members of FSGNs who had participated in FSGNs for a minimum of three years. Data for this study were obtained using a case study research design whereby purposive sampling was used to select three villages out of 13 villages. The criteria for selecting the three villages were existence of FSGN in each of the villages, presence of a complete Community Cereal Bank building in a particular village and accessibility. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was used to collect data for this study, 'fools such as personal interviews, in depth interviews. documentary review, observations and focused group discussion were used to collect data. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis whereby quantitative data mainly from structured questionnaires were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The main findings of this study in relation to poverty reduction arc summarized as follows; the FSGNs have played different roles including increasing the capacity of members to access the extension services and empowering FSGN members in the areas of knowledge, decision making, finance and entrepreneurial
The role of peasantry women initiated networks in the promotion of Community Development in Mkalama District, Tanzania
(African Journals online and SUA, 2022-05-30) Madaha, Rasel; Shayo, Rose; Mwaipopo, Rosemarie
Community development is a phenomenon referring to communities that can attain and sustain a better standard of living for every community member. Although the thinking is advocated by the proponents of community development, the opponents throw their trust and thrust on the market. They are of opinion that the market is the driver and engine of development, not communities. Individuals are driven by self-interest and not those of the community. On the contrary, the proponents of community development assert that communities are drivers of their development. They advocate for the development of the capabilities of communities for them to collectively take care of their development. Networking is one of the community-centred strategies to deal with the shortfalls of the market and to promote community development. However, the literature focusing on the role of women networking in addressing some of the shortfalls of the market economy is scant. As such, this study employed an exploratory research design and, an embedded multiple-case study research method, to explore the role of Village Community Networks (VCONEs), as self-initiated peasantry women’s networks, in the promotion of community development at selected wards of Mkalama District. VCONEs are networks of female peasants who engage in agricultural production during the rainy season and petty businesses during the rainy and dry season. Overall, the findings indicate that VCONEs serve as tools which enable community members to address some of the challenges of the market by collectively working together to build a better standard of living, increasing access to modern technologies, recognizing their problems, as well as attaining self-reliance and empowerment. It is recommended that the government, in collaboration with other stakeholders, need to create a platform to up-scale VCONEs to the rest of farming communities in Tanzania to boost community development and agricultural development through the mitigation of some of the shortfalls of the market economy.
A study of Local Government in Africa through Participatory Action Research (PAR)
(University of California Press, 2021) Madaha, Rasel
Tanzania has crafted one of the most creative models of local governments in the world with the potential to improve the lives of marginalized communities. As such, the author used Participatory Action Research (PAR) in an attempt to improve the model and for its strengths in empowering communities. The author collaborated with 120 community representatives, as co-researchers, from across four selected local government councils in Tanzania to examine the role of local governments in delivering public services to marginalized smallholder farmers. The exercise was enriched through the interaction with 128 local government officials. Overall, although the Tanzanian local government model has the potential to improve lives, there is a need to focus on increasing its efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public services. The current focus aiming at creating more units of local government increases operational expenses. Increased operational expenses hinder the ability of the local governments to deliver agricultural extension and other public services. Moreover, the findings imply that although local governments need to be awarded some autonomy, they ought to continue working with the central government for the common good of the entire nation. Finally, this study serves as evidence that PAR can help build participatory local government structures on a sustainable basis. The local governments need to be more participatory through the creation of participatory social structures. Those can pave way for the full realization of the potential of the Tanzanian model of local government. The gender perspective has to be incorporated in local governance because the findings highlight that women are disproportionately affected by the failure of the local governments in the provision of public services. The article uniquely seeks to contribute to the African political literature as well as literature highlighting the role of PAR through fostering both co-learning with local co-researchers as well as transformative dialogue among researchers, local governments, and local communities.