Review of the Strategic Partnership between the Norwegian Embassy and the Norwegian Peoples Aid in Tanzania

Background:
NPA signed a two year “Strategic Partnership” with the Norwegian Embassy in Tanzania in October 2007 aiming to establish a close working relationship to pursue their common agenda for supporting communities and organisations.  In order to facilitate the partnership a 5 year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering the period of 2007 -2012 was signed between NPA and The Norwegian Embassy.  The MoU covers key areas of cooperation between the two parties and defines the mode of partnership, including evaluation of the processes. It was agreed that the partnership would be reviewed in 2009 with a focus on whether the partnership in effect has been strategic as defined in the agreement, and where necessary to recommend for adjustments of the issues and mode of cooperation.

Purpose/objective: The agreement with the Embassy defined a review in 2009 with a focus on whether the partnership in effect has been strategic as defined in the agreement, and where necessary to recommend for adjustments of the issues and mode of cooperation.

Methodology:
The methodology used in the review was mainly based on desk study where various documents/literature were analyzed in line with the Terms of reference (ToR) requirements. The consultant also carried out individual interviews with key stakeholder representatives and focused group discussions where needed.  The scope of the review covered a representative sample of some of the NPA local partners in Tanzania, namely HakiElimu, Legal and Human Right Centre (LHRC), Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA), The Leadership Forum and Elimu, Michezo na Mazoezi (EMIMA) all based in Dar es Salaam. Other actors involved in the review were staff from the Norwegian Embassy in Tanzania and NPA.

Key findings:
The report provides findings of the three main functions which are defined in the MoU for guiding the implementation of the strategic partnership. First, is to administer, implement, and monitor the agreed specific program development areas and realizing the desired outputs, outcomes and changes at the institutional and community levels. Second, is to contribute to improving the knowledge base at the Embassy in terms of providing information on experiences at the partner and grass root level. This entails establishing systematic sharing of information and knowledge between the Embassy and NPA, as well as enhancing the basis of dialogue with the Government agencies and other development partners. The third function  aim at ensuring  effective interaction of the NPA partners with relevant authorities, and to promote transfer or exchange of experiences and lessons of how  the micro level reaches the macro level, and as such contribute to the planning and decision making processes.

Recommendations: Recommendations for helping NPA to implement and monitor program development areas and realizing desired outputs, outcomes and changes at the institutional and community levels.
Develop the capacity of NPA office in Tanzania in terms of acquiring relevant skills and competency (human resource) in programming, monitoring and managing partnership relations.  Develop and/or improve systems and tools for establishing baseline indicators and tracking results or changes of performance at different levels of the partnership and program implementation. Improve the capacity of actors in analysis and interpretation of data/information   on realities and comparison with national and international perspectives

Recommendations for improving the knowledge base at NORAD and the Embassy
Establish a formal mechanism of feedback and enabling dialogue forums of key actors at local partnership, institutional and national levels. These may include formal meetings, visits of staff and leaders from relevant parties, organizing annual retreats and inviting key actors to participate in strategic functions organized by NPA. Establish a joint user-friendly data base (website) to help partners to access and share useful information, best practices and new innovations.

Recommendations for improving the interaction with relevant authorities (government and CSOs)
Define practical ways of enabling NPA staff to participate or engage in national and international dialogue forums with the authorities and other development partners.
Assist partners to define quality areas of networking with other like-mind actors to promote transfer or exchange of information, experiences and lessons learned from the micro level (communities and CSOs) to reaches the macro level, and as such contribute to the planning and decision making processes.
Increase responsiveness and prompt feedback to reports from partners, NPA, Embassy and vise versa. Getting feedback or response on reports has dual purposes.