2024 National NGO Forum Gathers Momentum

The Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups, Hon. Mwanaidi Ali Khamis, has called on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) across Tanzania to actively participate in the upcoming National NGO Forum, scheduled to take place from September 4th to 6th, 2024. The forum will be officially opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Hon. Dr. Dotto Biteko.

Hon. Mwanaidi made this appeal on September 2, 2024, in Dodoma during a press briefing, highlighting the importance of the event. She noted that the national forum will be preceded by district and regional-level forums, providing an opportunity for all NGOs to engage and ensure no organization is left behind.

“The purpose of the regional NGO forums is to share experiences, opportunities, and challenges in the implementation of NGO activities, provide capacity-building training, recognize outstanding organizations, and formulate resolutions to address challenges identified by various stakeholders,” explained Hon. Mwanaidi.

At the national level, the first day of the forum will feature training sessions for Assistant Registrars and Regional NaCoNGO Members, the launch of NGO Coordination Desks within the Private Sector, and joint discussions with private sector stakeholders.

Furthermore, Hon. Mwanaidi mentioned that there will be discussions on local and international funding opportunities for NGOs, the policy and legal framework for NGO coordination, and the importance of transparency, accountability, integrity, and good governance in the operations of NGOs.

In addition to these activities, the forum will also witness the launch of a Campaign to Eradicate Child Hunger and Malnutrition, which will be preceded by sectoral ministry statements on combating child malnutrition.

Vickness Mayao, the Registrar of NGOs, announced that 1,500 NGOs have registered to participate in the 2024 forum, with the total number of participants expected to reach 2,000.

Esther Mongi, the Advocacy and Gender Manager for World Vision Tanzania, revealed that the organization, in collaboration with the government, has prepared a campaign to eradicate child malnutrition. The campaign will be launched at the forum's climax and is set to be implemented across all regions of Tanzania, with an estimated budget of three million US dollars.