Editors Visit UN Projects in Dodoma

Over the last several months, the United Nations and the Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF) have conducted Zonal Media Training for journalists based in multiple regions all across Tanzania. The training consist of a one-day workshop which is preceded by field visits to UN projects in the region where the training is being held.

In late July, the UN and TEF conducted Zonal Media Training for the Central Zone. On the first day of the training, they made a courtesy call to Dodoma Regional Commissioner, Dr. Binilith S. Mahenge, before visiting three UN projects in the region. They were accompanied during the visits by government authorities, and journalists based in the region.

The first field visit was to WFP’s Saemaul Zero Hunger Communities Programme in Chamwino district which was recently handed over to the government. The programme constructed and restored over 100 community assets such as solar-powered irrigation systems, earth dams, schools and community centres. It has also improved livelihoods by supporting activities like beekeeping, farming and livestock keeping. The $5 million projects was funded by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and has to-date supported 2,500 households in Chamwino.

The second project visit was to Dodoma FM, a community radio that has been supported by UNESCO. The radio station has been supported to increase its coverage to an estimated 600,000 people. This improves access to information for rural and hard to reach populations, so they are informed on issues such as preserving cultural heritage sites, gender equality, and how to participate in a broad range of development issues. Also, Dodoma FM has started Child Vision Tanzania, an eye hospital in Dodoma, as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.

The delegation concluded the day in Bahi district where they visited one of 51 weather stations across the country that was established through a $4.2 million project on climate information and early warning systems that are being implemented by the Prime Minister’s Office in partnership with UNDP and the Global Environment Fund (GEF). The information provided by the stations helps the government to plan for extreme weather conditions like flooding and droughts that are occurring more frequently due to climate change. They also help farmers know when and what to farm.

The field visits were followed by a workshop which was held in Dodoma for over 30 journalists from Iringa, Morogoro, Singida and the host region. On behalf of UNCG, UNESCO Sector Lead for Communication and Information, Ms. Nancy Kaizilege, briefed journalists on the Global Goals and activities being implemented by UN agencies in their respective regions. Additionally, TEF Secretary, Mr. Neville Meena, conducted a session on Development Reporting in the context of the Global Goals.

Speaking at the training, UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Alvaro Rodriguez, lauded the efforts of the different UN agencies and highlighted that the UN will continue to support not only Dodoma but also the surrounding regions. “Yesterday we visited three UN projects and saw the impact that we are making in different areas. At the WFP project in Chamwino directly impacts the livelihoods of over 2,500 households; the UNDP programme supports the government to respond to the impacts of climate change, and UNESCO’s support to Dodoma FM promotes the use of local radio to promote civil participation and preserve World Heritage Sites,” said Mr. Rodriguez. “The UN system in Tanzania recognizes that the media is an important partner in communicating how people’s lives are changing and also the challenges that they are still facing.”

On his part, TEF Secretary, Mr. Neville Meena, encouraged the journalists to take advantage of the opportunity and to ensure that they report on the issues that are affecting people’s everyday lives. “We have seen the impact that UN agencies are having in the field. As the media it’s our job to identify what is working, what challenges remain and how more communities all over Tanzania could stand to benefit from similar interventions,” he said.

Another Zonal Media Training took place in Mbeya and covered the regions in the Southern Highlands, namely Songwe, Rukwa, Njombe and Mbeya. UN and TEF officials, as well as journalists from Mbeya, visited UNICEF projects in Mbeya and a WFP project in Songwe.



In Mbeya, the group visited Katumba II Primary School in Rungwe district where UNICEF has renovated classrooms and has improved learning outcomes for students. They also visited health facilities in Rungwe that have been supported by UNICEF.



The school in Rungwe is just one example, however, UNICEF has transformed 670 out of 704 Standard I and II classrooms in Mbeya into stimulating learning environments with displayed teaching and learning aids which have improved learning outcomes for students. They have also trained all Standard I and II teachers in the region on the 3Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic) curriculum.



UNICEF is also supporting nutrition and maternal and newborn health in the region. They have renovated eleven labour rooms, eight reproductive and child health buildings, and two operating theatres which has contributed to improving emergency obstetric and newborn care. They have also trained 355 health workers in maternal, infant and young child nutrition.



In Songwe, the delegation visited one of 18 farmers’ groups in Mbozi district, Songwe region who have been supported by WFP’s Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA). The 18 farmers’ groups that have been supported in Songwe consist of over 3,800 farmers. The project improves the profitability of farmers by training them on improved farming methods, supporting them to gain access to affordable financing and improved post-harvest handling, storage and crop aggregation. The FtMA also supports farmers’ with marketing by directly linking them with buyers for their crops. Nationally, the FtMA has supported 50,000 Famers and WFP plans to scale up the programme to reach 250,000 farmers over the next four years.



“We’re very happy that we were able to give editors and journalists a firsthand account of our work. They’ve been able to see UNICEF interventions supporting education, nutrition, birth registration, maternal and newborn health and child protection,” said Chief of UNICEF Mbeya, Iringa, Njombe and Songwe Field Office, Ms. Pamela Shao. “We are working very closely with the government, health workers, parents and other stakeholders to ensure that no child is left behind,” she added.



On his side, TEF Board Member, Mr. Salim Said Salim, stressed to journalists that they should focus on how communities are faring from a development perspective, especially in the context of achieving the Global Goals. “Investigative reporting isn’t always about investigating things such as corruption. Go to the villages, talk to the people. They have a lot to say,” he said.