Nordic Delegation Commends the UN’s Work in Tanzania

In mid-November, a visiting delegation of Nordic delegates was given a firsthand account of how the United Nation’s work in Tanzania is adding value to the country’s development and humanitarian needs. Representatives from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland were given a comprehensive account of the UN’s business structure, including insight into the implementation of the Delivering as One approach. They also visited projects that are being implemented in different regions of Tanzania in collaboration with various partners.

In Dar es Salaam they visited Police Headquarters - Police Gender and Children’s Desk. The delegation met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Hon. Dr. Augustine Mahiga which offered a chance to engage the minister on how the UN is working with the government.

In Dodoma, they met with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Job Ndugai, and learned about the UN’s programme which provides capacity-building support to Members of Parliament. During the Dodoma leg of the mission, the delegation also got the chance to see, among other projects, youth employment and social safety net programmes being jointly conducted by various UN agencies.

The delegation’s visit was capped off by a field visit to Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, Kigoma region, which hosts over 129,000 refugees. While at the camp, they visited various facilities including a women’s centre, a women’s association promoting cross-border trade and livelihoods, schools and a food distribution centre.

“We saw a very wide range of how the UN can be relevant across a lot of sectors, always, of course, focusing on the most vulnerable and poorest communities. I think that is where the comparative advantage is and where we need to continue working with the Tanzanian government on improving the quality of life of these people and make sure that they are brought with the rest of the population in the progress towards a middle-income country,” said Ms. Camila Brückner, Director of UNDP Nordic Representation Office.