Today, the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Tanzania and to the EAC, H.E. Roeland van de Geer, together with the Secretary General of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, and the Chairman of the Association of Local Authorities of Tanzania, Hon. Gulamhafeez Abubakar Mukadam, have signed the grant contract for the 2018/19 Mayor Award Scheme in Tanzania.

Monday 17 September 2018, Dar es Salaam:  Today, the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Tanzania and to the East African Community, H.E. Roeland van de Geer, together with the Secretary General of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, and the Chairman of the Association of Local Authorities of Tanzania, Hon. Gulamhafeez Abubakar Mukadam, have signed the grant contract for the 2018/19 Mayor Award Scheme in Tanzania.

For a total budget of EUR 666,637 (Approximately TZS 1,77 billions), this joint UCLGA-ALAT project aims to identify and acknowledge, every year, role models in local leadership in terms of promoting effective service delivery, local economic development and good governance at subnational levels in Tanzania. It aims to promote a performance-based, service delivery-oriented, citizen-centred local governance system that favours the emergence and consolidation of accountable, participatory and inclusive local governments in the country.

During his speech Ambassador Roeland van de Geer stated that “We wish to commend UCLGA and ALAT for their joint efforts to relaunch the Mayors Award Scheme in Tanzania. This is a unique opportunity to promote innovative and locally driven projects among Tanzanian LGAs. LGAs are key actors of the sustainable development of any country in the world and the EU is proud to support this joint effort in Tanzania and beyond”.

Speaking during the launch, Mr Mbassi said that “UCLG Africa conceived the Mayors Award Scheme as a richly stacked initiative intended to benefit both the local governments and the communities that they serve. We remain committed to that cause and, therefore, confident that the partnership entered into with the EU and ALAT, will go a long way in unlocking many of the challenges faced in implementing the earlier editions of the MAS. Allow me stress that this partnership cannot be complete without the involvement of the media, academia, civil society, private sector and local communities.”

Hon. Gulamhafeez Abubakar Mukadam concluded that “The 2018/19 Mayors Award Scheme (MAS) will be launched on the 25^th of September and all Mayors and Chairpersons will be invited to document their projects of the year. The best initiatives will be selected by an impartial committee and presented, as best practices, at the next ALAT’s AGM. Awards will be granted to the best performing LGAs.  May the best project win!”

Background:

The Mayors Award Scheme (MAS) is a Pan African initiative, launched in 2014 by United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa). It aims to celebrate the performance of local governments and local service delivery to the citizens in Africa.

The MAS was already organised in Tanzania in 2015 and 2016, as well as in other African countries (Ghana, Cape Verde and Angola)

During 2016 edition in Tanzania, the following LGAs were selected for their best initiatives: Tanga, Arusha and Mbeya for the Cities; Iringa, Tabora and Shinyanga for Municipalities; Masasi, Njombe and Ushetu for the Town & District Council. The overall winner – Ushetu District Council – was awarded a tractor.

Source : EU Press and information team of the Delegation to TANZANIA

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