Contribution of International

Volunteering to Development: Prospects for Volunteerism and Civil

Society Development in Tanzania

IVS STUDY 2010:The Tanzania Dimension

Overall methodology was a pseudo-experimental comparative research design.

It included: Organizations identification

Data collection TechniquesQualitative component with host organizations and respective volunteers programs’ beneficiariesQualitative component with Comparisons of host organizations and their respective program beneficiariesSix organizations were involved:

- 3 host organizations - 3 respective comparative host organizations

METHODOLOGY

Methodology – continue

In Host organizations:- 1 interview with director/ programme manager- 1 interview with volunteer manager - 1 focus group with beneficiaries

In comparative Organizations- 1 interview with director/ programme manager- 1 focus group with beneficiaries

Concise Description of Organizations

Organizations were identified in two sectorsi. Education and Skills Development ii. Economy and Empowerment

The two sectors have strong development underpinnings in Tanzania

i. Education is considered a critical indicator and basis for development

ii. Economic empowerment is considered a direct solution to poverty reduction and an important link for grassroots people to be integrated with free market economy

Concise Description of Organizations…cont 2 host organizations and their 2 respective comparative organizations were in the Education and Skills Development Sector

HOST ORGANIZATION COMPARATIVE ORGANIZATION

Holy Childhood Pre& Primary School

Mwika Integrity Pre& Primary School

Mafinga Lutheran Vocational Training Center

Matumaini Vocational Training Center

Concise Description of Organizations…cont1 host organization and its respective comparative organization was in the Economy and Empowerment

Targeting micro business who cant access bank loans – collateral, Organization address, IDs etc.Offers flexibility- allocation of loan, repayment plan etc

HOST ORGANIZATION COMPARATIVE ORGANIZATION

Tujijenge Microfinance Ltd. Pride Microfinance Ltd.

Tanzania: Historical Epochs and Volunteerism

Context

Volunteerism and Pre-Colonial Tanzania

Tanzania's human history spans through a period of nearly 10,000 years, dating back to early hunter communities that lived in the area south of the Olduvai Gorge, the ‘cradle of mankind.‘

However, it was only in the 15th Century AD that established Kingdoms and Chiefdoms came to be established various regions of Tanganyika, with most of the population organized as scattered tribes.

Volunteerism and Pre-Colonial Tanzania… cont

This was more or less the state Tanganyika was when it was colonized by the German in 1880s and during the partition of Africa in the Berlin Conference in 1885, and German formally recognized as the ruler of Tanganyika.

I have not come across historical anecdotes unveiling forms and patterns of volunteerism in pre-colonial Tanganyika except links to particularly the historical and basic social interdependence among people under the circumstances

Volunteerism and Pre-Colonial Tanzania…cont

However, since there was no cash economy at this time, a look at forms of labor and reward system as well as political, social and cultural organizations of various kingdoms, chiefdoms, and tribes can provide a hint as to what will constitute volunteer work and what was not.

Suffice it to say at this point however, that mostly volunteer work was centered around communities living as social affiliates with strongly familiarity to each other and sharing more less similar life situations.

Volunteerism and Tanzania under Colonialism German Colonialism -1885-1918 British Colonialism -1919-1961

It is my opinion that this is the most fundamental period that sets the basis for understanding the historical trajectory of volunteerism in Tanzania and to an great explain the prevailing dominant perceptions and expectations on the notion of volunteerism in host organizations, comparative organizations and communities and nature of relationships between volunteerism stakeholders.

Volunteerism and Tanzania under Colonialism…cont German Colonialism -1885-1918 British Colonialism -1919-1961

This period introduced the concept volunteering – and mostly reified it as something new (foreign), that came from far and something ‘white people’ did or were capable of doing, and meant to help ‘poor’ Africans

Majority of volunteers of the time came along missionary work or missionary missions and accordingly, set a precedent for volunteering concern for humanitarian and social welfare support

Volunteerism and Tanzania under Colonialism…cont German Colonialism -1885-1918 British Colonialism -1919-1961

The period set a precedent on connotations and the understandings of what constitutes volunteerism, which were largely based on European understanding and practice, and closed the door for recognizing and noticing aspects of local volunteerism especially if it did not reflect the western volunteerism paradigm

Funding of volunteer work was foreign with no direct obligation for beneficiaries to support it in anyway, which set various tones, including the volunteers or whites were wealth and self sufficient.

Volunteerism and Post Colonial Tanzania

- 1961-1967 – Liberalism: continuity of the colonial era - 1967-1985 – Socialism: Socialism and Self Reliance

- Institutionalization of ‘voluntary work for Development’ e.g. Msaragambo, Nyerere’s parable of the house builder

- Emergency of parallel notions of volunteerism with different sets of operational rules- local : obligatory/ sanctioned/intrinsic in culture and unrecognized– anchor for social support and development initiatives- foreign – voluntary, foreign aid/donor related and recognized- Civil Society embraced within ‘the party’

Volunteerism and Post Colonial Tanzania…contPost Colonial Tanzania

- 1985– Ro date: Liberalism - Continuity of parallel volunteerism- Demise of obligatory/sanctioned volunteerism - Continuity of local volunteerism for social support- Lack of recognition for local volunteerism - Foreign funded civil society as a lost luster in the voluntary sector- Recognition of foreign volunteerism- Civil society movement became donor driven and more responsive

to funders priorities sometimes more than priority community needs

Volunteerism and Post Colonial Tanzania…cont

Tanzania is a country where all these history in one way or another and in various degrees, variously manifests itself currently in many ways and not least in the volunteer and civil society aspects.

INTRESTING OBSERVATIONS

Role of International Volunteerism in the Organizations

Perceptions- International Volunteers are held with high regard.- Perceptions of International volunteers are informed

by the history of power relations and affluence differentiating The North and The South – as such the color ‘white’ denotes superiority in multitudes of ways over other races

- As such, all organization held high expectations for potential contribution of international volunteers

Some of the Expectations from International Volunteers

- There are dominant perceptions that- Volunteers are coming with skills and resources- Host community viewed as passive recipients

• IVs can provide technical knowhow, skills • IVs can provide or find donations and show the host

organization how it can raise funds• IVs can provide international networking & linkages• IVs can give new perspective to the project and

strategic advice

Some of the Expectations from International Volunteers…cont• IVs can improve ways of fundraising• IVs can bring new inspiration to the project

and challenge it to excel • IVs can reduce staff gap• IVs can bring modern facilities • IVs inspire the community to trust the

organization

Some of the Expectations from International Volunteers…cont• IVs can help promote the organization to new

and higher standards of operation and performance

• IVs can give motivation and encouragement to the project

• IVs can show and inspire new operational culture in things like budgeting, timelines, commitment to laid out plans

Role of Local Volunteerism in the Organizations

Perceptions- There was generally little regard or focus on local

volunteering. - Local volunteering is taken for granted: at first glance

the concept local volunteering was not considered relevant in the organization and was not perceived as existing

- Local volunteers are considered a liability to organizations because they demand allowances

- International volunteers are considered an advantage because they give without asking for anything in return

Role of Local and International Volunteerism in the Organizations

Essence- All organization relied heavily in part or in total on

local volunteerism for their sustenance and service delivery

- Except on very few occasions, organizations felt International Volunteers delivered less than what was expected of them in terms of skills, resources and break through of solutions to challenges

- Organizations felt they contributed massively in skills development of international volunteers

- International volunteers have costs comparatively higher than of local volunteers, only that they are born by someone else

The Role of IVS in Promoting Civil Society Development

- There are very high expectations on what IVs can do and organizations are upbeat about IVs

- There is little recognition and taping of the potential of local volunteerism

- Using their different capacities, portfolios, talents, abilities and potentials, the key role for volunteerism in general is to contribute in making a difference and making the world a better place for everyone-

- A related role is to facilitate, support and inspire individuals, institutions and communities to take responsibilities and own initiatives towards improving their conditions and circumstances of living

The Role of IVS in Promoting Civil Society Development…cont• These two roles rhyme perfectly with civil society

development. • As far genuine, grassroots based, conscious

involvement and action is concerned• Volunteerism however need to be consciously

nurtured and oriented towards achieving its potential as far as civil society development is concerned

• Responding to actual volunteer and societal needs is essential, however coordination and guidance of the contemporary volunteer movement is necessary so that its shape and orientation can bring the impact

The Role of IVS in Promoting Civil Society Development…cont• The role and potential of local volunteering has been

undermined and as such there has been negligible local and international investment in nurturing and promoting local volunteerism

• This situation makes IVS difficult in the local context because it is not received with equal enthusiasm, capacity or supporting institutional set up.

• Civil Society Development can not occur sustainably if there is no grassroots and local ownership

• As such it is equally important that IVS effort resonate with similar efforts for capacity building and promotion of local volunteerism

The Role of IVS in Promoting Civil Society Development…cont• It is also critically important to expand the hedge of

volunteerism in terms of dimension and stakeholders. This needs to become a societal trend, defined across sectors and levels of society.

• It is important for governments to be on board in the grand design of the contemporary volunteerism movement because practice indicates governments to have tendencies of ‘reservations’ of active civil society movements.

Conclusion

- IVS and LVS are complimenting agencies in promoting civil society development and efforts need to be directed at balancing the two

-volunteerism has enormous magnitude of potential for social change and development, but it need to be organized and guided to realize its potential

Thank you