Building capacity in Tanzania

Recent strategic reviews and a detailed capacity assessment undertaken in both Tanzania and the UK highlight the need for devolved authority, underpinned by stronger local systems, including governance, HR, finance, and programme delivery. Centralisation of decision-making in the UK reduces community agency, limits scalability and hampers long-term sustainability. Decentralising authority to Tanzanian leaders is vital for sustainable growth and meaningful community engagement. Empowering local actors acknowledges their expertise and fosters inclusive decision-making, aligning with global best practices for locally driven development. This localisation effort will be realised through revised governance structures, targeted training, and a shift in attitudes to fully value local knowledge and leadership.

Moving forward

To build the organisation’s capacity we aim to:

Develop and enhance local governance and decision-making structures;

Strengthen organisational and operational systems for efficient, localised programme delivery;

Build the capacity of Tanzanian staff in HR, financial management, communications, and programme implementation; 

Empower the Tanzanian team to succeed with a thoughtful, planned capacity development programme to decentralise power and processes; 

Establish robust external relations for advocacy, resource mobilisation, and influence which are vital to sustainability and increasing impact; 

Establish a sustainable model for community-led, high-impact education initiatives;

Transition responsibility and authority from the UK to Tanzania, positioning the UK as the organisation’s fundraising arm.

The Highlights

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Recruited 2 qualified employees; Office and Communication Manager & Finance Manager
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Overall organisational capacity is realistically assessed to have increased from 75% at baseline to approximately 80% at midline

Trained the core staff team on proposal writing & fundraising for NGO’s

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Trained a total of 36 EdUkaid employees based respectively on areas of their everyday work and their familiarisation with organisation’s Vision and Mission plus the values of the organisation (Teachers & Core staff team)

Recruited new board of Trustees in Tanzania

The Goal

To strengthen EdUKaid Tanzania’s organisational capacity, governance, leadership, and operational systems by decentralising decision-making authority from the UK to Tanzania, enabling locally led, sustainable, and high-impact education programmes that are responsive to community needs and priorities.

This initiative addresses the challenges of centralized decision-making by building the capacity of Tanzanian staff and leaders in governance, human resources, financial management, communications, fundraising, and programme implementation.

Through strengthened governance structures, recruitment of a new Board of Trustees, targeted staff training, and improved organisational systems, EdUKaid is empowering local leadership to take greater responsibility for strategic decisions and programme delivery. 

 

The initiative also focuses on developing strong external relationships for advocacy and resource mobilisation, establishing sustainable community-led education models, and positioning the UK office primarily as a fundraising arm.

This project facilitates the  foundation of a more resilient, accountable, and locally owned organisation capable of delivering lasting impact for children and communities in Tanzania.

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Our Projects

EdUKaid Partner Schools

EdUKaid has focused on developing and supporting the provision of pre-primary schools alongside the Tanzanian government led facilities, undertaken renovation projects and raised funds to pay the salaries of teachers and teaching assistants.

EdUKaid Community Centre

In 2022, with a grant funded by The Herbert & Stefanie Straus Memorial Trust, EdUKaid’s run-down office building in the coastal town of Mikindani was transformed into into a multi-functional, mixed-faith, Community Centre.

Nanyamba Girls MHM Wash Project

The Nanyamba Girls MHM Wash Project will bring WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) infrastructure to 12 of the Nanyamba schools covered by the Heshima project, so girls no longer have to choose between managing their period and staying at school.

The Community Led Pre-Primary Satellite Project

Mtwara is a predominantly rural region with many remote villages located far from formal schools. Young children often have to walk several kilometres, frequently without adult supervision, making access to education unsafe and difficult.

The Play Scheme Project (pilot)

1 in 3 children in Tanzania are of early childhood age but across the country there are huge gaps in the provision of adequate, quality care for younger children, especially those aged 2-4.

Capacity Building and Localisation Project for EdUKaid Tanzania 2025/2027

Recent strategic reviews and a detailed capacity assessment undertaken in both Tanzania and the UK highlight the need for devolved authority, underpinned by stronger local systems, including governance, HR, finance, and programme delivery.

Supporting Literacy

Within our community centres there is a strong focus on encouraging and developing literacy skills, using a variety of techniques and approaches to achieve this.

Heshima Project, Nanyamba

EdUKaid's work on Heshima project started in 2020, when an initial needs assessment across 16 partner schools found rising drop-out linked to early relationships, early marriage and truancy, even as enrolment was growing.