Ministry of Education and Vocation Training

Purpose: This study uses the TOE framework to examine how organisational factors influence the intention to adopt innovative financing instruments (IAIFI) among Tanzanian LGAs and to test whether financial advice moderates these relationships.Design/Methodology: Data from 255 finance officers and decision-makers across 6 Cities and 20 Municipal Councils were collected using a structured questionnaire that covered LGA’s divisions, departments, sections and units. PLS-SEM tested the study's hypotheses.Findings: Results show that financial advice has a significant positive direct effect on IAIFI and also moderates the effects of institutional pressure and organisational culture on IAIFI. Additionally, organisational culture, top management support, and institutional pressure significantly influence IAIFI, whereas organisational legitimacy does not (p > 0.05, t < 1.96). The model explains 65.7% of IAIFI variance.Practical Implications: These findings suggest that Tanzania can accelerate IFI adoption by strengthening advisory support, streamlining approvals, reducing bureaucracy, and building LGA capacity. LGAs should establish IFI task teams with clear roles, timelines and budgets.Originality: This study extends the literature on innovation adoption by identifying financial advice as a key moderator that mitigates the effects of institutional pressure and organisational culture on the IAIFI, thereby addressing a critical gap in public sector financing and innovation.

Abstract Background: Tanzania has long prioritized primary health care (PHC) as the pathway to achieving universal health coverage. However, greater, and more effective investments are needed to expand access to quality PHC services and further improve population health outcomes. Furthermore, as Tanzania graduated to lower-middle-income country status, the Government is expected to move towards full domestic financing of health services. To support this aim, there is a need to estimate the current expenditure of PHC services, the resources needed to deliver quality PHC services according to nationally defined standards, and the gap between the two. Methods: A top-down approach was used to understand the costs incurred by the government to provide PHC services in public health facilities. All facility and community-level expenditures incurred by the government and development partners on human resources, medicines, medical supplies, and facility operations were collected and included. The total funding gap was calculated as the difference between actual expenditure and estimated normative cost. The gap analysis was undertaken by input categories and level of facility. Results: Government expenditure on PHC substantially increased between fiscal year (FY) 2021/22 and 2022/23. Nevertheless, the spending level is significantly lower than global benchmarks, and the resources required to deliver quality PHC services according to the basic service standards. Moreover, the analysis revealed there are important differences in the levels of spending per capita across regions and health service delivery productivity. Conclusions: The Government of Tanzania’s PHC spending increased significantly over the two years, raising the per capita PHC expenditure and the expenditure per outpatient visit. As the Government of Tanzania increasingly finances health services from domestic sources, a key consideration for long-term planning in the context of declining partner funding is the total amount of funding required to provide quality PHC services equitably to the population. At the same time, a more detailed understanding of current PHC expenditure informs the calculation and estimation of the funding gap.

IntroductionTanzania declared a Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak on March 21, 2023, reporting nine cases and six deaths (case fatality rate (CFR) 66.7%). Detection began when a Community Health Worker (CHW) reported unexplained illness via the electronic EBS (e-EBS) system, triggering a national outbreak response. This study documents the Early Warning, Alert and Response (EWAR) interventions carried out during the MVD outbreak response in the Kagera region to identify strengths and bottlenecks for strengthening future outbreak preparedness and response efforts.MethodWe documented EWAR interventions using retrospective surveillance document review. MVD outbreak detection and reporting timeliness were compared with Tanzania’s EBS indicators and the 7-1-7 target. Surveillance interventions included additional staff deployment, equipment addition, and tool adoption. Community sensitization efforts utilized Swahili-translated informational cards to facilitate early detection and reporting of signals through multiple channels, including the 199-hotline number, EBS desk numbers and via e-EBS and verified using the standard case definition (SCD). Signals were compiled in Microsoft Excel, where descriptive analysis using frequencies to show trends was conducted. Suspected MVD cases were sent for laboratory confirmation.FindingsOn March 15, 2023, a CHW reported a signal in the e-EBS system within 24 hours. However, a community member and HCWs missed unusual signs of the MVD index case. Five additional members were deployed to support data management using the equipment provided, including three laptops, ten smartphones, and adapted tools. A total of 6,260 informational cards were distributed during community sensitization; 176 MVD signals were reported, where 48 (27.3%) met the SCD, and 37 were sent for laboratory confirmation, of which 2.7% tested positive for the virus. Most signals, 107 (60.8%), were reported in April.Conclusions and recommendationsThe government should adopt the 7-1-7 target and strengthen community and health facility EBS through ongoing mentorship for EWAR.

Youth gambling is a growing concern in Tanzania, with significant participation rates among young people. Public awareness campaigns have been identified as a potential strategy to reduce youth gambling behaviors by educating them about the risks associated with gambling and promoting responsible behaviors. This study aimed to assess the impact of public awareness campaigns on reducing youth gambling in Gallapo Ward, Manyara Region, Tanzania.A mixed-methods approach was employed, including both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. A sample size of 75 youth who had participated in gambling activities was selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.The findings revealed that public awareness campaigns had a significant impact on increasing awareness of legal age restrictions for gambling and improving understanding of gambling risks among youth. The campaigns also helped reduce peer pressure related to gambling and influenced youth to resist negative influences. Moreover, there was a strong belief among respondents that public awareness campaigns could contribute to a decrease in youth gambling rates.Based on the study findings, it is recommended to continue investing in and expanding public awareness campaigns focused on educating youth about responsible gambling practices. Tailored educational programs and support services should be developed to address specific knowledge gaps and behavioral patterns related to gambling among youth. Collaborative efforts involving various stakeholders are crucial for the success of these interventions.Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of public awareness campaigns in promoting responsible gambling behaviors and advocating for policy measures to safeguard youth from the harms of gambling. These findings provide valuable insights for stakeholders and policymakers working towards reducing youth gambling impact in Tanzania.

Purpose: Women entrepreneurs in Tanzania are making significant contributions to their local economies, driving innovation, and creating employment opportunities. However, they still face numerous challenges, including limited access to financing, inadequate business skills, and gender-based discrimination.To address these challenges and unlock the full potential of women entrepreneurs, mentorship programs have emerged as a powerful mechanism.
 Methodology: The study examined the effect of empowering women entrepreneurs through mentoring programs, a case study of Babati District Council. The study used mixed research approach and employed sequential explanatory research design. Descriptive and regression analysis were used to analyze the data and presented by tables and figures.
 Findings: The findings revealed the strong relationship between mentorship programs and women entrepreneurs' empowerment, as evidenced by a high R-squared value of 0.76. This means that approximately 76% of the variation in women entrepreneurs' empowerment can be explained by mentorship programs. The significant relationship between mentorship programs and women entrepreneurs' empowerment is further supported by a low p-value of 0.001, indicating that the observed relationship is unlikely to be due to chance.The study concluded mentorship programs have a significant impact on women entrepreneurs' empowerment.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: From the findings, it recommended fostering mentorship opportunities to support and uplift women in their entrepreneurial journeys. This study has contributed to the advancement of knowledge and practice in the field of mentoring programs for women entrepreneurs in Tanzania. The research has provided valuable insights and recommendations that can guide policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in their efforts to support women entrepreneurs. The study proposed a theoretical framework that elucidates the means by which mentoring programs can empower women entrepreneurs. It also identified crucial elements of effective mentoring programs, including regular meetings, clearly defined goals and expectations, active listening, and constructive feedback. Additionally, the study pushed for policies that foster an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs, including access to financing, education, and networking opportunities. Such policies can facilitate the growth and development of women-led enterprises.

This study examines the determinants of sunflower farmers' intention to seek Agricultural Value Chain Financing (AVCF) in Tanzania.A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from 184 farmers in Singida and Dodoma.Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was engaged to test the hypotheses.The findings revealed a significant link between perceived benefit, perceived risk, knowledge, social enterprise embeddedness, and farmers' intention to seek AVCF.However, perceived behavioral control over AVCF and subjective norms demonstrated an insignificant relationship with farmers' intention to seek AVCF.The results of the present study imply that stakeholders and providers of AVCF must create adequate farmers' awareness in terms of perceived benefits and risks involved in AVCF.Moreover, the embeddedness of social enterprises in AVCF creates social implications among farmers, through supporting social missions and improving the lives of vulnerable farmers, hence leading to poverty eradication among defenseless farmers.

Health information system (HIS) refers to a data collection and management system that supports the use of health information for planning, management and decision making. Robust HISs are required for the proper management of health data to produce and share high-quality health information for informing planning and decision making at different levels of the health system. This chapter presents the evolution of health information, the adoption of digital technologies and the evolution of primary health care (PHC) research and evidence in Tanzania. The evolution documentation covers four periods: before 1961, between 1961 and 2000, between 2001 and 2012 and between 2013 and 2022. Furthermore, the evolution of health information and evidence in PHC is organized around WHO’s six building blocks. The chapter documents different developments, achievements, challenges and lessons regarding the adoption of HIS digital technologies, and the use of different sources for evidence-based decisions for better PHC.

study sought to establish the influence of socio-economic characteristics on the household access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Dodoma City, Tanzania, using the cross-sectional survey design. Yamane formula was used to determine the sample size of 100 respondents. The decided heads of households (respondents) were then selected from the population using a systematic random sampling procedure to fill a questionnaire. The IBM-Statistical Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 20 was used to code and analyze the obtained data. Binary Logistic Regression model was used to establish the socio-economic factors that influenced households’ decisions regarding access to LPG. The study concludes that socio-economic factors aside from sex and marital status have a substantial influence on the possibility of accessing LPG service in Dodoma City. Given these strong results, the researchers call for strategic investments in civic education programs focused at promoting eco-friendly alternative energy sources and supporting household economic stability to consistently increase the affordability of LPG pricing. The study also emphasizes how crucial it is for policymakers to be committed to tackling problems associated to poverty. The adoption of policies intended to enhance the general living standards of households in the area is advised as is the creation of a social security insurance program to lessen instances of poverty. These suggestions are essential steps to guaranteeing better access to LPG and improving the community's general standard of living in Dodoma City.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the second cereal food crop grown in Tanzania after maize (Zea mays L.) and covers approximately 18% of the agricultural land. Soil degradation due to intensive cultivation along with low organic matter input and nutrient imbalance has led to a decline in rice crop yields. This study was conducted to characterize, classify, and assess the fertility status of soils in two rice irrigation schemes of Morogoro region in Tanzania. The data obtained through this study will contribute significantly to land use planning and will facilitate the transfer of agro-technology and other development of the regions with similar ecological conditions. The studied pedons were named MKU-P1 and MKD-P1 for Mkula and Mkindo irrigation schemes, respectively. A total of seven composite soil samples (0–20 cm) were collected for soil fertility assessments. Landform, soil morphological features, parent material, natural vegetation, drainage, erosion, and laboratory data were used to classify the soils in their respective order as per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Taxonomy and the World Reference Base (WRB) soil classification systems. Results showed that the pedons were sandy clay loam in the topsoil and sandy clay to clay in the subsoil; soil reaction ranged from medium acid (pH 5.7) to strongly alkaline (pH 8.6). The topsoil and subsoil nutrients of the studied pedons including available K+, total N, soil organic matter, and organic carbon are low. Based on the USDA Soil Taxonomy, MKU-P1 is classified as Inceptisols cumulic humaquepts and MKD-P1 as Vertisols Fluvaquentic endoaquerts corresponding to Subaquatic fluvisols (loamic, oxyaquic) and Irragric vertisols (gleyic) in the WRB, respectively. The pedons were ranked as suitable for rice production. However, the chemical fertility of the soil is ranked as low fertile associated with deficient in total N; available P, K+, and Ca2+ with excessive iron and manganese; and likely to pose toxicity to crops. The application of organic and mineral amendments in recommended rates and timing for N and P is therefore essential to increase the nutrient content of these soils and minimize losses. Salinity in the subsurface pedon MKD-P1 needs to be taken into future consideration.