1 Seizing and Stretching Participatory Space: Civil Society Participation in Tanzania’s Policy Processes

Working paper 1 Hermine Engel

Tags: Tanzania , Civil Society Building

This paper takes as its starting point the perspective that civil society participation in governance—particularly policy processes such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) and related policy developments—largely takes on a mere consultative rather than a transformative role when initiated and driven by government or donors.

In order to understand attempts at changing this situation, the paper  explores the experiences and strategies of civil society organisations  specifically linked to the Policy Forum network in Tanzania in its  objective to transform the consultative engagement to a more meaningful  re-politicised participatory engagement. The emerging factors and key  findings indicate that the following aspects require considerable  attention: (1) engagement in both invited and autonomous spaces to avoid  co-optation; (2) strategic coalitions to avoid situations of dominance  and control; (3) representation informed by political responsibility;  (4) front-stage local engagement with back-stage international support;  and (5) linking the macro and micro policy considerations within larger  political processes. These factors point to an increasing awareness and  strategic negotiation of the dynamics affecting civil society  participation in policy processes. Furthermore, they indicate that these  dynamics need to be continually assessed and evaluated within the  changing political landscape so that civil society is able to position  itself more effectively to influence policy towards transforming the  structural conditions which perpetuate poverty.