The water sector in Tanzania faces multiple challenges, including rising demand coupled with limited resources, a situation further complicated by external factors such as climate change. Trained managers are key to overcoming these challenges. Currently decision making processes are highly hierarchical, which stifles initiative and accountability at lower levels. Strategic changes are often implemented slowly or not at all, as leadership skills in change management have not been developed systematically. Furthermore, women managers are severely under-represented in the Tanzanian water sector. This reflects not only deeprooted structural and cultural barriers, but also lack of support mechanisms. In light of this, the aim is to actively support the promotion of women in leadership positions.
Lower Saxony maintains close bilateral relations with Tanzania and has already successfully implemented two projects on leadership development in the Tanzanian water sector through the German Government and Federal-States Programme (BLP).
The aim of the project is to strengthen the leadership skills of senior managers and reach decision-makers. They play a key role in shaping and implementing sectoral strategies and act as multipliers for a modern leadership culture. This also has a positive impact for the staff of the managers receiving training, as clearer structures and trust-driven cooperation promote an effective and efficient working atmosphere for staff, too. The relevance of a targeted, systematically structured programme for developing modern leadership skills that strengthen staff resources in the Tanzanian water sector was also expressed to GIZ during the Tanzanian Minister of Water’s visit to Germany. The project focuses on practical relevance, feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Upon completion, the results achieved will be summarised and recommendations made for the future development of senior staff within the Ministry of Water and in the sector.