Decentralised Health Governance

Project description

Title: Tanzanian-German Programme to Support Health – thematic area: Decentralised health governancen
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Tanzania
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
Overall term: 2003 to 2016

Context

The success of Tanzania’s health sector reform depends on the implementation of national policies and the Health Sector Strategic Plan. By delegating aspects of planning, decision making and accountability to lower levels, the Government of Tanzania has empowered councils to set their own priorities.

Objective

The Health Sector Strategic Plan is being implemented, leading to the decentralisation of health structures to regional and district levels, with specific focus on Tanga, Mbeya, Mtwara and Lindi regions. Cooperation has improved between local government bodies, the private sector and civil society.

Approach

GIZ is supporting efforts to strengthen the capacities of the regions and local councils to implement their plans and improve the health and well-being of rural Tanzanians. We work closely with government bodies and local managers, for instance with regional and local council health management teams and hospital governing committees. Our activities are intended to help strengthen their planning skills and support them in getting local community members involved in improving the quality of health care and the accountability of the providers. This ensures stronger linkages and cooperation between service providers and governance structures at the council level. We support two local councils in each of the four supported regions.

Examples of best practice developed at regional and council level are shared with other regions for further implementation. And the lessons learned are then taken into account during talks with local and national decision-makers, in order to inform their policies.

Results achieved so far

A modular training course in district health management has been developed for core members of the council health management teams. This has since been approved and adopted by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Improved staff recruitment and retention practices have been introduced for rural health facilities in Lindi and Mtwara. This approach is also advocated in the recently launched document, the Human Resources for Health and Social Welfare Strategic Plan (2014-2019).