Tanzania picked as first focus country for DEEP Challenge Fund

 DATIVA MINJA

DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania has been selected as the first focus country for Data & Evidence to end Extreme Poverty (DEEP) Challenge Fund due to government’s efforts of

poverty reduction and need for research evidence and policy change.

DEEP is a research consortium that aims to build evidence, insights and solutions to help end extreme poverty globally. It is led by the Oxford Policy Management (OPM) in partnership with the World Bank’s Development Data Group and is funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office(FCDO).

Speaking during the launch of DEEP Tanzania Challenge Fund today, the Country Director of OPM Tanzania Office, Dr Charles Sokile said that Tanzania is currently embarking on the development plan which aim to shape the country’s future and adress some of the challenges it faces.

“We are launching the new DEEP Challenge Fund to support researchers in Tanzania to meet this need for evidence, and to ultimately improve the lives of people living in poverty,” said Mr Sokile who is also a co-chair of the DEEP National Steering Committee.

He added “The research focus and scope of the Tanzania Challenge Fund are being shaped by Tanzanian policymakers and other key stakeholders as well as findings from Tanzania evidence gap map of poverty research and evidence”.

Dr Sokile said the DEEP Challenge Fund is awarding small amd medium grants between 5,000 Euros amd 50,000 Euros per research project to local researchers working on national poverty reduction.

“Local policy and research communities help to define the scope of the Challenges Fund to ensure that commissioned research meets identified evidence gaps and support ongoing initiatives in extreme poverty reduction that can make a difference to people’s lives,” he stressed.

On his part the ESRF Associate, Prof Samwel Wangwe said the project will help to generate insights and evidence to improve national strategy, policy and programmes affecting poverty and vulnerability to poverty in Tanzania.

“I encourage national researchers and analysts to develop and deliver small and medium research projects that will help to generate insights and evidence to improve national strategy, policy and programmes affecting poverty and vulnerability to poverty in Tanzania,” said Prof Wangwe

Prof Wangwe said the economy is growing but the rate of poverty is not decreasing at the required rate, so the study will help to get data from interior areas in the rural areas.

He said a report to the study will be sent to all stakeholders involved in the country’s development for them to make decisions as well as advice accordingly.