UNESCO assumes the chairmanship for EdDPG in Tanzania

In 2006, the Government of Tanzania and its Development Partners (DPs) agreed to a Joint Assistance Strategy for Tanzania (JAST) framework for more effective development partnerships, with clear linkages to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and later the 2008 Accra Agenda for Action. In response to the JAST agenda of national ownership, alignment, harmonization, managing resources for results, and mutual accountability, DPs have established a structure of Development Partners' Groups (DPGs), including the DPG Main and various sector and thematic sub-groups, through which DPs engage in dialogue with Government and Non-State Actors.

UNESCO convened the first meeting with the EdDPG on 14 September 2022, whereby various Education Development Partners, including Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Canadian High Commission, the European Union, UNICEF, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), UNHCR, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), USAID, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and British High Commission.

The UNESCO Dar es Salaam Officer in Charge, Mr. Michel Toto, officiated the meeting and reiterated the important role of Development Partners in contributing to the advancement of the Tanzania Education Sector and the need for improved coordination and effective and impactful dialogue with the Government of Tanzania and education sector stakeholders at large. Mr. Toto further highlighted the common goal that the Education Development Partners share as stipulated in Sustainable Development Goal no. 4 (SDG 4) to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Moreover, Mr. Toto informed the Development Partners about the UNESCO specialized international institutes, including the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), the International Bureau of Education (IBE), and the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP). He expressed UNESCO's normative role to support the URT and collaborate with the EdDPG in the various aspects of the development of the Education Sector.

The Education Development Partners Group consists of Agencies (Multilateral and Bilateral) that are providing support to the education sector in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar through different modalities, including General Budget Support, Sector Budget Support, Results-Based Financing, Program and Project Support. The Education Development Partners Group (EDDPG) was first established in Tanzania in 2001 to enhance Development Partner (DP) collaboration in response to the Government's Education Sector Development Programme (ESDP, 2000) and Primary Education Development Plan (PEDP, 2002). Over time, this Coordination Group has evolved into the Education Development Partners' Group (EDDPG) under the JAST framework and in support of the Paris Declaration for Aid Effectiveness.

UNESCO will Chair the Education Development Partners Group for a maximum of two years, from September 2022 to September 2024. With this role, UNESCO will coordinate Development Partners liaison with the Government in alignment with the Education Sector Development Plan (ESDP, 2022 - 2027), which outlines the goals and priorities for the sector, and the structure and processes for sector dialogue in Mainland Tanzania. This dialogue is led by the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MoEST), in collaboration with the President's Office - Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG). Development Partners (DPs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are also key stakeholders in the Education Sector Dialogue Structure for Mainland Tanzania.