Research Repository :: Browsing by Author "Rutasitara, Longinus"

Browsing by Author "Rutasitara, Longinus"

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Aid Effectiveness to Infrastructure: A Comparative Study of East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Case Study of Tanzania
(2008) Likwelile, Servacius B.; Rutasitara, Longinus; Haule, Joseph O.
The development challenge facing Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), Tanzania in particular, relates to the highest levels of poverty. A number of strategies have been put in place to address this challenge the main focus being how to sustainably enhance growth which is necessary for poverty reduction. Among constraints to growth are lack of supportive infrastructure and weak institutional capacity (including minimal state effectiveness and weak societal engagement). Studies show that growth is positively affected by the stock of infrastructure assets and that income inequality declines with higher infrastructure quantity and quality (Ndulu et al., 2007), but for most SSA countries, growth is constrained by lack of supportive infrastructure and weak institutional capacity, including minimal state effectiveness and weak societal engagement. Key institutions, both public and private, are necessary for private sector growth, which is an engine of growth. How institutions are harnessed and proper linkages between actors developed is a matter developing countries have been and are still grappling with.
Analyses of poverty in Tanzania: How well do they inform the policy process?
(Tanzania Journal of Development Studies, 2005) Rutasitara, Longinus; Likwelile, Servacius; Luvanda, Eliab
Tanzania is one of the poor countries that developed Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) towards the end of the 1990s under the aegis of the international financial institutions and support of development partners. One of the requirements was that the PRSP address the multi-dimensional nature of poverty and how to reduce it. This paper amplifies on this aspect and specifically the fact that comprehensive analyses of poverty for policy-making demand not only high quality data but also high capacity to make such analyses. The paper examines the level of poverty assessments available at the time of the preparation of Tanzania’s PRSP and implications for subsequent work. I
Attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Challenges for Sub-Saharan Africa
(Tanzania Journal of Population Studies and Development, 2006) Rutasitara, Longinus; Likwelile, Servacius
This paper examines the prospects and challenges of achieving the MDGs in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) amidst widespread pessimism that SSA as a whole will not achieve most of the MDGs by the target date of 2015. It reflects on the state of MDGs in Africa. It is noted that record is “mixed” with some good performance on a few goals in a few countries. On average, the prospects are bleak. Lessons from experience indicate there are a number of constraints and the pre-conditions for accelerated progress towards MDGs in the SSA require both internal and external support. In agreement with recent reviews, it is recommended that countries integrate actions to achieve the MDGs in country-led poverty reduction strategies, improve the environment for private-sector, increase effort in domestic resource mobilisation, and scale up investments in human development and economic infrastructure and institutions for democratic governance. Further, countries need to nurture international partnerships with a view to increasing the level and effectiveness of aid and trade-related assistance.
Bridging University Research to Development Policy
(Tanzania Economic Trends, 2009) Rutasitara, Longinus
This paper examines the conditions that must be maintained for university-based research output to be effectively deployed to advance socio-economic development. It uses the university-government and university-industry linkages a conceptual framework and situates therein the ideal contexts that the researcher would take into account for the research output to have impact on policy making. Citing an example from the University of Dar es Salaam, a related challenge is pointed out of developing multi-disciplinary research agenda on problems which require multi-dimensional interventions.
Can Contract-farming Work for Non-Traditional Crop Exports? Insights from a 2007 Rural Survey in Tanzania
(Orient Journal of Law and Social Sciences, 2008) Rutasitara, Longinus
Contract farming (CF) has evolved as an organisational framework providing farmers with a united bargaining front in the course of agricultural commercialisation. While in colonial Africa, Asia and Latin America out-grower schemes were associated with enclave plantation and estates farming for traditional export crops such as tea, rubber, sisal and sugar, in recent years contract farming has been adopted as an institutional innovation for promoting diversification into non-traditional agricultural exports. Diversification has been dictated by the instability of export earnings from the traditional commodity exports and a surge in foreign demand for organic foods. This paper examines how practical contracting is in poor rural areas. It identifies the prospects and practical contracting difficulties faced by smallholder farmers of paprika and onion, potential non-traditional exports, in Iringa region of Tanzania where a survey of 200 farmers was made in 2006.
Economic Policy and Rural Poverty in Tanzania
(Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, 2005) Rutasitara, Longinus
Economic Policy and Rural Poverty in Tanzania: A Survey of Three Regions
(Mkuki na Nyota Publishers Dar es Salaam for REPOA, 2002) Rutasitara, Longinus
This study provides some evidence about the effects of the macro-economic reforms that have been going on since 1985 on rural poverty. The aim was to make a quantitative estimate of the extent of poverty, explore factors that are closely associated to poverty, add qualitative elements of poverty and relate these to policies, particularly the constraints to rural markets and infrastructure. The latter are seen as important variables at the meso-level, linking the macro-level (policies) to the micro-one (poverty). A Rural Household Budget Survey (RHBS) was carried out in 1998 to arrive at reliable poverty data, and to highlight policy changes during the last decade as perceived by the rural poor. A total of 649 households were covered, in 13 clusters in three locations, including clusters and households covered by earlier surveys. A small participatory poverty assessment (PPA) complemented the quantitative household survey, capturing people's perceptions on poverty and the impact of policies. Economic characteristics showed a high dominance of agriculture and a mixture of food and cash crops. Social indicators showed that 50 percent of the rural people do not have basic literacy, with some correlation between per capita income (expenditure) per village and literacy levels. Health behaviour depends very much on the access to modern facilities, and access to clean water was limited. On the basis of two adjusted poverty lines, a lower food one (Tshs. 105,000) and upper (basic needs) one of Tshs 139,000, resulted in poverty indices as follows: 46 percent of the rural population was below the food poverty line, 61 percent below the basic needs one. The range of 46 percent (absolute) to 61 percent (relative) of the incidence of poverty compares reasonably well with earlier attempts, and suggests little change over time.
Efficacy of Higher Education in Tanzania since the 1990s
(Dar es Salaam University Press, Dar es Salaam, 2010) Rutasitara, Longinus; Mbelle, A. V. Y.; Karamagi, I.
Enhancing Tanzania’s Capacity to Export
(2005) Rutasitara, Longinus
Environment at the heart of Tanzania's development
(Earthprint, Ltd, 2007) Assey, Paschal; Bass, Stephen; Cheche, Blandina; Howlett, David; Jambiya, George; Kikula, Idris; Likwelile, Servacius; Manyama, Amon; Mugurusi, Eric; Muheto, Ruzika; Rutasitara, Longinus
This paper was initiated in response to growing recognition in Tanzania and abroad of the successes achieved in ‘mainstreaming’ environmental issues into Tanzania’s National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty – MKUKUTA. The paper is the product of a Tanzanian ‘learning group’, comprising authors from government and non-governmental backgrounds, facilitated by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). We aim to offer the first record of an ambitious and unprecedented Tanzanian initiative to integrate environmental issues into development policy and practice. Such a refection is long overdue – we ourselves were hampered by few records having been kept as the MKUKUTA process unfolded. We offer a ‘lessons learned’ approach rather than a formal evaluation or academic thesis. We look at failures as well as successes – although we are convinced that the MKUKUTA experience is largely very positive. Indeed, we believe it offers an iconic and enduring (and perhaps rather rare) example of a nationally-developed policy process which delivers – in practice – what the World Bank’s Poverty Reduction Strategy principles describe in theory.
Exchange Rate Regimes and Inflation in Tanzania
(The African Economic Research Consortium, 2004-02) Rutasitara, Longinus
The study examines the influence of the major determinants of inflation with a particular focus on the role of exchange rate policy changes. The gradual change in policy orientation from “controls” to “market” in Tanzania is associated with a change from a highly controlled exchange rate (until 1985) to a more liberalized regime from 1986 to the present (2002). The parallel exchange rate dominated price changes from the late 1970s to 1985; the parallel premium tapered off gradually from 1986, almost disappearing by 1992. The problem of inflation cuts across both regimes despite improvements in the past four to five years. The model estimations using quarterly data for 1967–1995 show that the parallel rate had a stronger influence on inflation up until the early 1990s compared with the official rate. Continued macroeconomic (tighter monetary and fiscal), trade and exchange rate reforms, and slow but steady improvements in the growth rates of GDP, may explain the recent (1993–2002) fall in inflation and a more “stable” market for foreign exchange in the inter-bank foreign exchange market (IFEM) arrangement. The charged debates of the 1980s about devaluation are no longer fashionable, but the exchange rate remains potentially sensitive to exogenous shocks and certainly any policy reversal or similar lapse.
Export Instability and Economic Growth in Tanzania
(Botswana Journal of Economics, 2012) Rutasitara, Longinus; Kweka, Godfrey
This paper investigates the consequence of export earnings instability on growth in Tanzania. Applying time-series econometric technique on annual data for the period 1968-2008, a long-run relationship between export instability and growth is confirmed to be negative for aggregate exports. However, the relationship is stronger for traditional exports which dominate the export basket. This is consistent with the findings in most commodity-dependent developing countries that export instability is detrimental to economic growth. Reducing export instability is possible through diversification of the export basket and destination markets, with policy attention on resolving constraints to domestic production for exporting and export competitiveness and technological and skills upgrading.
Export of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables and Stakes for Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania
(UTAFITI Journal of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, 2010) Rutasitara, Longinus; Selejio, Onesmo
Declining proceeds from traditional agricultural exports have prompted poor countries to seek alternative exports in form of “non-traditional agricultural exports” . This paper examines the prospects for exports of fresh fruits and vegetables (FFVs) with a particular focus on how the stakes of smallholder farmers can be improved. Basing on a review of literature, it identifies the main challenges from the international trade regimes affecting FFV exports from developing countries as being stringent quality, health and environmental standards. Lessons for good production and marketing practices are noted that can improve the capacity of developing countries to attain the required standards. For Tanzania, existing information about FFV export performance sheds light on the major constraints and opportunities for FFVs around five agro-climatic zones and major export outlets. Policy and research issues that need priority attention for the development of FFV exports are then discussed as well as the possibility of developing the domestic market for FFVs.
Feasibility of Taxing the Informal Sector: A Survey with Reflections on Tanzania
(Zambia Journal of Social Science, 2012) Rutasitara, Longinus
This paper discusses the feasibility of mobilising tax revenue from the informal sector in a developing country context where the informal sector is growing but is largely going un-taxed. The expansion of the tax base may be enhanced by supporting the productive capacities of the informal sector activities through innovative formalisation interventions that seek to break the growth-constraints faced by more enterprising informal sector operators. While the impact of tax rates and tax administration on the informal sector is better understood (shared with formal small and medium enterpises to some extent), more research is needed about the determinants of tax non-compliance of the sector. Because of the heterogeneity of the sector, it is proposed that in studying the impact of formalisation interventions and the tax compliance behaviour selection be made of specific activities (informal sector sub-sectors) for better management of research and design and implementation of tax regimes for the informal sector.
Impacts of Socio-Economic Activities on the Malagarasi Wetlands
(Dar es Salaam University Press, 2004) Rutasitara, Longinus
The socio-economic activities in the Malagarasi wetland have provided an invaluable source of livelihood for decades. However, unguarded, these activities have imposed negative effects on the resources and environment through loss of soil fertility, reduced animal and plant species, pollution and associated health risks, reduced productivity and increased vulnerability to poverty. The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) is used to analyse alternative livelihood strategies in Nguluka, one of the study sites with primary focus on issues of poverty, stock of natural resource depletion and environment. Factors that influence the level and intensity of human activities are examined with particular attention to the “poverty-environment” nexus. It is important to enlist broad participation of community members in promoting awareness of “extractive technologies” in agriculture, fishing, logging that are scientifically consistent with sustainable use of natural resources. The interventions that are recommended to improve income-earning capabilities should build in conservation strategies. Existing regulations should be enforced to control members of society who pursue self-gain through extractive methods which wantonly deplete resources and damage environment. Alternative sources of livelihoods should be promoted through awareness-raising, training and increasing access of community members to productive resources such as working capital, credit, training and access to improved techniques of production and better tools. These will release pressure on the wetland’s resources and environment and, together with better management of the catchments, promote sustainable use of natural resources.
Imperatives for Export Development in Tanzania
(African Review, 2002) Rutasitara, Longinus
Export development in Tanzania has received varying attention in various policy initiatives. The early inward-looking policies of import substitution did not lead to high export expansion. Neither have market and outward-oriented reforms since the mid-1980s produced dramatic progress. This article reflects on the imperatives for improved productive capacity for export diversification and competitiveness. Basic education and technological capacity are critical to the ability of the firms to cope with rapidly changing global production and exchange conditions, which no longer rely merely on natural comparative advantage. The government and private sector need to increase personal and institutional capacities for trade and trade negotiations and to identify export markets. They should jointly address domestic supply constraints so as to increase the responsiveness of export supply with due regard to competitiveness in quality and timeliness in delivery to the export markets.
Improving the Quality of Higher Education in Tanzania
(Tanzania Economic Trends, 2010) Rutasitara, Longinus; Mbelle, Amon V. Y.; Karamagi, Innocent
Low competence of Tanzania's university graduates in the labour market has prompted debate on „falling quality of higher education‟. This article delineates the ideal attributes of quality of higher education and how to pursue these through measures including management effectiveness, competence of academic staff, admission and assessment standards, quality of teaching and learning environment and research. Also, more emphasis has to be given to the two-way university-industry linkages in order to enhance innovations and relevance of higher education to the developmental needs of society through university research. National and institution-based quality assurance mechanisms have been set up to oversee academic standards of the HEIs (universities in particular). Yet quality issues are still being raised. It is contended that improved pre-university quality, including in the medium of instruction will greatly ease the burden on HEIs in addressing issues of quality. Quality assurance measures need to be strengthened in view of the current and emerging global and regional competitiveness challenges.
The Inflationary Impact of Exchange Rate Policy Shift in Tanzania
(African Journal of Economic Policy, 1999) Rutasitara, Longinus
The inflationary impact of exchange rate changes has been controversial in the wake of adjustment/stabilisation policies in many developing countries. One view held that currency devaluation associated with structural adjustment of the 1980s was one of the causes of inflation. However, empirical results regarding the inflationary effects of official and parallel market exchange rate changes are not unanimous. This paper examines the relative impact of both official and parallel market exchange rate changes on inflation in Tanzania. A model of inflation is estimated for the period 1967-1995 and divided into the "controlled" regime (up to mid-1980s) and a more liberalised regime (mid-1980s to 1995). It is found that while the official exchange rate generally had a direct influence on domestic prices overall both regimes, the parallel exchange rate had a dominant influence during the controlled regime; but eliminating the parallel market was compelling
Major Turns in Tanzania's Exchange Rates, 1967-97
(Tanzania Economic Trends, 1999) Rutasitara, Longinus
Mchakato wa Kuanzisha Shirikisho la Afrika ya Mashariki: Tanzania na Umoja wa Afrika ya Mashariki
(Research and Education for Democracy in Tanzania (REDET), 2008) Rutasitara, Longinus
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have come a long way on the regional integration “march”. They have a background of failed attempt following the collapse of the (first) East African Community (EAC) in 1977, after ten years of impressive existence. This failure exposed the risks that countries should address this time around. The renewed effort to pick the integration effort up once again has proceeded from the preferential trade area (PFTA) to a customs union (CU). This essay reflects on, among other things, various factors that need to be taken into account towards a firm CU and the capacity of a country like Tanzania to fulfil the demands that arise from multiple memberships in various trade integration blocs which pursue different timetables. It is viewed that as part of the process of economic transformation, the consolidation of the CU should take into consideration the harmonization of the relationships of ownership of the means of production, in particular, the natural resources. Therein lies the essence of politics and governance in the steering of the integration schemes. The paper discusses major steps that have to be implemented and required institutional cooperation in carrying them out and issues for immediate attention to bolster participation in trade. It is driven by the desire to stimulate discussion on the challenges, many of them often familiar, rather than propose answers or instructions.

Browsing by Author "Rutasitara, Longinus"

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