TANZANIA'S ATTEMPTS To
Eradicate Poverty Have Been Boosted By The Introduction Of A New Research Fund,
Which Is Intended To Transform Poverty Assessment In The Country. Tanzania
Has Been Selected As The First Focus Country For Data & Evidence To End Extreme
Poverty (DEEP) Challenge Fund Due To The 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).
The Initiative, Unveiled
At The University Of Dar Es Salaam On Saturday, March 23, 2024, Promises To
Support The Goal Of The Country By Harnessing Modern Methods Of Data Collection
And Statistics That Measure Poverty.
Economic Experts And
Policymakers Gathered At The Launch Event And Highlighted The Urgent Need For
Accurate Statistics To Drive Effective Poverty Alleviation Strategies.
Seasoned Economist, Prof
Samuel Wangwe Who Was Among The Participants, Emphasised That The Stagnation In
Poverty Alleviation Plans Stemmed From The Lack Of Precise Data.
He Underscored The DEEP
Challenge Fund As A Pivotal Solution To The Longstanding Problem.
"Without Accurate
Statistics, Our Efforts To Combat Poverty Are Like Navigating In The Dark. The Fund
Heralds A New Era Of Evidence-Based Policymaking, Empowering Tanzanian Researchers
To Gather The Data Necessary For Informed Decision-Making," Prof Wangwe Said.
One Of The Central Themes
Echoed Throughout The Event Was The Disparity Between Economic Growth And
Poverty Reduction.
Despite Tanzania's Commendable
Economic Progress, Poverty Levels Have Not Decreased At The Anticipated Rate.
The Managing Director Of Oxford
Policy Management In Tanzania And Co-Chair Of The DEEP National Leadership
Committee, Dr Charles Sokile, Shed Light On The Issue.
"We Cannot Rely
Solely On Economic Growth To Lift People Out Of Poverty. The DEEP Challenge
Fund Will Enable Us To Delve Deeper Into The Dynamics Of Poverty, Utilising
Alternative Methods Such As Artificial Intelligence And Big Data Analysis To
Provide Timely And Accurate Insights," Dr Sokile Said.
The Fund, Which Will
Initially Provide Grants Ranging From £5,000 To £50,000 For Research Projects
Lasting Between Six And Twelve Months, Signifies A Crucial Investment In Tanzania's
Future.
By Embracing Cutting-Edge
Technologies And Methodologies, Researchers Can Collaborate More Effectively To
Measure Poverty Accurately And Inform Targeted Policy Interventions.
Further Emphasising The
Significance Of The Initiative, An Esteemed Development Economist, Dr Janita
Mbwambo, Said There Is A Need For Continuous Monitoring And Evaluation Of
Poverty Trends.
"Poverty Is A
Multifaceted Issue That Requires Ongoing Scrutiny. The DEEP Fund Empowers
Researchers To Stay Abreast Of Evolving Trends, Enabling Policymakers To Adapt
Their Strategies Accordingly," Said Dr Mbwambo.
The Launching Event Also
Featured Contributions From International Experts, Highlighting The Global
Relevance Of Tanzania's Endeavors. A Leading Expert In Poverty Measurement From
Singapore, Prof Mei Lin, Commended Tanzania's Proactive Approach.
"Tanzania's Commitment
To Enhancing Poverty Measurement Aligns With Global Best Practices. By Embracing
Innovative Methodologies, Tanzania Has The Potential To Keep Growing,"
Said Prof Lin.
Moreover, Dr Ahmed Khan,
A Renowned Data Scientist From Bangladesh, Underscored The Transformative
Potential Of Leveraging Big Data Analytics.
"Big Data Analytics
Offer Unprecedented Opportunities For Understanding Complex Social Phenomena
Such As Poverty. Tanzania's Embrace Of These Technologies Signals A
Forward-Thinking Approach To Development," Said Dr Khan.
The Launch Of The DEEP
Challenge Fund Was Complemented By An Interactive Workshop, Providing
Researchers With Invaluable Insights Into The Types Of Data Required To Inform
Policymaking.
“By Aligning Research
Priorities With National Policies And Long-Term Development Plans, The Workshop
Laid The Foundation For Collaborative Efforts To Combat Poverty Effectively,”
Said Dr Lin.