IMF Seminar for the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee of the Tanzanian Parliament

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
January 22-24, 2008

As part of the IMF continued efforts to enhance our dialogue with parliamentarians, a joint seminar was held in Dar es Salaam with members of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Tanzanian Parliament. The main objective of this seminar was to exchange views with the MPs on IMF work in Tanzania—as well as in low income countries more generally—and to discuss current economic policy challenges facing Tanzania. The seminar was also an opportunity to examine the potential role that the legislative branch could play to influence the budget process. In agreement with the Chairman of the Committee, the seminar was structured around four main topics:

  • The role of the Fund in LICs, focusing on how Fund policies and instruments were adapted over time to assist its LIC members and some of the present challenges to remain relevant and responsive to their changing needs. This session was supplemented by a presentation by the Center Coordinator of AFRITAC East on our training and capacity building through the Regional Technical Assistance Centers.
  • The history of the Fund’s engagement with Tanzania and the lessons learned;
  • Tanzania’s current economic policy objectives and challenges and the role of the Fund’s Policy Support Instrument in addressing them; and
  • The budget process in East Africa, with presentations by William Okecho, Chairman of the Budget Committee of the Ugandan Parliament, and two AFRITAC advisors on public financial management.

Twenty one MPs attended the seminar over a two-day period. In addition, a special half day outreach session was held with about 15 local NGOs, CSOs and the media on the same themes.

Seminar for the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee of the Parliament
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, January 22-23, 2008

Tuesday, January 22, 2008
8:30-9:00 Arrival and registration
9:00 Session 1: Introduction and Opening Address
Welcoming Statement by David Robinson, Senior Resident Representative in Tanzania
Address by Honorable Dr. Kigoda, Chairman Finance and Economic Affairs Committee, Tanzanian Parliament
Motion of thanks and introductions of participants by Bassirou Sarr, Advisor, IMF External Relations Department
9:30 10:30 Session 2: Role and Function of IMF in Low Income Countries (LIC)
9:30-10:00 Role and responsibility of the IMF in helping LIC reduce poverty and reach the MDGs by Bassirou Sarr
10:00-10:20 Role of Fund Technical Assistance in LIC example of Regional TA Centers by Mario De Zamarozcy, IMF Senior Resident Representative, AFRITAC
10:30 10:45 Tea/Coffee
11:30-12:30 Session 3: Retrospective on Relations between IMF and Tanzania (IMF)
History of Fund relations—what were the priorities, key successes, what could have worked better. Lessons from the IEO studyincluding the case study on Tanzania by David Robinson, IMF Senior Resident Representative in Tanzania and—Roger Nord, Assistant Director, IMF African Department
11:30-11:45 Discussant: Discussant (MP select one to them as a first discussant)
11:45-12:30 Open Questions and Answers and General Discussion
12:30–14:00 Lunch
14:00-17:30 Session 4: Current Relations between IMF and Tanzania and Policy Challenges (I) by David Robinson and Roger Nord
Why Policy Support Instrument (PSI) and how is it different from past engagement?
Key objectives—macro targets and reform agenda
Policy challenges
15:00-15:30 Discussant MP
16:00-17:30 Open Discussions
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
8:30-9:00 Summary of first day questions and issues by Tilla McAntony, External Relations Officer, IMF External Relations Department
9:00-13:00 Session 5: Budget Preparation Reforms in the Region by Florence Kuteesa and Martin Brownbridge, Technical Assistance Officers, IMF-AFRITAC
Importance of macro-fiscal frameworks, an overview of the MTEF, budget preparation and related documentation; principles and practises regarding legislative frameworks and role of parliament (a comparative analysis within OECD and the region)
10:00-10:30 Coffee
10:30-11:00 Discussant
11:00-13:00 Group Discussions
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:00 Session 6: Policy Challenges II (continuation of session 3) Interaction with Development Partners
15:00-17:30 Session 7: Parliamentary support/ Research Issues/Capacity Building by Hon. William Oketcho, Chair of Parliamentary Budget Committee, Ugandan Parliament, and Martin Brownbridge
Adequacy of economic policy research/analytic capabilities. Examples of Uganda. Access to independent research and analysis, and institutional reforms necessary to achieve best practices. Importance of complementary capacity building in areas of financial compliance and audit, and good accounting and database practices
16:00-16:30 Tea/Coffee
16:30-17:00 Plenary: Group discussions
17:00-17:30 Evaluation and Concluding session: Experience sharing and lessons learned
   
  Farewell Dinner

Seminar for NGO/CSO and Media
Tanzania, January 24, 2008

Thursday, January 24, 2008
8:30-9:00 Registration and Welcoming session
9:00-11:30 Session 1: Role and Function of IMF in Low Income Countries by Bassirou Sarr and Mario de Zamaroczy
9:30-10:00 Retrospective on relations between IMF and Tanzania by David Robinson and Roger Nord
10:00-10:15 Tea/Coffee
10:15-10:45 Discussant: Media Representatives
10:45-11:30 General Discussion
11:30-13:15 Session 2: Current Relations between IMF and Tanzania: Policy Challenges, David Robinson and Roger Nord
12:00-12:15 Discussant (NGO/CSO)
12:15-13:15 General Discussion
13:15-14:30 Lunch: discussions and closing session continue over lunch