Norwegian foundation joins Tanzania in poverty fight

TANZANIA: NORWAY based Stramme Foundation has officially opened its office in Tanzania to support the country’s effort to alleviate poverty, especially to the vulnerable groups.

In his opening remarks, the organisation’s Country Director, Victor Mollel said Stramme Foundation has been working in Tanzania through partners but it has decided to establish its office in Dar es Salaam to improve its interventions within its areas of operation.

“Why are we setting up an office in Dar es Salaam? It is because we want to do it better,” he said.

According to the director, the country office will enable immediate attention to partners and beneficiaries, better working relations with different stakeholders as well as open doors for the expansion of Strømme’s work in Tanzania. Strømme Foundation works in the regions of Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Singida.

Stromme’s main focus in the said areas are early childhood care and education (ECCE), Technical Vocational Education Training Programme (TVET) and the Adolescent Empowerment Programme Bonga and Community Managed Savings Groups (CMSG) as well as livelihood empowerment through improved agriculture production project.

He added that through Stromme Foundation Tanzania, the organisation will reach even more beneficiaries and build stronger relations with stakeholders for better programme sustainability.

Speaking at the event attended by representatives from civil society organisations (CSOs) and journalists, the foundation’s Secretary General Erik Lunde said the opening of the office is part of Stromme’s initiative to decentralise its undertakings in Tanzania.

On his part, chairperson of the foundation’s advisory board, Stein Hannevik said “I’m grateful and honoured to open the office in Dar es Salaam.”

Stramme Foundation is a rights-based development NGO founded in 1976 in Norway and works towards a vision of a world free from poverty.

The organisation’s interventions in the fight against poverty include promoting social change and sustainable development through inclusive quality education, lifelong learning, improved livelihoods, enhanced income generation and green jobs.

The Organisation for Community Development (OCODE)’s Community Livelihood Manager, Noreen Tarimo said through support from the Norwegian Foundation, the local organisation has managed to reach more vulnerable groups, especially girls and children.

According to the manager, OCODE supports and facilitates the realisation of quality basic primary education and promotes the participation of parents in children’s learning and improvement in school governance.

Noreen added that through the Bonga project, OCODE is empowering out of school adolescents aged 13-19 years who failed to progress in the formal education system.