PROFILE OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION

PROFILE OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ESRF) Executive Director, Economic and Social Research Foundation, 51 Uporoto Street, Ursino Estates, P. O Box 31226, Dar es Salaam - Tanzania. Mobile: (255 -754) 780133, , (255 -777) 790133, (255 -782) 780133 Fax: +255 736 60 52 55 Emails: esrf@esrf. or. tz OR info@esrf. or. tz Website: http: //esrf. or. tz/

About the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) üThe Tanzania-based Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) is a leading institution that analyses and manages socio-economic and development policies, and build the requisite capacities for managing and implementing such policies, at different society levels. üESRF (www. esrf. or. tz) is an independent, not-for-profit non-governmental research institute that was established in April 1993 and started operations in 1994. üIt was created in response to the need to develop institutional capacity in Tanzania for economic and social policy analysis and development management.

About the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF). . ctd ü ESRF has an enormous expertise and practical experience in working with and for the government, the business community, the donor community, civil society, and the ever-growing private sector. ü It is a lean and efficient organization headed by a credible, experienced, and a visionary Executive Director, and manned by capable, experts and experienced professionals. ü It has enormous expertise and hands-on experience in various disciplines, including overall and specific policy analyses, rural development, environmental related activities, poverty reduction, public finance, budgetary allocations, public expenditure reviews, medium expenditure frameworks, millennium development goals, water and sanitation, human development, gender issues, HIV/AIDS, impact analysis, evaluations, reform programmes and in many other policy-related issues.

ESRF’s Vision ü To become a national and regional centre of excellence in capacity development for policy analysis and development management, policy research, and policy dialogue.

ESRF’s Mission ü Advancing knowledge to serve the public, the government, CSOs, and the private sector through sound policy research, capacity development initiatives, and advocating good development management practices. ü ESRF conducts policy-related research and build capacity in economic and social policy analysis and development management. ü The Foundation is guided by a work programme, which consists of in-house research programme, contract research, capacity building programmes, and policy dialogue activities. ü In addition to the programmed activities, ESRF provides consulting services in a wide range of policy related and development management issues.

ESRF’s Primary Objectives üTo undertake policy-enhancing research, üTo strengthen capabilities in policy analysis and decision making, and üTo articulate and improve the understanding of policy options in government, the public sector, the donor community, and the growing private sector, and civil society.

ESRF’s Mandate To undertake research in public policy and in sector-oriented issues. This includes long- and short-term demand- and supplydriven researches/studies. ü To facilitate capacity development for government and other stakeholders of economic development. This includes shortcourse trainings (both demand- and supply-driven). ü To act as a focal point for dialogue and the exchange of knowledge on economic and social issues via the Tanzania Knowledge Network (TAKNET @ www. taknet. or. tz). ü To disseminate policy and ESRF researched information so as to widen the understanding of the public and dedicated groups of policy makers and researchers. Some of the mediums used include Tanzania Online (www. tznonline. org) and Tanzania Gateway (www. tanzaniagateway. org). Workshops and dialogues also form a common dissemination platform. ü

ESRF’s Key Focus Areas of Research

Staffing Capacity ü ESRF’s personnel are characterized by extensive expertise and hands-on experience in research, policy analysis, development management, capacity building and consulting services. ü The Executive Director of ESRF has extensive experience in academics, research and in policy–related consulting work. ü A Management Team consisting of Programme Directors and Coordinators assists the Executive Director. ü A number of experienced and professional research fellows, consultants, finance and administrative professionals, publications and publicity specialists, information technology experts, and other line and administrative supporting staffs also play a crucial role in assisting the Executive Director. ü Currently, ESRF has 31 staff, including 16 core staff/researchers, 4 project staff and 11 support staff.

Staffing Capacity . . . ctd ü ESRF has a number of committed, motivated, competent, and experienced inhouse professional, as well as a network of experienced external consultants. ü Team spirit is a norm at ESRF. ü The research professionals initiate and co-ordinate various policy-related activities and engage a network of experts in the implementation of such activities. ü ESRF engages external consultants when additional expertise and/or experts are needed. ü The capacity of ESRF to communicate and collaborate with other national and international researchers has increased tremendously. ü ESRF has a diverse network of over 300 national and international consultants, researchers, and research assistants from different fields.

Infrastructure and Facilities ü Since its establishment, ESRF has developed institutionally into a credible policy research institute, and has managed to put in place a reliable research infrastructure. ESRF has a fully computerized state of the art library/cum depository centre with a number of electronic information sources that assist in the retrieval of information. It has adequate office space; computer facilities; software; office equipment; a conference centre, and other working facilities. ESRF has collected and computerized substantial data with which it has built a database that support researchers in carrying out economic and social policy analysis, and in managing development policies. ü In addition, ESRF is managing an online document database known as Tanzania Online (www. tznonline. org). The database has over 1300 documents online. Tanzania Online is a gateway to information on development issues in Tanzania. It provides an interactive facility for easy access to a comprehensive set of documents. In addition, ESRF has reliable Internet services that enable researchers to access relevant research information.

Clients and Collaborating Partners üESRF has been working for and with a number of clients and organizations, including UN Organizations, International Institutions, Donor Organizations, Government Ministries and Agencies, the Business Community, Private Sector Organizations, NGOs, and CSOs. üSome of these clients and organizations include ACBF, Af. DB, ASARECA, BRITISH COUNCIL, Cowater International Inc. , CIDA, CIPE, COMMESA, DANIDA, Development Bank of Southern Africa, DFID, ECDPM, FANRPAN, FINIDA, GMA Capital Markets Limited (U. K. ), GTZ, IDRC, ILO, IPOA, JICA, KIPRA, MAFAP, NORAD, SADC, SIDA, SNV, the EAC, the EU, the Future Group International, the IMF, the Word Bank, TRALAC, UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNU-INTECH, USAID, and Vertex Financial Services.

Clients and Collaborating Partners. . . ctd ü Also, ESRF has been working with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the United Republic of Tanzania, private companies as well as civil society actors and others. ü Some of them include Office of the President (i. Planning Commission, ii. Civil Service Department, iii. Presidential Parastatal Sector Reform Commission, and iv. Regional Administration and Local Government); Office of the Prime Minister; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Education and Culture; Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security; Ministry of Water and Livestock Development; Ministry of Works; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. ü Others include the Tanzania Investment Centre; Ministry of Energy and Mineral; Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture; Confederation of Tanzania Industries; Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO); Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA); University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM); University of Dar es Salaam Entrepreneurship Centre (UDEC); Tanzania Private Sector Foundation; and Tanzania National Business Council.

Other Activities ü ESRF has distinguished itself through its capacity to organize regular policy dialogues and workshops, which have facilitated interactions among researchers, policy makers, civil society, members of academia, the business community, the private sector, and donor community. ü ESRF promotes policy dialogue between various stakeholders on a number of policy issues relevant to socio-economic development of the country. ü Over the last eight years ESRF has organised over 130 such policy dialogues sessions that have resulted in significant policy understanding and consensus among stakeholders. ü To add to its repetoir of information dissemination tools, ESRF launched a state-of-the-art studio in February 2014 to be used to produce radio and TV programmes aimed to reach out to people at the grassroots' level.

Other Activities . . . ctd ü Also, members of ESRF have individually or as a team participated in various domestic and international workshops, seminars, and meetings. ü They have also contributed in policy dialogues using print and electronic media as well as radio. ü ESRF is at the forefront in shaping national, regional and international polices and policy related issues. ü ESRF also undertakes a review of the economy of Tanzania every quarter and a publication to that effect is produced and distributed widely both within and outside the country.

Experience in Research and Capacity Building for Civil Society ü ESRF has a wide experience in research since its establishment. ü The mandate of ESRF is to build the capability of policy actors on socio-economic policy development through research and trainings for the public sector, civil society actors as well as private sector. ü Since its establishment, ESRF has been very instrumental in conducting evidencebased research used to formulate public policies and decision making. ü ESRF has worked with the civil society in a number of ways including trainings, research and network membership. ü ESRF is also a member of the Civil Society Partnership Programme for ODI (Oversees Development Institute) since 2005. ü It was also a member of the National Reference group for the study on “Capacity for Civil Society Organisations in Tanzania” that was done by the Agakhan Foundation and Tanzania Association of NGOs (TANGO) in 2006. ü ESRF has also prepared and published numerous publications that are specifically targeting civil society organisations.

Experience in Research and Capacity Building for Civil Society. . . ctd ü The Economic and Social Research Foundation has also contributed a lot in providing technical input to strategy and policy processes including policy formulation, policy planning, policy monitoring, evaluation, analysis and implementation, all backed up by evidence through research. ü The strategies and policies include the Tanzania Development Vision 2025, Mining policy, Trade Policy, the East African Community Development Strategies for 2001 -2005 and 2006 -2010, Rural Development Strategy and Rural Development Policy, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 1998, Zanzibar Poverty Reduction Plan, Zanzibar Development Vision 2020, Technical Cooperation Policy. ü Others include the Tanzania Investment Policy, Export Promotion Policy, Land Policy, Telecommunications Policy, Mining Policy, Energy Policy, Microfinance Policy, Tourism Policy, Foreign Policy, review of the Tanzania Budget Process, and the Institutional Set Up of the Agriculture Ministries and Local Government Authorities, Labour Market Survey, Household Budget Survey (HBS) 2001, and Regional Programme on Enterprise Development (RPED) Survey.

Opportunities for Partnerships ü ESRF welcomes you to partner with it in conducting research in the areas of globalization and regional integration; natural resources and environment management (including oil and natural gas); social services, social protection and quality of life; government and accountability; and/or inclusive growth and wealth creation. ü Opportunities for capacity development are also highly desired. ü ESRF would also gladly provide you with an avenue to disseminate your study findings. Its vast network will definitely provide you with a very rewarding audience.

Feel free to contact us at: Executive Director, Economic and Social Research Foundation, 51 Uporoto Street, Ursino Estates, P. O Box 31226, Dar es Salaam - Tanzania. Mobile: (255 -754) 780133, , (255 -777) 790133, (255 -782) 780133 Fax: +255 736 60 52 55 Emails: esrf@esrf. or. tz OR info@esrf. or. tz Website: http: //esrf. or. tz/