New Public Management: A Tribute to Margaret Thatcher

As the world bids farewell to Margaret Thatcher, it is time to recount for the iron lady’s contribution to the developed and developing world, on how to reform public institutions and become accountable to their citizen. To that effect, this article presents main features of New Public Management (NPM) model developed by hard-core scholars from Western Countries using the tenets of Thatcherism. The features have helped the Great Britain and other countries to molest state controlled economy and the resultant inefficient and ineffective public sector. Now in the new world order, the shift from the inefficient traditional public management and the need for governance reform is justified. Its proponents are fanning the paradigm shift for improved economic efficiency and effectiveness. Although the founder of the model, Margaret Thatcher has died, the features and elements of NPM remain key and instrumental for the developing countries. The author argues with examples that the uptake of NPM model, as an instrument of governance reform, provides clear benefits in developing countries. Key words: Margaret Thatcher, New Public Management Model, governance reform, public good

Impact of Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues in Agriculture: The Case of Sunflower Sector Development in Tanzania

Agriculture development have tended to disregard the efficacy of multi-stakeholder dialogues (MSDs) in bringing lasting change to the poor small-scale producers in developing countries. Though the proponents of MSDs promote the application of MSD methodology, handful examples exist of how it fosters business-enabling environment in the agriculture sector and benefit the smallholder farmers. Thus, this case study demonstrates the power of multi-stakeholder dialogues (MSDs) in coordinating ecosystem market actors’ increased industry voice in edible oil/seeds, with example from sunflower development in Tanzania. The case study is a flashback to SNV’s experience in influencing edible oils policy changes in the country through MSD methodology. The case study draws an example from SNV Netherlands Development Organisation’s experience in facilitating series of multi-stakeholder dialogues in sunflower sector development using a framework of Oilseeds Multi-stakeholders Forum (OMSF). From highly uncoordinated actors to alliance building, the case study attests the uniqueness of MSDs in reforming, tackling policy and market constraints in sunflower value chain in the country. The initiative resulted in the establishment and development of alliances- the Tanzania Edible Oilseeds Association (TEOSA), Tanzania Sunflower Processors Association (TASUPA), Sunflower Oilseeds Processors Alliances (CEZOSOPA and UMAMBE). TEOSA and TASUPA in collaboration with the sunflower oil processing alliances of CEZOSOPA and UMAMBE, succeeded in changing sunflower business environment in the country. After succeeding in claiming space in the Ministry of Industries, Trade and Investment task force, the alliances managed to influence, for the first time in sunflower history in Tanzania, the government to come up with a five years sunflower development strategy. Keywords: Sunflower, Value Chain, Accountability, Multi-stakeholders, Dialogue, Farmers, Market Actors, Alliances, DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-20-05 Publication date:October 31st 202

Constraints in the post-harvest processing of cassava at household level in two districts of southern Tanzania

This project, funded by the Overseas Development Administration (ODA), aims to improve rapid cassava processing methods in rural households where a need is evident. The development and adoption of appropriate processing methods will be through participatory research involving, to a high degree, those who will use the technology. The project is being undertaken in partnership with the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, as lead collaborator; Regional Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, Mtwara; Agricultural Research Institute Naliendele, Mtwara; and Rural Integrated Project Support Programme, a FINNIDA funded project in Mtwara and Lindi. This participatory rural appraisal (PRA) study included eight villages in two districts of Southern Tanzania and aimed to: (1) obtain an inventory of existing traditional processing methods; (2) document information on farmers and processors preferences for processed products and situations that influence their choice of processing method, such as varietal preferences, storability, food safety, marketing and indigenous knowledge; (3) identify processing needs and constraints to develop improved processing methods; and (4) learn from the experiences of previous cassava processing technology transfer activities undertaken by the extension services