Our Achievements
We share our research findings with strategic partners for collaborative interventions in influencing policy and practice
Track Record of Influential Research
Track Record of Influential Research that have contributed to national level policy change and debate, input into national level debate on education.
Our study on cost sharing was particularly prominent as it contributed in government’s decision to drop user fees and provided basis for $10 per pupil calculation for Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP).
Other studies have equally been very influential in their right after presenting them formally to forums at local and national level, both convened by ourselves and other well respected institutions including REPOA, and have received substantial press coverage and attention.
Maarifa has conducted 7 influential studies alone and 5 with partners. Most of these studies have accompanying videos and simplified versions for wider dissemination.
Leader In The Field Of Education Networking Amongst NGOs
Maarifa can claim to have done more than almost any other organisation to promote networking amongst NGOs in education in Tanzania.
Major achievements include the Tanzania Education Network/Mtandao Wa Elimu Tanzania (TEN/MET) in 1999.
It is now an independent institution with more than 200 members that is powerful in advocacy work at national and international level, with a full time sectretariat and an office in Tanzania’s capital Dar es Salaam.
Today, the Tanzania Education Network is doing a wonderful job in influencing policy and practice for promoting quality education in Tanzania and Africa
Credibility with CSOs/NGOs, Academic Institutions and Communities
Maarifa has facilitated evaluations for a number of local and international organizations. We have been representing TEN/MET in international forums due to our competence in education finance and expenditure tracking.
We have also jointly implemented projects with credible organization like Save the Children (Tanzania), ActionAid (Tanzania), Research for Poverty Alleviation (REPOA), World Education Inc., University of Dar es Salaam and The Agha Khan University.
Maarifa has track record in community outreach interventions in the areas of Early Childhood Development and Basic Education. Our presence is already felt strongly in Arusha municipality, Monduli, Hai, Moshi, Babati and Mbulu districts which are found in Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara regions.
We constructed a model ECD centre in Koresa village which is the hub of learning and training for teachers from other five villages participating in Fursa Kwa Watoto project
Women’s economic Groups have established Education Fund which supports the running of ECD Centres and educational needs of the vulnerable children generally.
Credibility with Donors and Development Partners
Maarifa have had good relationships with donors since its inception. We had already received grants from multiple donor from 1999 – 2017 as listed hereunder;
- Bernard Van Leer
- Oxfam Ireland
- Commonwealth Education Fund
- Better Way Foundation
- Comic Relief
- Children in Crossfire
- Touchstone Foundation
- Dubai Cares
- Hewlett Foundation
- Phoenix Funding Group
- The CSR Group Africa
The Prince of Wales visited our influential project “Transforming Education for Girls in Tanzania” which was funded by Comic Relief for five years. The project was impactful as it removed cultural barriers to girls’ access to quality education
Credibility with Key Stakeholders in the Education Sector
Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MOEVT) and President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG).
MOEVT was early to recognize the strategic contributions which Maarifa was able to offer through our research work, and involved us in various Technical Working Groups at national level, principally concerning planning and resourcing. Much work was also done in collaboration with partners in TEN/MET such as the workshop and working paper facilitated by Maarifa on School Committee Capacity Development. This involved both MOEVT and PO-RALG and the working paper was used as a resource for trainers in developing materials for building capacity of school committees.
Local Government Authorities:
Maarifa has worked constructively with Arusha Municipal authorities to build a shared understanding of issues of Early Childhood Development and been awarded a Certificate of Mentorship
Maarifa was invited to work with Monduli District Council, firstly in the development of a District Education Plan, and subsequently through the technical backstopping of research into Enrolment, Attendance and Completion of pupils in primary education in the district.
Maarifa has been invited to Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) Meeting as expert in education issues.