Swedish partner: Region Gotland

Gotland-Berislav

The collaboration focuses on the reconstruction of Berislav after the war, with Gotland offering support to strengthen the administration and democratic institutions. The partnership also includes helping Berislav meet EU requirements for future membership, particularly in terms of institutional capacity and anti-corruption efforts. Youth engagement is key to both the reconstruction and EU integration.

Project Area
Local economic development, innovation and livelihoods
Sustainable Development Goals
8 - Decent work and economic growth
Swedish partner
Region Gotland
International partner
Berislav

Region Gotland och Kibaha, Tanzania

The partnership between Region Gotland and Kibaha Town Council in Tanzania have successfully been working on several projects targeting different aspects such as gender equality, Sustainable Development Goals, and Gender based violence. The new Inclusive Youth Participation in Democracy project addresses the problem of low consideration of youth opinions in all development aspects at Kibaha Town Council and therefore the main objective of the project is to increase youth inclusion and participation in the municipality. Student leaders, local politicians, and youth committees will be involved in the project implementation to raise awareness on the importance of inclusive youth participation.

Sustainable Development Goals
10 - Reduced inequalities16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions4 - Quality education5 - Gender equality
Swedish partner
Region Gotland
International partner
Kibaha Town Council

Integration of Global Goals Leads to Enhanced Youth Participation 

Within the framework of the “Together Towards Sustainable Development Goals” project, three schools in Kibaha, Tanzania, along with Wisbygymnasiet in Gotland, Sweden, have collaborated to integrate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their curriculum and development initiatives. Through this project, students in the Kibaha region have been provided with a platform to explore and discuss how schools can contribute to achieving these global goals. 

Utilizing two different tools, the Ladder of Children’s Participation and Lundy’s Model, the schools have established a structure where students’ voices are heard and their opinions are valued. The Ladder of Children’s Participation is utilized to assess the degree of children’s involvement in decision-making processes, empowering students to increase their influence over school activities and decisions. On the other hand, Lundy’s Model focuses on children’s rights to participate in decision-making that affects them, and has been a crucial part of the work in Kibaha 

One of the central aspects of the project has been the establishment of SDG clubs, providing students with a platform to explore and discuss how schools can contribute to these global goals. Through analyses of the school’s performance towards the global goals and open discussions, students have expressed desires for improved access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and safer school environments. These desires have been compiled into an application to a national funding body, resulting in significant projects to improve school infrastructure.  

Lessons for the Future 

One of the most significant insights from this work is the importance of including children and young people in decision-making processes that affect them. By creating safe and inclusive forums for children’s participation, it has been observed how their proposals and opinions have been acknowledged and taken into consideration by decision-makers. Despite the successes, there have also been challenges, particularly in convincing school leaders to allow space for student influence, highlighting the need for continued efforts to strengthen youth participation at all levels. 

At the same time, students reflected on how the focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the design of SDG clubs and participation forums had been shaped by teachers and the local community, with input from these stakeholders considered the most valuable and prioritized. The team also identified challenges in persuading principals to allow space for student influence, as they often are cautious about delegating decision-making authority. Despite the progress made, the team recognized that there is still room for improvement and that increased empowerment of young people is crucial to foster an even more inclusive and democratic school environment. 

SDG clubs have proven to be effective platforms for youth to develop and build ideas together. By involving children in local decision-making processes, communities can better achieve sustainable development. The project in Kibaha has now decided to develop a toolbox to facilitate the establishment of SDG clubs in other schools. By sharing experiences, the aim is to spread the model and strengthen youth participation in more communities. 

The work in Kibaha demonstrates the opportunities and potential of youth to be co-creators of their own future and society’s development. By promoting youth participation and influence, we can collectively work towards a sustainable and inclusive future. 

Topic
Child rights and youth participation
Swedish partner
Region Gotland
International partner
Kibaha Town Council

Region Gotland and Kibaha Town Council

Project: Together against Gender Based Violence

The project focuses on tackling gender-based violence (GBV) in Kibaha and Region Gotland with a specific focus on societal cooperation to address this urgent concern. It aims to enhance knowledge and implementation of national strategies, identifying gaps in gender desks and administrative levels at the village level in Kibaha. Key steps include developing a GBV training manual and educating residents on reporting incidents and accessing support.


The recent data from Tanzania highlights concerning rates of violence against girls and women, with nearly 30% of girls experiencing sexual violence before the age of 18. The National Five-Year Development Plan of Tanzania aims to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against children (VAC) across 184 councils, including Kibaha Town Council (KTC). In KTC, data from 2020/21 to 2022/23 reveals a significant increase in GBV cases, including physical violence, psychological abuse, sexual assaults, and child abandonment. Instances of psychological abuse rose from 270 (2020) to 460 (2022), while reported sexual and gender-based violence cases increased from 92 (2020) to 300 (2022). Child abandonment cases also surged from 165 (2020) to 218 (2022). These alarming statistics signify a grave violation of human and child rights as outlined in international covenants.

In response, KTC and the Kibaha Education Centre (KEC) propose an awareness campaign titled “An Awareness Campaign to fight Gender Based Violence across Kibaha Town Council.” The initiative aims to address and mitigate the escalating GBV issues within Kibaha, aligning with national efforts outlined in Tanzania’s development plan.

Project Area
Inclusive leadership and governance
Sustainable Development Goals
5 - Gender equality
Swedish partner
Region Gotland
International partner
Kibaha Town Council

Region Gotland and Kibaha, Tanzania

Together Towards Sustainable Development Goals

The project aim is to create awareness and engagement on the Global Goals among students and stakeholders in secondary schools in Kibaha and on Gotland. The method will be to analyse strengths and weaknesses together in a dialogue based process in both organisations. Then an action plan on how to implement the work towards Sustainable Development Goals in teaching in two schools in Kibaha and Wisbygymnasiet. By creating awareness among students of the connection between local and global, the contribution from schools in the work toward SDG:s will increase.

Project Area
Education
Topic
Child rights and youth participation
Swedish partner
Region Gotland
International partner
Kibaha Town Council

Gotland and Kibaha, Tanzania

Project: Gender Equity project

This project’s aims at reducing gender inequality in decision making bodies in Kibaha Education Center and Kibaha Town Council.

Through the problem analysis a high level of gender inequality was revealed. The definition of Decision-making bodies in this application is politicians and management at different levels from street leaders all the way up to full council. Some of the causes of this this problem consists of lack of awareness in Decision-making bodies on gender equality, lack och self-confidence among women, absence of gender-based budgeting at local level and ineffective implementation of gender mainstreaming policy at a local level.

The intermediate objectives of this project are: Decision-making bodies awareness and education on gender balance enhanced, self confidence among women boosted, gender education among men enhanced, policy on gender mainstreaming at local level effectively implemented, experts of gender education and gender mainstreaming produced, gender based budgeting at Kibaha Town Council enhanced.

Some of the indicators to capture these intermediate objectives are: number of gender awareness workshops conducted, percentage of women empowered for self-confidence (self assessment), the amount of budget allocated for gender activities at the municipal level. This project is planned to run for three years from 2019 until 2022.

Project Area
Inclusive leadership and governance
Sustainable Development Goals
5 - Gender equality
Swedish partner
Region Gotland
International partner
Kibaha Town Council

Zmijivka – Pilot village in a period of transition 2017 – 2020

The background is that in 1930 Gotland receive the majority of the returning Swedes from Gammalsvenskbyn in Ukraine, after they arrived in Sweden in 1929. The Swedish villagers have been a very substantial part of Gotland since. After Ukraine’s liberation in 1991 written a twinning agreement between the Municipality of Gotland and Gammalsvenskby 2001. Since July 1, 2016 are two ongoing ICLD funded projects focusing on democracy and agriculture.

In the Ukrainian village called Zmijivka now, it has about 2,400 inhabitants today. Most live on self-agricultural. The standard of living equivalent to about 50 years behind in development compared to Gotland. Tourism is alongside agriculture is the dominant economic sector. It has since Ukraine’s liberation from and to have been a pretty important source of income for the village.

The main objective of the project is to Zmijivka begin the journey towards becoming a pilot-village in times of change within the community. It should be done by bysovjeten working actively to develop both the democratic decision-making bodies/processes and local businesses.

Berislav municipality, which consists of 29 villages which Zmijivka is one, is currently facing a local government. It can best be likened to large municipal reform in Sweden in 1952. The individual villages will be merged into three municipal centers, or will all power centralized in the only city that exists, Berislav.

Today there is no collaboration between business stakeholders in Zmijivka. There is also no democratic platform/agencies where business opportunities can be lifted. The lack of democratic work and capacity is palpable.

Project Area
Inclusive leadership and governance
Swedish partner
Region Gotland
International partner
Zmijivka Mayor

Zmejevka Agriculture 2016-2019

In 1930 Gotland received the majority of the returning Swedes from Gammalsvenskbyn in Ukraine that had arrived in Sweden the year before. These Swedish villagers have been a very substantial part of Gotland society ever since. The Ukraine was liberated in 1991 and in 2001 a sister cities’ agreement between the Municipality of Gotland and Gammalsvenskby 2001 was signed. The village Gammalsvenskby is now called Zmejevka. Currently Zmejevka has about 2 400 inhabitants. Most of them live off of small-scale farming. The standard of living in Zmejevka is comparable to the standard of living on Gotland 50 years ago.

An Inception Phase feasibility study was completed 2014-2015, ICLD 2014-0011. In that study we jointly concluded what mutual areas of needs we could use as a basis for a future collaboration. The greatest needs as identified in the Inception Phase study are in the development of democracy, tourism and agriculture.

The main problem is that today there is no real cooperation between the stakeholders in Zmejevka, especially around their main source of income, small-scale farming. There are no democratic platforms / agencies where agricultural development questions can be discussed. The lack of democratic work and capacity is obvious. There is also no knowledge exchange between the self sufficient farmers.

The main objective of the project is to set up an Agriculture Committee which will be an executive subgroup of Bysovjeten (the village council). This subgroup is meant to serve as a democratic platform where agricultural needs and opportunities can be actively discussed. The committee’s function contributes to positive economic development in Zmejevka.

Project Area
Inclusive leadership and governance
Swedish partner
Region Gotland
International partner
Zmejevka Mayor

Women empowerment

This is a one-year project in the field of local democracy and local administration, resulting from the partnership between Gotland and Jhansi municipalities, focusing on the issues of women empowerment. The project is aimed at addressing issues that influence or affect women empowerment in one way or another. These include:

  • Issues of choice
  • Power and influence
  • Ownership of resources
  • Gender roles cast and classes
  • Education

The overall objective of this project is to come up with possible ways of addressing gender inequality. The main activities planned for revolve around capacity building and education; as these will boost morale and self awareness among the women and also give those skills and knowledge that will influence their ability to make informed choices.

It is hoped that from the trainings and capacity building exercises, the participants will become mentors to the entire municipality and in turn all the women living in the area will be reached in one way or another. Other expected results include; increased participation of women in decision making within the local authorities, perceived equality in the society and general improvements in democracy as a whole.

Project Area
Inclusive leadership and governance
Swedish partner
Region Gotland
International partner
Municipality of Jhansi

Kibaha Water Project

This is a mutually beneficial partnership to both Gotland and Kibaha municipality which was initiated in the year 2000, as a technical cooperation in the area of strengthening working environment and water supply.

The goal of the project is to strengthen labour safety, water supply and waste water management for about 4000 people at Kibaha Education Centre, (KEC), Kibaha.

Substantial rehabilitation of KECs water distribution system is the objective and this will be achieved through different activities including:

  • Constructing and installing water pipelines, reservoirs and 2 distributing pump stations.
  • A system for water metering and charge of water is also included in the plan.
  • Inputs for maintenance and administration will also be improved to cater for sustainability.

It is also a hope that achieved results will be replicable in Kibaha town that has about 4000 residents. All activities are carried out in close cooperation, granting a substantial learning process for both parties. The parties’ expectations and overall objective is that Kibaha town will at the end of the project period, have a well functioning and sustainable water supply system and a strengthened work environment.

Project Area
Technical Services and Infrastructure
Swedish partner
Region Gotland
International partner
Kibaha Town Council