Bridging the gap between research and practice in Tanzania – ICLD Alumni Talks 

In the month of March this year we hosted an Alumni Talks including a Local Democracy Lab in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, under the theme “Empowering Change.” The event gathered 40 Alumni participants for ICLD , Swedish Instituet or Sida i from various sectors such as local government, civil society, and leadership, who have previously attended ICLD programmes. 

The Local Democracy Labs aim to bridge the gap between research and practice, allowing participants to present governance challenges to researchers, gain new insights, and share experiences through peer-to-peer learning. Additionally, the workshops provide networking opportunities among alumni from different programmes and countries, fostering democratic dialogue and collaboration. 

Highlited challenges 

ICLD collaborated with the Swedish Institute, the University of Dar es Salaam, and the Swedish Embassy in Dar es Salaam to organize this event. This collaboration facilitated a dialogue between researchers and local government officials, enhancing the connection between research and practical governance. The workshop exemplified the power of collaborative efforts in promoting democratic governance. 

The workshop featured four thematic breakout sessions such as Democracy and Human Rights, Social Accountability, Ethics and Corruption, Gender Equality, and Climate Change. Each session, led by experts from the University of Dar es Salaam, facilitated discussions on relevant policy dilemmas and practical experiences. 

Participants discussed the evolving democracies in Africa and the importance of human rights education, highlighted challenges in service delivery and the need for enhanced social accountability mechanisms. They also focused on women’s representation and participation in politics, identifying cultural and systemic barriers and addressed governance dilemmas related to climate change, emphasizing the need for community resilience and adaptive strategies. 

Major Takeaways 

The workshop successfully facilitated dynamic and realistic discussions, leading to several key outcomes. Participants expressed a genuine desire for more interaction between alumni and researchers, peer-to-peer learning provided inspiration, and the democracy labs addressed the disconnect between research and practice. The relevance of the chosen topics resonated well with participants, highlighting practical challenges and solutions. 

The success of the Dar es Salaam Democracy Lab has paved the way for future initiatives. There are plans to make the event an annual fixture, strengthen collaborations with the Swedish Institute, Swedish embassies, and East African universities, and extend the democracy labs to other East African countries. 

The Dar es Salaam Alumni Democracy Lab, themed “Empowering Change,” exemplified the power of collaborative efforts in promoting democratic governance. By harnessing the collective expertise of alumni and researchers, the workshop not only enhanced individual capacities but also contributed to the broader goals of democratic development and effective governance in East Africa. Participants expressed their satisfaction with the workshop and a strong interest in future events, highlighting the importance of continued networking and knowledge-sharing.