The Region Secretariat team made monitoring and evaluation exercises in Karatu, Ngorongoro, Longido and Arusha City, it was a period encountered by heavy rains and most roads were not easily passable.
The main objective of the exercise is to undertake field assessment and follow ups of the activities carried on by PAA visited.The team had an opportunity of having meeting with District Commissioners, District Executive Directors, Ward/Village leaders and beneficiaries at the ground level to discuss and exchange views about the PSSN Program.
The regional team managed to witness the ongoing construction of targeted infrastructures, Public Works Program, Village/Mitaa Groups activities and conditional cash transfers to beneficiaries.
Issues that arise during the visits were: -
The implementation of CCT is going well as majority of beneficiaries have already customized themselves on timing of the dates of payments. (Reduced number of absenteeism)
The ongoing implementation of the OPEC III supported subprojects are in different stages of completion depending on when it was stated/when the money from TMU was received.
Some beneficiaries have started small businesses such as keeping local poultry, goats/sheep’s, and cattle and in doing so some have started constructing semi modern houses with corrugated iron sheets.
There are increasing numbers of beneficiaries paying for CHF program.
There are marginalized groups (Elders and disabled person) claim that the program did not take them into board, while they are poor and needy.
Majority of the beneficiaries interviewed by the team pleaded to include more beneficiaries in the program and to increase the amount of payments to households due to increased household’s expenditures/costs of living.
Ongoing construction of Dormitory in Mugholo village – Ngorongoro PAA.
A project is funded by OPEC III year II and Community contributions (10%).
Regional team with Arusha CC City Director Dr. A.J Kihamia(The one with grey suit) together with beneficiaries during in angulation ceremony of pedestrian bridge at Olmatejo_B – Arusha CC –PAA 05/06/2018
Despite the observed challenges during monitoring of the PSSN activities in that reporting quarter, there are positive efforts made by PAA’s in implementing activities of the program.
Timely communication and good cooperation between all stakeholders including TMU, Regional Secretariat, District Councils, Police Forces, NMB and Community at large is very essential towards achievement of PSSN goals. The working close of these institutions will provide support in various areas such as advice/directives regarding implementation of PSSN programmes and means of transport such as motor vehicles to facilitate payments within the villages and also security issues within the entire activities. Financial institutions like NMB also play a great role in enhancing payments by providing special window for the CMC to be saved without delay.
Awareness creation meetings should be conducted regularly; trainings of various staff such as internal auditors, nurses, teachers, technicians/Engineers and agriculture/cooperative officers should be used as a tool at the implementation of the PSSN programmes.
One day payment for some of the villages with many beneficiaries is NOT enough due to many technical reasons like the system failure at the PAA office and at the Bank.
There should be some considerations purposely to suit the need to extend payment days if need be. TMU and PAA should come to agree to that.
2.
Inadequate transport facilities in PAA, this is due to the fact that many of the vehicles are grounded due to lack of routine services and maintenance.
DED’s are advised to ensure that there are number of working vehicles to save the payment periods.
3.
Communication barriers as most of the villages have no telephone communications and they are located very far from PAA Head Quarters.
PAA are advised to make prior communication with the village leaders (CMC) as the window is opened with a wide range of days that are enough to facilitate the payment exercise.
4.
Prolonged and heavy rains in April and middle May has affected implementation of the OPEC III subprojects in many areas as the roads were not easily passable, leading to stack/delay implementation.
Village communities are argued to participate fully in making routine maintenance of the affected infrastructures.
5.
Funds received from TMU for monitoring and supervision of TASAF supported activities in PAA’s and RS is very insuffiency to cater for all necessary demands.
TMU is advised and requested to reverse the calculating formula for M & E on arriving to funds to be transferred to PAA’s and RS.
6.
Insufficient labor force to PWP subprojects leading to delay on completion of these subprojects (Maasai)
Beneficiaries are reminded to continue proving labor force and CMC argued to mobilize their resources tirelessly.
7.
It becomes very hard in assessing beneficiary’s students’ names in Maasai lands where they have more than one name, one name at home and the other at school this lead to confusion in matching names between those in PSSN forms and those in Schools.
PAA teams have to frequently visit PHH to take accurate information regarding names and other data so as to improve PSSN records.
8.
Formed COMSIP groups lack safe custody for their money and files; it is more than a year since the issue was reported to TMU. (Karatu, Arusha DC)
TMU is advised/Insisted to fulfill their promises on provision of the said devices.
The region (with 7 PAA) will continue to work closely with TMU and other stakeholders to ensure the PSSN programme is performing well as planned by: -
Receiving adequate feedbacks and directives from TMU on issues that are essential on the smooth implementation of the PSSN activities and OPEC III subprojects.
Continuing to monitor and supervise all seven PAA activities and have a close follow ups on implementation/completion of OPEC III year I & II supported projects so as to be completed on time with required quality (Value for money).
Continuing to make follow up of OPEC III Year III write ups and BOQ’S subprojects files that have been sent to TMU for sectorial experts evaluations, these files have to be evaluated to see to it the appropriate specifications and requirements if they are in conformity with the Standard Specifications.
Conducting regular trainings (awareness creation) as may deem necessary and basing on financial capacity of PAA for the aims of improving implementation of PSSN program, OPEC III Subprojects (Completion of OPEC III YEAR I, Execution of OPEC III YEAR II) and COMSIP.
Preparing and submitting PSSN activities reports to respective authorities as par requisite and if need be, conformity to formats and deadlines.
