The CSO Week is an annual event organized by a consortium of local and international Tanzanian civil society organizations. It is the largest gathering of civil society organizations in Tanzania. Started in 2018 as a brainchild of a few local CSO leaders led by the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) whose reflections revealed the need to convene sectoral players in a week-long event that would enable civil society to engage with government as a way of improving the operational environment for civil society.
This year its theme was, ‘CSO’s contribution to national development’ and was held from 23rdto 28thOctober 2021.
It attracted over 800 CSOs who made a rallying call for systemic change in addressing development challenges as well as the need for joint collaboration in addressing COVID-19.
In closing the week-long event, Hon. Ummy Mwalimu, the Minister of State in the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG), applauded civil society for transforming people’s lives, tackling areas where the government has been unable to intervene.
“The Government acknowledges deliberations and commits to supporting them” added Mwalimu.
The event also included the CSO Awards of excellence. The CSO Excellence Awards are issued during CSO Week in order to celebrate, recognize and honor achievements and contributions made by different institutions or individuals that have influenced development policy and practice in Tanzania. The awards primarily target civil society organizations operating in Tanzania, and they are also aimed at profiling local CSO’s work in order to develop a broader appreciation of the important work of civil society organizations in the country.
CSO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2021
This year the winners of the awards were:
1. Outstanding citizen engagement
Restless Development – Winner
TAMASHA- 1st Runner up
2.Outstanding civil society coverage in media
Legal & Human Rights Centre (LHRC)- Winner
3. Outstanding contribution in disability rights
CBM International Tanzania Country Office- Winner
Child Support Tanzania- 1st Runner up
4.Outstanding contribution in gender equality
TGNP-Winner
5. Outstanding contribution in local philanthropy and resource mobilization
Okoa New Generation- Winner
6.Outstanding contribution in peace building and conflict management
No Winner for this category
7. Outstanding contribution in social accountability
Foundation for Development Organization – FODEO-Winner.
DOOR OF HOPE TO WOMEN AND YOUTH TANZANIA-1st Runner up
Kaengesa Environmental Conservation Society-KAESO-2nd Runner up
8.Outstanding contribution in livelihood development
United Nations Association of Tanzania-Winner
CBM International Tanzania Country Office-1st Runner up
9. Outstanding Covid-19 Response
CBM International Tanzania Country Office-Winner
10. Outstanding engagement with government for social change
CBM International Tanzania Country Office-Winner
11.Outstanding private sector contribution in social development
Vodacom Tanzania PLC- Winner
RLabs Tanzania-1st Runner up
12. Outstanding use of innovative and creative methods to achieve change
Shule Direct – Winner
Uwezo Tanzania-1st Runner up
RLabs Tanzania-2nd Runner up
TOTAL NUMBER OF AWARD CATEGORIES- 12
TOTAL NUMBER OF AWARDEES -11
CATEGORY NOT AWARDED -1
