Synergy between local government authorities and corporates for social service delivery: a case of district councils and sugar companies in Morogoro, Tanzania
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Date
2019
Authors
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study examined synergy between Local Government Authorities (LGAs) and
corporates for social service delivery in Kilombero and Mvomero District Councils in
which Kilombero and Mtibwa sugar companies are situated, respectively. Specifically, the
study aimed at examining the environmental forces challenging LGAs and corporates for
social service delivery; assess planning interface between LGAs and corporates for social
service delivery; and examine resource complementarity between corporates and Local
Government Authorities for social service delivery. A case study design was used in which
42 key informants and participants of four Focus Group Discussions were the sources of
data. Content analysis was used to analyse data. The study found that LGAs and
corporateās response to the environmental forces including community needs for social
services, policies such as employment policy as well as corporates response to
competition and market situation contributed to social service delivery to communities.
The study also found that LGAs planning process for social services was found to be
inclusive and transparent enabling corporates to decide on kind of services to be provided
to communities. On the other hand, Mtibwa Sugar Company was not transparent to share
their planning decisions with the LGA because the decision on the social service to be
implemented was made by the owner of the company in absence of LGAs leaders. On the
other hand, Kilombero Sugar Company planning process for social service delivery was
transparent because their planning decisions were shared with the LGA. This is because
the LGA representative was among decision makers on the kind of social service to
implement to communities through Corporates Social Responsibility (CSR). The study
further found that, despite resources complemented by sugar companies to enable social
service delivery, there were no reports at the district councils showing the amount used by
corporates in financial terms to complement the LGAs budget in the study area. It was
also found that LGAs planning process preceded that of corporates which resulted into
failing of including corporates plans for social service provision through CSR. The study
recommends that there should be measures to ensure that resources used by corporates
and LGAs to respond to environmental forces are tapped and properly allocated to render
social services to communities. Moreover, there should be budget review by the LGA to
relocate resources that corporates use to support community activities. The study
recommends further that, there is a need to improve information system within LGAs on
the resource complemented by sugar companies for social services delivery. Such
improvement should encompass production and submission of reports on resources and
social services provided through CSRs by development stakeholders to the District
Councils.
Description
Thesis 2019
Keywords
Local government authorities, Social service delivery, Sugar companies, Corporates Social Responsibility, Kilombero-Mtibwa sugar companies, Morogoro