Towards a More Resilient Civil Society: Tanzania Advances the NGOs Basket Fund Agenda

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA — 2026

The ongoing national conversation on the sustainability of Tanzania’s non-governmental organization sector is increasingly moving towards an important question: how can domestic resources be organized, coordinated and made more accessible to support long-term civil society impact?

One of the emerging mechanisms within this conversation is the proposed NGOs Basket Fund, which is being advanced through collaboration involving the Government, the National Council of NGOs (NaCoNGO) and other stakeholders.

The proposed mechanism is intended to strengthen access to domestic sources of financing and support the continuity of NGO programmes, particularly as organisations seek to reduce excessive dependence on external funding.

The development comes against a wider shift in the global development financing environment, where civil society organizations are increasingly being encouraged to diversify their resource base and strengthen locally rooted financing and partnerships. Recent discussions within Tanzania’s NGO and philanthropy ecosystem have similarly placed greater emphasis on domestic philanthropy, community participation and private-sector engagement.

For Tanzania, the significance of such an initiative extends beyond the question of funding.

A sustainable financing ecosystem can contribute to stronger institutional capacity, greater continuity of community programmes, improved local ownership and increased ability of Tanzanian civil society organisations to respond to emerging development priorities.

It also creates an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between government, civil society, the private sector, philanthropy and communities around shared development priorities.

The proposed Basket Fund is therefore part of a broader conversation about the future architecture of civil society financing in Tanzania.

For the mechanism to achieve its intended purpose, continued attention to transparency, accountability, accessibility, appropriate governance, measurable impact and equitable access will remain important.

The national NGO platform scheduled for 17–21 October 2026 is expected to provide a further opportunity for stakeholders to engage with the wider sustainability agenda and the development of mechanisms intended to strengthen the sector.

For AIDF, the emerging conversation represents an important moment for Tanzania’s civil society.

The objective should not simply be to replace one source of funding with another.

It should be to build a more resilient, locally connected and impact-driven ecosystem in which Tanzanian organisations can mobilise resources, build credible partnerships and sustain meaningful development outcomes over the long term.

A stronger financing ecosystem can help create stronger institutions.
Stronger institutions can help sustain stronger communities.