THE AFOAS BLOG

What Is Extreme Poverty Like?

2012-02-21T11:50:00.000-08:00

EXTREME poverty is life threatening. It means not having enough food, water, and fuel as well as lacking adequate shelter, health care, and education. It affects one billion people, roughly the equivalent of the entire population of the Americas. Yet, most people in places like Western Europe and North America have never known a person in extreme poverty. So let us meet some now.

Mbarushimana lives in Rwanda, Africa, with his wife and five children. A sixth child died of malaria. He says: “My father had to divide his land among six of us. My share was so small that I had to move my family to a town. My wife and I work at carrying sacks of stones and sand. Our home has no windows. We get water from a well at the police station. We usually have one meal a day, but when there is no work, we have no food all day. I go out when that happens—I can’t bear listening to the children when they cry for food.”

A poor family in Bolivia getting water from a river Read More

WANAFUNZI CHUO KIKUU CHA DODOMA (UDOM) WAFANYA MITIHANI YAO YA MWISHO MWA SEMISTA GIZANI

2012-02-16T17:14:00.000-08:00

LEO hii karibia asilimia kubwa ya wanafunzi wa chuo kikuu cha Udom wafanya mitihani yao ya mwisho ya semista gizani, hii nikutokana na kukatika kwa umeme, ili limewatokea wanafunzi wale ambao walikuwa na mitihani jioni ya usiku huu wa tarehe 17 februari na wengi wao walikuwa ni wale wa mwaka wa tatu.

Wakati hili likitokea utawala wa chuo waliamua kutoa taarifa TANESCO , ambao walihaidi kurudi kwa umeme baada ya dakika chache, walimu wa kozi husika walitoa angalizo kwa wanafunzi
kwamba wasubiri umeme utarudi lakini haikuwa hivyo walivyotarajia kwani umeme haukurudi kwa wakati. Ndipo ulichukuliwa uhamuzi wa walimu kwamba wanafunzi ambao hawakumaliza mitihani waweze kukusanya mitihani na vijitabu vya kujibi mitihani ili kurinda hadhi ya mitihani na kuepuka uhalisia wa mitihani hiyo(validity and reliability of exams) kwa kweli huo ndio ukweli halisi maana giza lilianza kuwa kubwa kwenye vyumba vyote vya mitihani. Ndipo wanafunzi walipoweza kukusanya mitihani na vijitabu vya kujibia mitihani.

Baada ya muda mchache umeme ukarudi na ni baada ya wanafunzi kutoka, wakati huo huo chuo cha elimu tatizo lilikuwa hilo hilo, ampapo inaripotiwa ya kwamba umeme ulipo rudi kama nusu saa hivi Tangazo lilitolewa ya kwamba kwa wale wanafunzi walioweza kufanya mtihani wa “utafiti katika elimu” ya kwamba wasiondoke na kwenda makwao hadi uamuzi utakapo chukuliwa wa nini kifanyike. Lakini hadi sasa wanafunzi wengi wameweza kuondoka chuoni hapo na hiyo ni baada ya kutoka kwenye mtihani na pia na wengine wanategemea kuondoka hasubuhi kwani wengi wao waliweza kukata tiketi mapema kwenda makwao, hadi dakika ya mwisho chanzo cha habari hizi kinasema wanafunzi wengi hawakubaliani na tangazo hilo maana wengi wao tayari wameshaondoka na hawapo tena chuoni na wengine wameishakata tiketi tayari kwa safari.

Lakini penye jambo pia kuna ukinzani wengine walitoa mapendekezo ya kwamba mitihani yote iliyofanyika muda huo iweze kurudiwa wamependekeza hivyo.wamesema haina budi kufanya hivyo pamoja na kwamba ni gharama kubwa kurudia na kukidhi gharama za mitihani hiyo.

Hadi tunafikia tamati, jibu la nini kifanyike halijulikani hadi uamuzi kamili utakapo tolewa kesho na wakuu wa idara husika.

MATOKEO KIDATO CHA NNE YAVUNJA MOYO KWA MAENDELEO YA TAIFA LETU !

2012-02-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

Kwa mujibu wa Katibu Mtendaji wa Necta, Dk. Joyce Ndalichako, Baraza limefuta matokeo ya watahiniwa hao, ambao kati yao, 3,301 ni wa Mtihani wa Kidato cha Nne na wawili ni wa Maarifa (QT). Mwaka juzi, wanafunzi 303 walibainika kufanya udanganyifu huo. Aidha, watahiniwa 225,126 sawa na asilimia 53.37 wamefaulu mtihani wa huo, wakiwamo wasichana 90,885 sawa na asilimia 48.25 ya wasichana waliofanya mtihani na wavulana ni 134,241 sawa na asilimia 57.51 ya wavulana waliofanya mtihani huo.

Mwaka juzi, watahiniwa waliofaulu walikuwa 177,021 sawa na asilimia 50.40 ya watahiniwa waliofanya mtihani huo, hivyo kiwango cha ufaulu kimeongezeka kwa asilimia 2.63. Dk. Ndalichako alifafanua aina ya udanganyifu wa watahiniwa hao na kusema zaidi ni 2,896 wamefutiwa matokeo kwa sababu ya kuwa na mfanano wa majibu usio wa kawaida. Alisema wadanganyifu wengi wanatoka Mwanza na Arusha.

Alizitaja aina nyingine za udanganyifu na idadi ya watahiniwa waliohusika kwenye mabano, kuwa ni waliokamatwa na wasimamizi ndani ya chumba cha mitihani wakiwa na ‘notes’ (182); waliofanyiwa mitihani na watu wengine (3); waliosajiliwa kufanya mitihani kwa kutumia majina ya wengine wakati walishafanya mtihani (4) na waliokuwa na karatasi za majibu zenye miandiko tofauti au kuwa na miandiko tofauti katika karatasi ya somo moja (155).

Nyingine ni kubadilishana karatasi za maswali/vijitabu vya kujibia mtihani ili kuandikiana majibu, au kujadiliana ndani ya chumba cha mtihani (14); watahiniwa kukamatwa na booklet zaidi ya moja ambapo booklet moja hawakupewa na msimamizi (18) na watahiniwa kubainika kuwa na kesi mbili tofauti; kama vile mfanano wa majibu, notes, kijitabu cha kujibia zaidi ya kimoja na kubadilishana karatasi za majibu au kijitabu cha kujibia mtihani (25).

“Wapo wengine watatu ambao walikamatwa wakifanyiwa mitihani na mmoja aliyekuwa akiwafanyia mitihani ni wa kidato cha tatu ambaye mwaka huu anaingia kidato cha nne. Sasa unajiuliza kama huyo ameanza udanganyifu huo, kwa kweli ni hatari,” alisema. Dk. Ndalichako alisema pia wapo waliobainika kukosa sifa za kufanya uchaguzi miaka ya nyuma na kurudia
na wanafunzi wanne wa Kahama Muslim, waligundulika kwa hilo kwa kuangalia picha zilizotumika mwaka 2010.

Kuhusu mfanano wa majibu, alisema “mwaka jana, tulipotangaza matokeo ya darasa la saba na kubainisha udanganyifu na kufuta matokeo, wapo waliotushutumu sana na mimi niliamua kukaa kimya. Wapo waliodai ni kwa sababu tunatunga mtihani wa maswali ya kuchagua na usimamizi holela.” Lakini alisema wanafunzi wana uwezo tofauti darasani, hata kama watafundishwa na mwalimu mmoja, hivyo si rahisi kwa majibu ya darasa zima kufanana hata katika maswali ya kuchagua na katika kuandika maswali ya kujieleza, kukokotoa Hisabati; ambako kote huko wanafunzi hawawezi kufafana kwa jibu sahihi wala njia walizotumia kupata jibu; hali ambayo alisema imejitokeza katika majibu ya watahiniwa 2,896.

“Kwa mfano, kuna kituo wanafunzi wote 50 walijaza jibu la kuchagua linalofanana lakini wamekosa, hii si kawaida. Katika somo la Jiografia, kuna kituo wanafunzi wote walijaza jibu la O wakati hakukuwa na jibu hilo. Kwa upande wa waliobadilishana karatasi, walikuwa 14 akiwamo mmoja ambaye aliandika kwenye kitambulisho chake, ‘Kwa Mage’ na mwenzake akamjibu ‘Haisomeki’. Aandika mistari Bongofleva Kuhusu walioandika mambo yasiyoeleweka, alisema yupo mwanafunzi aliyeandika mashairi ya muziki wa kizazi kipya, - Bongofleva, na mwingine kuchora mchezaji anayesakata soka.

Lakini pia wapo wanane walioandika matusi akiwamo mmoja aliyeandika matusi katika mitihani yake yote saba. Baadhi ya mistari aliyosoma mtendaji huyo wa Necta iliyoandikwa na mtahiniwa aliyejibu kwa kuandika Bongofleva ni “wakati majibu yakitoka nitakuwa mtaani, wazazi wangu wako levo ya juu…hii ndio yangu time.” Kwa walioandika matusi, alisema kufuta matokeo pekee hakutoshi, hivyo Necta itafuatilia zaidi na kuchukua hatua ikiwamo kufikishwa katika vyombo vya sheria, kwa sababu ni kosa kisheria na kuwataka wanafunzi ambao hawawezi kujibu maswali, waandike namba zao tu na kukusanya karatasi, badala ya kutukana.

“Kwa kweli hali hii ni hatari. Taifa linaangamia, tunajichimbia kaburi wenyewe. Hili si tatizo la Baraza la Mitihani, ni la Taifa zima. Linahusu wazazi, walimu na wanafunzi wenyewe na jamii yote kushirikiana kukomesha tabia hii,” alieleza Dk. Ndalichako ambaye kitaaluma ni
mwalimu. Alisema kufuta matokeo pekee hakutoshi, kwa sababu inaonekana wapo watu waliojitengenezea ajira, kwani ushahidi unaonesha wapo walioshiriki udanganyifu huo tangu
mwaka 2009 hadi mwaka jana, kwa kuwajazia wanafunzi majibu, hivyo hatua za kisheria ni lazima zichukuliwe.

“Watahiniwa wote waliofutiwa matokeo yao kutokana na kujihusisha na udanganyifu au kuandika matusi kwenye karatasi zao za majibu, hawataruhusiwa kufanya Mtihani wa Baraza kwa kipindi kisichopungua miaka mitatu,” alieleza Katibu Mtendaji wa Necta na kuongeza: “Kwa upande wa wasimamizi wote ambao vituo walivyosimamia vimebainika kuwa na watahiniwa wengi waliofanya udanganyifu, orodha yao itapelekwa kwa waajiri wao ili wachukuliwe hatua stahiki.

Aidha, mawasiliano yatafanyika pia na Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali ili kuona hatua zaidi za kisheria zinazoweza kuchukuliwa dhidi yao,” alisema Dk. Ndalichako. Aidha, alisema Necta imesitisha matokeo ya watahiniwa 264 wa kujitegemea na 116 wa QT ambao walifanya mitihani bila kulipa ada, 873 wa shule binafsi ambao watatakiwa kulipa ada zao ili matokeo yao yafunguliwe, vinginevyo baada ya miaka miwili yatafutwa. Watahiniwa 67 hawajawasilisha alama zao za mazoezi

Mgomo wa madaktari, Suluhu yapatikana baada ya mazungumzo.

2012-02-09T13:54:00.000-08:00

Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda amewasimamisha kazi Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii Blandina Nyoni na Mganga Mkuu wa Serikali Dokta Deo Mtasiwa ili kupisha uchunguzi kuhusu chanzo cha mgomo wa Madaktari unaoendelea.

Hata hivyo Waziri Mkuu Pinda amemwachia Rais Jakaya Kikwete uamuzi wa mwisho kuhusu hatma ya Waziri wa Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii Dokta Haji Mponda na Naibu wake Dokta Lucy Nkya ambao pia wanalalamikiwa na Madaktari kwa madai ya kupuuza malalamikoyao.

Mapambazuko ya asubuhi ya Alhamisi yanamkuta Waziri Mkuu Mheshimiwa Mizengo Pinda kwenye Hospitali ya Taifa ya Muhimbili lengo kuu likiwa ni kutatua mgogoro baina ya serikali na madaktari.

Ni siku ya 17 tangu mgogoro huo uanze na mashinikizo yamekuwa yakiongezeka kila kona huku kukiwa na tetesi kuwa baadhi ya Mawaziri walimtaka mwenzao Waziri wa Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii Dokta Haji Mponda kujiuzulu kutokana na sakatahilo.

Waziri Mkuu amefika katika hospitali hiyo majira ya saa 3 asubuhi huku mamia ya madaktari wakimsubiri kwa hamu kujibu madai waliyomuwasilishia mezani likiwemo lile la kuwawajibisha viongozi wakuu wa Wizara ya Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii kwa madai ya kutowasikiliza na kuwapuuza pindi wanapowasilisha madaiyao.

Miongoni mwa madai ya madaktari hao ni kupewa kipaumbele kwa madaktari walio kwenye mafunzo kwa vitendo, kuongezewa posho za muito wa ziada yaani (on call allowance), Posho za nyumba au kupewa nyumba, posho za mazingira hatarishi, usafiri na kuongezewa mshahara.

Pamoja na yote aliyowaahidi Waziri Mkuu ametoa mwito kwa madaktari hao kurejea kazini ili kuwasaidia wagonjwa wanaoteseka kwa kukosa hudumayao.

Mbali na masuala ya mishahara Waziri Mkuu pia ameahidi kuboresha mazingira ya kazi, mazingira ya afya mahospitalini, kuongeza vitendea kazi na kuwaongezea posho za mwito wa dharura yaani (on call allowance) kutoka shilingi 10,000/- mpaka shilingi 25,000/-.

Masuala mengine yasiyotatulika kwa haraka, Waziri Mkuu ameyaundia tume ya watu 9 itakayofuatilia na kumpelekea ripoti, tume hiyo imeshirikisha wawakilishi kutoka Chama cha Madaktari MAT, Chama cha wafanyakazi wa serikali kuu na afya TUGHE, mwakilishi kutoka Hazina, Wizara ya Afya na idara zingine kutoka serikalini na vyama vya wafanyakazi.

Kwa upande wao madaktari wameomba wapewe muda mzuri zaidi kwa ajili ya kuendelea kujadili masuala mbalimbali yanayowakabili.

Hata hivyo mpaka kikao kinamalizika madaktari hao wamekubaliana kusitisha mgomo na kurejea kazini kwa ajili ya kuendelea na kazi huku wakitarajia kukutana tena Mwezi ujao tarehe 3 mwaka huu kuangalia masualayaoya kikazi.

Mgogoro huo uliochukua takriban wiki tatu mfululizo umeanza baada ya Wizara ya afya kuchelewesha posho za Madaktari Wanafunzi hatua iliyowafanya wasitishe huduma katika hospitali ya Taifa ya Muhimbili na kuanza kuitisha vikao kupitia kwa Chama cha Madaktari Tanzania MAT ambavyo viliibua madai mengine ya nyuma.

NALO HILI MUHIMU, KUUTAZAMA ULIMWENGU !

2012-02-07T13:28:00.001-08:00

BARACK OBAMA, RAIS WA MAREKANI.

“Kuwa Rais kunamsukuma aone uhitaji wa kusali”- Katika hili tunamhitaji kiongozi mwenye misingi ya dini na mwenye kuamini.

· LA NACION, ARGENTINA

“Walipoulizwa wachague njia ya kuonyesha uzalendo wao, asilimia 56 ya waargentina wenye umri wa kati ya miaka 10 na 24 walisema kwamba wangependa kuvalia jezi ya timu ya kandanda ya Taifa”.-. Hapa kuna jambo la msingi tunaweza kujifunza watanzania. Je sisi kama wazalendo watimu yetu ya Taifa, hili kwetu tumekuwa waraibu tuko tayari kuvaa jezi ya Brazil nakuacha jezi zetu.

· SHIRIKA LA CHAKULA NA KILIMO LA UMOJA WA MATAIFA, ITALIA.

Matokeo ya utafiti Fulani yalidokeza kwamba “inakadiriwa kwamba asilimia 33 ya chakula kinachozalishwa ulimwenguni pote kwa ajili ya wanadamu hupotea au kutupwa, na hiyo ni kama jumla ya tani bilioni 1.3 kwa mwaka”

· PATRIARRCH KRILL, MKUU WA KANISA LA OTHODOKSI LA URUSI.

Siku hizi, vita na ripoti za vita zimeenea ulimwenguni pote kwa mfano Misri, Libya Somalia n.k, kwa hiyo jeshi la nchi yetu lazima liwe tayari siku zote kuwalinda watu wake na kila kitu ambacho tunaona kuwa ni kitakatifu kutokana na maadui wanaotoka nchi nyingine.

· PRESSEPORTAL, UJERUMANI.

Kiwango cha juu cha kabisa aksidenti za magari kilichoripotiwa kwa kampuni moja ya bima nchini ujerumani katika mwaka wa 2010, kilionesha kwamba aksidenti hizo zilitokea kati ya saa mbili asubuhi. “Mojawapo ya njia muhimu zaidi ya kuzuuia aksidenti ni kuwa na wakati wa kutosha wa kusafiri unapoelekea kazini asubuhi,” anasema afisa wa kampuni hiyo.

Wabunge wazuiwa kujadili mgomo wa madaktari

2012-02-04T01:44:00.000-08:00

WABUNGE leo wamezuiwa kujadili kauli ya Serikali kuhusu namna ilivyoshughulikia mgomo wa madaktari.

Naibu Spika wa Bunge, Job Ndugai, amewaeleza wabunge kuwa, si busara kuijadili kauli hiyo kwa kuwa wamesikia upande mmoja tu wa Serikali, hawajasikia upande wa madaktari wanasema nini.

Ndugia amekiri kwamba suala ni nyeti kwa kuwa linahusu maisha na uhai wa wananchi wanaohitaji tiba lakini taratibu za uendeshaji wa mabunge ya Jumuiya ya Madola haziruhusu kujadili kauli za mawaziri mara tu baada ya kuwasilishwa.

Amesema kutojadili kauli hizo moja kwa moja kunaepusha kauli tofauti tofauti.

Kwa mujibu wa Ndugai, si busara kwa wabunge kuijadili kauli ya Serikali iliyowasilishwa leo bungeni na Waziri wa Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii, Dk. Haji Mponda.

Ndugai amesema , madaktari hawajasikilizwa na hawawezi kwenda bungeni kutoa kauli yao lakini licha ya madai mengine, wanawatuhumu watendaji wa Wizara ya Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii hawawajibiki na wanatoa kauli za kashfa hivyo si busara kwa wabunge kulijadili suala hilo.

“Sijui kama tutakuwa tunajitendea haki hata sisi wenyewe unless ( isipokuwa) kama tupo informed (kuwa na uelewa wa kutosha kuhusu jambo fulani” amesema Ndugai.

Ametoa msimamo huo wakati anatoa mwongozo wake kuhusu hoja ya Mbunge wa Ubungo, John Mnyika (Chadema) ya kuomba Bunge lijadili kauli ya Serikali kuhusu namna ilivyoshughulikia mgomo wa madaktari.

Mnyika amesema, ni busara kwa wabunge kuijadili kauli hiyo kwa kuwa, Serikali ni moja ya pande zinazohusika kwenye mgororo huo,hivyo ni busara kauli iliyotoa ijadiliwe na wahusika wawajibishwe.
Mbunge huyo aliomba mwongozo huo kabla Waziri Mponda hajawasilisha kauli hiyo, na baada ya kuwasilishwa, Mbunge wa Kasulu Mjini, Moses Machali (NCCR- Mageuzi), na Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Kabwe Zitto (Chadema) nao waliomba kauli ya Serikali ijadiliwe. Baada ya Ndugai kutoa mwongozo huo aliiagiza Kamati ya Kudumu ya Bunge ya Huduma za Jamii izungumze na Serikali na madaktari ili kumaliza mgogoro huo.

Ameitaka kamati hiyo hiyo ifanye kazi hiyo haraka na itoe taarifa kuhusu yaliyojiri kwenye mazungumzo hayo na ushauri wa Bunge kwa pande husika.
Amesema, ushauri wa Bunge kwa pande hizo si lazima yawe maagizo, na kwamba, wabunge wanaruhusiwa kuhudhuria vikao vya kamati na pande husika, na kuchangia.

CRDB yaipa Minaki milioni 5/-.

2012-02-03T16:01:00.000-08:00

BENKI ya CRDB imekabidhi sh milioni 5, kwa Shule ya Sekondari ya Minaki ili zitumike kwa ajili ya kuendeleza elimu shuleni hapo. Msaada huo ulitolewa jana na Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa benki hiyo, Dorah Ngarija, wakati wa mahafali ya 52 ya shule hiyo, akisema kiasi hicho kimetolewa kwa lengo la kutatua baadhi ya kero zinazoikabili shule hiyo.

Alisema benki hiyo imekuwa ikitoa mchango mkubwa kwa sekta ya elimu, ikiwemo ya kutoa mafunzo ya vitendo kwa wanafunzi wa elimu ya juu ili kupata uzoefu wa kikazi.

Dorah alisema CRDB imefanikiwa kuwapelekea huduma za kibenki wanafunzi wa elimu ya juu ili waendelee kupata huduma za fedha wakiwa vyuoni.

Aliutaka uongozi wa shule hiyo kuendeleza historia iliyoachwa ya kuwa chanzo cha kutoa wanafunzi ambao baadaye watakuwa viongozi bora wa baadaye. Awali, mkuu wa shule hiyo, Arnold Chungu, alisema licha ya shule hiyo kuwa kongwe inakabiliwa na changamoto mbalimbali kama uhaba wa vifaa, maji safi na salama ya kunywa.

Source: Tanzania Daima

Madini ya chuma yaleta maafa Nigeria

2012-02-02T00:33:00.000-08:00

Shirika la kutetea haki za binadamu Human Rights Watch limesema kuwa shughuli ya uchimbaji dhahabu kaskazini mwa Nigeria imewasababishia maelfu ya watoto maradhi mabaya zaidi kutokana na uchafuzi wa madini ya chuma.

Human Rights Watch inasema kuwa uchafuzi huo ndio mbaya zaidi kuwahi kutokea katika miaka ya hivi karibuni na watoto wengi katika eneo hilo wanahitaji msaada wa kimatibabu. Shirika hilo linasema tayari watoto mia nne wamekwishaaga dunia kutokana na mkasa huo. Baadhi ya watoto hao ambao wana umri wa miaka minane wanafanya kazi katika migodi ya dhahabu katika jimbo la Zamfara.

Viwango vya uchafuzi wa madini ya chuma ni vya juu zaidi katika baadhi ya vijiji na takriban asilimia arobaini ya watoto walioenekana kuwa na dalili ya kupata maradhi yanayotokana na uchafuzi huo wameaga dunia. Shirika la Human Rights Watch linasema kuwa uchimbaji wa madini unawaweka watoto hao katika hatari ya kuathirika na vumbi ya madini hayo ya chuma ambayo inachafua maji pamoja na chakula. Shirika la afya duniani WHO linasema kuwa madini ya chuma husababisha matatizo ya kudumaa ubongo na umbo la watoto.Read More

MWAKYEMBE:”NAMSHUKURU MUNGU KWA KUENDELEA KUNIPA NGUVU”

2012-02-01T23:54:00.000-08:00

Kwa muda sasa,hali ya afya ya Naibu Waziri wa Ujenzi na Mbunge wa Jimbo la Kyela mkoani Mbeya,Dr.Harrison Mwakyembe, imekuwa ni gumzo lisiloisha.Yanasemwa mengi kuhusu ugonjwa unaomsumbua.Yeye mwenyewe hajaweka bayana juu ya ugonjwa wake.Serikali nayo,kwa kuzingatia taratibu za kitabibu,haiwezi kusema kitu.Bado anaugua.

Pamoja na kwamba bado anaugua,hali yake inaendelea vizuri.Mwishoni mwa wiki alithibitisha hilo pale alipoweza kuhudhuria ibada katika Kanisa la Ufufuo na Uzima linaloongozwa na Mch.Josephat Gwajima lililopo maeneo ya Kawe jijini Dar-es-salaam.

Anavyoonekana hivi sasa Dr.Harrison Mwakyembe

AJIRA MPYA YA WALIMU WA SEKONDARI SHAHADA

2012-01-31T09:55:00.000-08:00

AJIRA MPYA YA WALIMU WA SEKONDARI SHAHADA CLICK HERE

AFOAS BLOGU: RELIGIUOS/DINI

2012-01-30T14:57:00.000-08:00

AFOAS BLOGU: RELIGIUOS/DINI
Ni nini misimamo yetu katika dini je sisi ni waasi wa imani zetu, hapana ninachoamini mimi ni tofauti na wanadini wengine na ninamaana katika hili, jambo hili linawagusa sana wazazi na walezi wanapokumbwa na changamoto ya watoto wao kubadili dini zao eidha kwa kufuata mafundisho ya dini fulani au kwa sababu binafsi kwa mfano mtoto wa kiume/kike anapoamua kuama dini yake na kwenda dini nyingine kwasababu ya mapenzi au kwa sababu ya matatizo kama magonjwa. sisi kama wazazi na walezi wa watoto hawa inatupasa tufanye yafuatayo
:

1. Tuangalie sababu ya mtoto kuama dini

2. Tuangalie umri wake, je amefikia umri wa kuamua yale anayoona yanafaa kwake ni pamoja na kuchagua wapi kwa kuabudu na kwa nani.

Wazazi daima tunapenda kutumia ubabe wa kuamua yoyote yale yawe hata kama yale wanayotenda ni mazuri namna gani:

Ifahamike kwamba kila binadamu ana haki ya kuabudu kokote anakoamini kwa mfano:

1. islamic/uislam

2.christianity/ukristu

3.budha

4.jehova's witness nk

LIFE

2012-01-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.

HOT SITE

2012-01-13T13:58:00.000-08:00

www.kanumba.com

AGRA DEAD PROJECT EVALUATION

2012-01-05T15:16:00.000-08:00

Background
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is a partnership of The Rockefeller Foundation and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) working with African governments, other donors, NGOs, the private sector and African farmers to significantly and sustainably improve the productivity and incomes of resource poor farmers in Africa.

AGRA’s vision is of a food secure and prosperous Africa achieved through rapid, sustainable agricultural growth based on smallholder farmers who are primarily engaged in the production of staple food crops in Africa. The main goals of AGRA by 2020 are to: i) Reduce food insecurity by 50 percent in at least 20 countries ii) Double the incomes of 20 million smallholder families and iii) Put at least 30 countries on track towards attaining and sustaining a uniquely African Green Revolution.

AGRA’s strategy operates across four programmatic areas. The four programmatic areas which work in an integrated manner across all three portfolios are the Seeds, Soil health, Market Access and Policy and Partnerships. Other areas such as water, extension, gender and youth will be incorporated into the four programs.

The Program for African Seed System (PASS) which started in 2007 funds agro-ecology based crop breeding by national and local research programs; coordinates with the CGIAR system to rapidly disseminate existing improved seed varieties; fosters the development of a vibrant, competitive seed sector; supports the development of national agro-dealer networks- village retailers who get farm inputs to remote farmers; partners with African universities to train the next generation of African agricultural scientists; and advocates for seeds regulatory frameworks that make high quality, affordable seed available to smallholder farmers.

PASS consists of four sub-programs that focus on different elements of the input supply value chain. These are Education for African Crop Improvement (EACI), the Fund for the Improvement and Adoption of African Crops (FIAAC), the Seed Production for Africa Initiative (SEPA) and the Agro-Dealer Development Program (ADP).

The Program’s objectives are organized in terms of the major results that are expected from each of its four sub-programs:
• EACI provides funding for the training of new generation of crop breeders and agricultural scientists upon which seed systems depend for growth and productivity. Training under this sub-program is conducted in nine (9) universities across seven (7) countries and has primarily focused on masters and doctoral level and has up to December 2010 successfully graduated about forty (40) students. These graduates are expected to join the critical mass of scientists developing improved seed varieties in research institutions across Africa.
• FIAAC funds crop breeding in Africa to improve African crop varieties and promote their adoption by smallholder farmers. FIAAC has facilitated the release and dissemination of over 154 improved seed varieties across 13 sub-Saharan African countries by December 2010 that is expected to boost the yield levels of smallholder farmers. These released improved varieties should reach the smallholder farmer through the activities of seed companies and agro-dealers.

• SEPA helps ensure that improved crop varieties are produced and distributed through private and public channels (including seed companies, publicly-supported seed programs and public extension) so that farmers can adopt these varieties. SEPA, through its support to small private seed companies has up-to-date supported the production and distribution of 25,000 MT of improved seed varieties across 13 sub-Saharan African countries.

• ADP provides training and credit to establish and support the growth of small agro-dealers, who are a primary conduit of seeds, fertilizers, and knowledge on their proper use, to smallholder farmers to increase their productivity and incomes. ADP has facilitated the training of over 9000 rural agro-dealers across 9 sub-Saharan African countries with the objective of delivering improved inputs to smallholder farmers in an affordable, efficient and effective manner.

Objectives of the evaluations
Over fifty (50) PASS supported projects ended by December 2010. The AGRA M&E Unit is seeking for consultants/firms to undertake evaluations of expired projects in six (6) randomly selected sub Saharan African countries. The objectives of the evaluations are to assess:
a) The extent to which project’s major objectives were achieved
b) How economically projects converted inputs into results
c) The status of project outputs /results and whether results has translated into benefits to the smallholder famer (if yes, how)
d) The likelihood of continued, long term benefits from project results

Scope
The country based evaluations will assess the performance of expired projects in six (6) randomly selected countries. The evaluations will deal with the question of whether the expired projects have efficiently and effectively delivered on agreed outputs/results and how these results (if any) have moved along the uptake pathways towards addressing the productivity needs of the smallholder farmer. Additionally, the evaluations will assess the benefits (direct or indirect, positive or negative) from project outputs and the sustainability of project results.
Country Number of Expired Projects Sub-programs
EACI FIAAC SEPA ADP
Ghana 3 1 - 2 -
Nigeria 5 2 1 2 -
Kenya 12 - 7 4 1
Uganda 7 1 5 1 -
Tanzania 11 1 5 3 2
Malawi 3 - 1 1 1

Key Deliverables
The consultants/firms will review key documents produced by grantees, program officers and other partners; such documents shall include but are not limited to the background program document, grant proposals, project progress and final reports, consultancy reports, and other documents related to PASS. The consultants will also review relevant literature related to the assignment and carry out data collection using agreed methodologies with the AGRA M&E Unit to obtain information that meets the objectives outlined above.

The consultants will be required to submit to AGRA’s M&E unit:
• Inception Report which should be delivered not later than 14 days from the date of signing contract
• Draft reports (a draft report will be required for comment team prior to finalization);
• Oral presentation to the AGRA management, PASS team and M&E Unit when required;
• A master copy of the final report suitable for reproduction
• Presentation of the final report, including recommendations
• Soft copies of the final report
Reporting
During the course of the evaluations, the consultants/firms will be required to report regularly on progress.
Management
The consultants will report directly to the Director- Monitoring and Evaluation. The PASS M&E Program Officer will facilitate and coordinate the evaluations by the consultants/firms.
To ensure objectivity and credibility of the evaluations, the assessment will be conducted by external consultants/firms who have had no prior commitment or major contribution to the PASS program.
Timing
The evaluations are expected to be completed within a 90 - day period.
In-house Resources
Access to files, databases, contacts for grantees, financial records and other program related files depending on the consultant’s requirements will be availed. Access to program Director and staff will be guaranteed.
Specifications of the Consultant Teams
The consultants will be selected on the basis of their proven experience, qualifications and ability to deliver a quality product in a timely and efficient manner. Minimum qualifications and experience of the team members will include:
• MSc in Agricultural Economics, Social Sciences, or related field and at least 5 years of relevant experience (leader);
• 5 years experience in survey fieldwork (data collection, validation, entry and analysis)
• Proven track record in conducting evaluations in sub-Saharan Africa;
• Experience in leading teams in field (training, field logistics, human relations, teamwork)
• Demonstrable ability, experience and the capacity to undertake the assessment in different countries;
• Excellent writing skills, with publication record in one discipline related to assignment
• Demonstrable analytical skills;
• Past related experience in sub-Saharan Africa; and
• Excellent English communication skills.