Tanzania: A Case of 'Dependent Science'

This paper provides an overview of the state of the science and technology (S&T) in Tanzania. After mapping the institutional research situation, the strengths and weaknesses of the Tanzanian national scientific community are assessed. The main topics covered include Tanzanian science policy, the institutional landscape, the conditions under which scientists work in Tanzania, including professional changes, the variety of funding mechanisms supporting S& T activities, and scientific outputs.

Tanzanian scientists are facing a multiple professional dependency including foreign aid dependency to go on training (even in Tanzania), to finance their research work and to complement their incomes. In addition, Tanzanian researchers are dependent on foreign colleagues at each stage of their scientific work. Foreign funding modalities have changed during the last twenty years and this may lead to greater national ownership in the future. Although foreign funding will be necessary to sustain the survival of the Tanzanian scientific community in the near future, it is argued that the government should increase its support to S&T activities to ensure a needed revival.