Synergy Between Local Government Authorities And Corporates For Social Service Delivery: A Case Of District Councils And Sugar Companies In Morogoro, Tanzania

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

corporate’s 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

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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.