Tanzania

Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, has been in power for over half a century. Though the country has held regular multiparty elections since it moved away from one-party rule in the early 1990s, recently the government has been cracking down on political opposition, the press, and civil society. IRI is supporting civil society and working with political parties to promote accountable and inclusive political reforms.

A man prepares to cast his ballot at a polling station

IRI is promoting reforms focused on improving inclusion, accountability, and transparency. One of IRI’s areas of interest in Tanzania is the inclusion of marginalized groups in politics. To that end, IRI is working to dismantle barriers and is helping women, youth, and people with disabilities demonstrate their leadership skills.

IRI is working to make its partners more effective on the ground, helping them assess their successes and challenges in outreach and in running voter education campaigns. By analyzing political stakeholders’ statements and Tanzanians’ social media use, IRI is advising on ways to improve the national discussion on political and electoral reforms, with the goal of creating a more competitive and representative multiparty environment.