• 1.INTRODUCTION

Article 5(1) of the Act which established NEEC, recognizes the role research findings have in economic empowerment. That is why the same has given NEEC mandate to coordinate all researches that are geared towards facilitation of economic empowerment.This means that NEEC have a legal mandate of identifying, collecting, storing in a database, directing to appropriate needy group and promoting for adoption all research findings for the sake of economic empowerment.

In addition to National Economic Empowerment Act there are policies, legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks which are in place which provide direction on how best to undertake ad implement research issues. There is Research and Development Policy (2010) that guide how to promote research in Tanzania and various sectoral policies and institutions on the same. Nowadays, there are public and private institutions which are doing research alone or in partnership. Such institutions include Ministries, Development and Agencies; Universities; R&D institutions; and others; NEEC is complementing with the existing initiatives with the point of departure being identifying obstacles which hinder achievement of economic empowerment of Tanzanian women, men, youth and PWDs and find the best way to unlock those obstacles through Research

2. WHAT DOES NEEC DO TO COORDINATE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT RESEARCH

2.1. Advocate for incorporation of Economic empowerment components in public and private research institutions and national research agenda

NEEC coordinate researches which are focusing toward economic empowerment of Tanzanian women, men, youth and PWDs.Tanzania, have very effective Institutional, Legal and Regulatory framework in place devoted to handle research related issues in Tanzania. There is COSTECH Act which spells out visibly on its role as a coordinator of research in the Country. At the same time there are Acts in various sectors which specify clearly on the ways research should be undertaken. At the moment, Private research institutions are emerging massively delivering superb output from their undertakings. All these have competencies in their areas of their jurisdiction. Since, coordination of research that focus in facilitating Economic Empowerment is the solely mandate of NEEC, therefore it wants to see to it that most relevant research institutions incorporate Economic Empowerment into their research agenda. This will be possible through advocating and publicity on the same. Implementation of this will be done through:-

i.NEEC lobbying for being invited as presenter /speaker or participant to the meeting that discuss National research agenda;

ii.Lobby for attending as a presenter/speaker or participant in R&D institution meetings that discuss research agenda such that they incorporate Economic Empowerment in them;

iii.Develop Publicity/Media campaign on the role of Economic Empowerment research for economic development;

iv.Recognize R&D institutions that have incorporated Economic Empowerment in their research agenda and their evidence; and

v.Provide leadership to relevant institutions on the research on Economic Empowerment.

2.2.Coordinate Research committee on economic empowerment

Coordinating research on Economic Empowerment is a very complex task that requires bringing stakeholders all together to deliberate on the issues before being implemented. Research Committee on Economic Empowerment comprises research stakeholders namely, R&D, Universities and Higher learning institutions; Entrepreneurs; policy makers and business person and it has the following responsibilities:-

2.2.1.Advice on thebest modalities for coordinating research that are geared towards facilitation of Economic Empowerment in Tanzania Mainland;

2.2.2.Develop and support, “Economic Empowerment Research Co-ordination Strategy” to stimulate quality research results on Economic Empowerment and make recommendations to Management on the resource and its budget implication;

2.2.3.Advise on the resource mobilization strategy to input in the Economic Empowerment Research Co-ordination Strategy”

2.2.4.Organize forums of stakeholders of Research and Development in Economic Empowerment (promotion forums, workshops, events, award giving forums, commercialization etc);

2.2.5.Pinpoint research results, briefs and publications with impact in Economic Empowerment with its appropriate outlet;

2.2.6.Examine all identified research results, briefs, publications etc. aiming at solving Economic Empowerment issues and evaluate these in terms of feasibility, validity, potential benefit, financial costs to NEEC and the public at large and their effects in promoting them.

2.2.7.Recommend research results for facilitation approval by providing detailed evidence on why, when, how and costs/benefit implications known by the Research Committee for decision making by Management;

2.2.8.Promote the protection of Intellectual Property Rights of all research results solving Economic Empowerment issues; and

2.2.9.Identify new areas (agenda) in Economic Empowerment which have potential and opportunities for research especially in multi-disciplinary activity and to build upon existing strengths in high quality research.

2.3.Organize and participate in platforms on Research on Economic Empowerment

2.4.Disseminate/publicize potential research findings on economic empowerment

2.5.Map research results, researchers and research users on economic empowerment (supply and demand side)

2.6.Develop catalogue of research result on economic empowerment

3.TARGET BENEFICIALLY

Entrepreneurs, Community Financial Groups, Economic Groups, investors, development partners, policy makers, research and development institutions and public in general

4.FREQUENT OF SERVICE DELIVERY

Depending on the nature of activities

5.ACHIEVEMENTS

5.1.Established and operationalise Research Committee;

5.2.Linked researchers on economic empowerment and entrepreneurs;

5.3.Collaboration with R&D institutions

5.4.Identified research thematic areas which are:

5.4.1.Financial inclusion

5.4.2.Local Content in Investment

5.4.3.Coordination of Empowerment funds

5.4.4.Coordination of economic empowerment

5.4.5.Potential of Economic Groups/cooperatives

5.4.6.Entrepreneurship skills and knowledge

5.4.7.Economic infrastructure

5.4.8.Policy, legal and regulatory framework

5.4.9.Participation in Value chain

5.4.10.Any other economic empowerment initiatives