NYANJA INTEGRATED
RURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (NYANJA IRUDI) is registered by the Tanzania
Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children as a national
Non-Governmental Organization, Act 2002.The organization is registered as
national NGO to cover Tanzania Mainland.
The organization
is managed by the Executive Chairman Ellison
Tekere Mujungu, Ph.D., retired UNHCR
staff and holds three PhD degrees in (1) Public Health-Community Medicine.(2)
Business Administration-Management, Planning and Leadership (3) PhD in
Education with Advanced Diploma in Financial Management and Sexually
Transmitted Disease and HIV/AIDS Prevention and Response, with vast experience in supervising,
monitoring and coordinating Community
services activities including sports, HIV/AIDS at the work place and youth activities in UNHCR programs in Tanzania, West Africa,(Sierra Leone,
Liberia, Ghana),Sudan-Blue Nile, West Darfur and Kenya refugee programs. To run
the organization effectively is assisted by experienced, Secretary General
(Graduate, B.Sc.: in Economics, Taxation and Accounting) Treasurer/Accountant
(CPA holder) Project Coordinator, Three Field officers. 3 Drivers, secretary, Security guard and
office cleaner.
The
organization is community based owned and run by the community, each village is
having a committee team comprising of Chairman, Vice chairman, Secretary, Vice
secretary, Treasurer and five members who will be responsible and oversee the
organization’s activities and other issues.
At
the main office, the Organization Executive Chairman is responsible for the
overall management, implementation and accountability of the organization to
the donor, providing overall management support to the organization in regard
to coordination with other agencies and evaluation, fully responsible for
planning, management and timely implementation of proposed organization
components
The
Treasurer\Accountant ( CPA-holder) provides budgeting , financial control
/management and reporting support
to the organization
staff in order to monitor expenditure, preparing
monthly/Quarterly Programmatic and financial reports to the donor and
assist with costing
projections.
The Secretary
General (Graduate, B.Sc. in Economics, Taxation and Accounting) is responsible
for project management issues, accountable for organization resources and
assets, coordinating, planning for donor meeting and organizing of writing
Project proposals for fund raising.
Nyanja territory
was one of the power engines for social economic development during
pre-colonial time in the Lake Victoria zone. Its geographical location in the
South-east part of Lake Victoria was strategic for its advancement as the
habitats of this area were interacting with other tribes in the Great Lake
Regions of Central Africa, mainly Baganda of Uganda, Gaya (Lwoo) of Kenya and
Sukuma (Gwe) from the southern part of Lake Victoria. When German Missionaries
landed in the southern East shores of Lake Victoria (Nyanja) territory they
found a prime ground to launch schools and preach Christianity an experience
that was built on the acquaintance with exotic influences from their neighbours
in the Great Lake Region which enhanced development. As a result of cherishing
education, the pre- independence Nyanja territory was producing trained
teachers, agriculture experts, medical experts, Lawyers and preachers that
served all over East Africa. This is no longer the case. The wave of Social-economic
changes that hit the country four decades ago had a negative impact to
education attainment, subsistence fishing activities, agriculture and livestock
keeping eroding years of achievements. Worse still is the rampant serious
deforestation of the entire villages of Nyanja division. Over the past few
decades the area has experienced frequent droughts erratic perspirations
falling land productivity and law fish catch declining food security .This
scenario is mainly attributed to land degradation as vegetation and forests are
disappearing at an alarming pace, owing to unscrupulous handling of resources
by the rapidly expanding population .Food and water insecurity is becoming a
common phenomenon. More often people buy water from water vendors who bring
water from distant places .Those who lack money are compelled to travel great
distances in search of water. A lot of human resources and time are wasted.
Currently Nyanja division is having 17 wards, 61 villages, 19 secondary schools
and one under construction, 28 dispensaries and health Centre which was
recently upgraded to a hospital. The division is situated in the southern part
of Mara region (Musoma rural) Tanzania mainland, located between latitudes 0̊ -
1.5̊ south and 34̊ - 35̊ East .Its elevation above sea level is 100m. It is an
area with Soil originated from weathered sedimentary rocks. There are scattered
mountains comprising granitic and sedimentary rocks, having 17 wards, 61
villages, 19 secondary schools, (The
20th under construction in Bulinga ward) 28 dispensaries and one
Health Centre which was recently upgraded to a hospital.
