HakiElimu is a civil society organization that was established in 2001. Its vision is to see an open, just and democratic Tanzania, where all people enjoy the right to education that promotes equity, creativity and critical thinking. HakiElimu employs human-rights based approaches to education, emphasizing quality of learning, equity, governance and active citizen engagement.

Our strategy revolves around facilitating community engagement in transforming schools and influencing policy making and practices, providing space for citizens to engage, stimulating imaginative dialogue and collaborating with partners to advance participation, accountability, transparency and social justice.  

HakiElimu is widely recognized for its effective nationwide engagement on democracy, governance, and quality of education. The organisation has mobilised a grassroots network of over 35,000 Friends of Education, whose members include community based organizations and individuals who want to make a difference in their local schools and communities.

From 2005 to date, HakiElimu has conducted several campaigns to draw attention on education quality, transparency and accountability in education, governance and democracy.

Since its establishment, HakiElimu has contributed to facilitating people, making a difference in education and democracy across Tanzania. HakiElimu has informed citizens, stimulated debate and created awareness, which in turn has spurred citizen engagement that has considerably contributed to changing the educational and political landscape in Tanzania.

Vision 2012- 2016

HakiElimu’s vision is to see an open, just and democratic Tanzania where all people enjoy the right to education that promotes equity, creativity and critical thinking.

 Mission

The vision will be realised by enabling people to transform education, in and out of schools; influence policy making and effective implementation; stimulate imaginative public dialogue and social change; conduct research, policy analysis and advocacy; and collaborate with partners to advance participation, accountability, transparency and social justice.

 HakiElimu’s 2012-2016 Strategic Focus

HakiElimu’s 2012–2016 program strategy embraces the core values and principles espoused by HakiElimu since its establishment in 2001. However, it deepens them, drawing from the lessons and insights of the last ten years, of what works and what doesn’t, and changing to fit the evolving and dynamic context.

Specifically, there is greater emphasis on what citizens can do to make a difference in education and democracy. This is beyond identifying problems, challenges and finger pointing whereby concerted efforts will be directed to identifying and promoting solutions and good practices.

 Therefore, the strategic focus is to promote quality of learning for pre primary, primary and secondary levels.

However, adult literacy will also be addressed in some areas where HakiElimu will work directly with schools and communities to promote literacy for out of school youth and adults.

The current Strategic Programme prioritizes strengthening HakiElimu’s capacities to advocate and influence change around quality of learning, good governance, transparency, democracy and accountability. Capacity building efforts will prioritize areas of evidence- based research, critical evaluations to learn what works and how; as well as results- based management and reporting. This strategy seeks to create lasting, meaningful change in education and democracy in Tanzania.

Program Implementation

We believe that sustainable change in development and education happens where people actively engage to identify gaps and opportunities; and seek solutions at their own levels to improve quality of services.  The Programme will seek to ensure that citizens are informed so that they may critically analyse education and democracy issues, promote creative solutions, monitor the activities of local and national leaders and hold them to account.  We will also emphasise active learning and improved literacy among citizens in general, stimulate imaginative and critical debates, raise citizens’ voices and mobilise citizens to take positive actions in improving governance, equity, accountability and democracy. To this end HakiElimu seeks to achieve three sets of programme outcomes as follows:

• Children are in school and actively learning
• Citizens are informed, confident and actively engage
• Government is open, responsive and accountable

The strategy for implementation has been designed under three strategic programmes that will contribute to achieving the set goals and outcomes. These programmes are:

Media and Advocacy (MA)

MA facilitates availability of reliable and evidence-based information through electronic, social and print media and stimulates debate through creative and provocative advocacy campaigns, materials and information.

Community Engagement and Action (CEA)

CEA works to facilitate and enable a diverse group of communities and Friends of Education to access information, demand for transparency and good governance; monitor implementation of policy and education programmes, organize for active participation and bring about sustainable change in democracy and education.

 Research and Policy Analysis (RPA)

RPA undertakes critical, analytical and evidence-based research, policy and budget analysis. It works to ensure that key policy issues and processes are more open, accountable and accessible to citizens and civil societies’ participation is tolerated. RPA undertakes more strategic and effective engagement and advocacy at the executive and policy makers’ level.

Programme Support

Finance and Administration (FAM)

FAM seeks to efficiently and effectively manage HakiElimu’s funds, assets, information systems and human resources for quality service delivery, credibility, transparency and accountability.

 Strategic Direction and Leadership (SDL)

SDL works to provide technical support and strategic direction to HakiElimu’s team of staff to ensure quality service delivery. The unit facilitates performance monitoring and evaluation of HakiElimu’s work, documents lessons and best practices, reports and facilitates institutional capacity development, learning processes and quality control of media work, publications, systems and website.