avoided had local stakeholders been more fully consulted and had national-level planners listened to them. A lack of coordination among the various ministries, agencies and departments to ensure synergy at the local levels also created problems for the various interventions. 544. Despite the existence of a national strategy and policy to address problems of poverty and inequality, the CRM is of the view that deliberate interventions are needed to address problems of poverty and inequality without relying much on the trickle down effects of economic growth. The experience of many African countries suggests that while economic growth may impact positively on poverty and inequality, this is not inevitable, and the beneficial effects of economic growth may take a long time before they are experienced by low income groups. It is therefore essential for poverty and inequality reduction to be targeted by policies that directly affect the poor. 545. In addition to socio-economic development programmes and social safety nets that are addressed in Chapter Six of this report, efforts are required for the poor to gain access to productive factors, notably land and credit. Thus, government must pay particular attention to halting and reversing land alienation, a problem that seems to be accelerating in some rural areas. This would put a stop to the emergence of landless peasants, a situation that potentially could be socially explosive. In addition, efforts and institutions intended to support micro, small and medium enterprises should be strengthened. As noted above, the CSAR concluded that these efforts were not successful, and the CRM did not obtain any information to negate this conclusion. 546. The CRM is of the view that without neglecting fiscal and monetary stability, Tanzania should vastly increase its efforts to accelerate economic growth, and improve the quality of this growth if it is to become a middle income country by 2025. Steps should also be taken to achieve social equity by broadening the economic base and reducing poverty, unemployment, and inequality. lll. Recommendations 547. The APR Panel recommends that the United Republic of Tanzania: • Diversify economic production and expand the drivers of economic growth and development by increasing investments in infrastructure, especially rural infrastructure; [Planning Commission in the Presidency, Ministry of Finance] • Raise awareness and mobilise relevant state and non-state actors around the strategies and plans for accelerating growth rates and vigorously implementing pro-poor, broad-based development strategies and plans; [Planning Commission] • Establish and empower institutions and mechanisms for effective consultations in economic policy making, planning, and implementation among State and non-state stake holders, and enhance partnerships; [Office of the Prime Minister, Planning Commission, National Assembly] • Take pro-active measures to address problems of poverty and inequality by enabling farmers to hold on to their land and strengthening the capacity of institutions established to assist micro, small and medium enterprises; [Planning Commission, Ministry of Finance, ministries responsible for agriculture, land and industry] • Launch a mass sensitisation and civic education programme geared towards promoting entrepreneurship. [Office of the President, ministries responsible for agriculture, transport and communications, industry, mining, tourism, and the media] Objective 2: Implement Sound, Transparent and Predictable Economic Policies l. Summary of the CSAR 548. According to the CSAR, the focus of economic policy in Tanzania since the turn of the century was on poverty alleviation. In the process of formulating economic policies, government embarks on wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders, including non-state actors. These consultations extend all the way to the local government 118