FOREWORD I am pleased to present the APRM Country Review Report and the National Programme of Action of the United Republic of Tanzania. This is the Seventeenth Report to be peer-reviewed by the Forum of Heads of State and Government participating in the APRM. the implementation of sound economic policies, as well as the improvement of economic governance and management, by strengthening rule-based institutions, fighting corruption and fostering public participation in governance. Having voluntarily acceded to the governance monitoring mechanism on 26 May 2004, with the signing of the APRM Memorandum of Understanding, ratified by Parliament on 1 February 2005, Tanzania immediately embarked on its self-assessment process, which culminated in the Peer Review at the 18th Summit of the APR Forum on 26 January 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I congratulate the Government and People of the United Republic of Tanzania on their successful navigation through this complex, all-inclusive participatory process. Notwithstanding such progress, there remains the challenge of translating the economic growth into a broad-based, pro-poor and inclusive development. The task ahead therefore consists in reducing poverty, as well as the high levels of inequality and youth unemployment. At a time when Africa is undergoing massive transformation and making steady progress in terms of economic growth, the APRM offers an unparalleled opportunity for consolidating the achievements made through the reforms already undertaken at the political, economic and social levels. It is for this reason that I urge all the social actors and development partners to contribute to the implementation of the Tanzania APRM National Programme of Action. Since its formation in April 1964, the United Republic of Tanzania has made significant progress on the political, social and economic fronts. The country has successfully built a strong national identity in the midst of great ethnic, regional and religious diversity and has, enviably, enjoyed peace and political stability that has eluded some African countries for several decades. As indicated in the Country Review Report, since 1995, Tanzania has been making progress in democratic governance through successful multiparty elections and peaceful transfer of political power in line with the Constitution. This commendable practice, which deepens and consolidates constitutionalism and the rule of law, is worthy of emulation. In the area of human rights protection and promotion, particularly with regard to the participation of women in public affairs, Tanzania has taken commendable steps to reinforce the role of women in decision-making, in the National Assembly, Local Councils and in the public service, generally. Once again, I would like to thank the Government and People of the United Republic of Tanzania, as well as the other countries participating in the APRM, and particularly my Peers in the APR Forum, for their commitment and support to the implementation of the APRM. I thank the APR Panel of Eminent Persons for its leadership in the preparation of the Country Review Report of Tanzania. I extend the same gratitude to the APRM Secretariat, and the Strategic Partners of the APRM - United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Africa (UNDP-RBA), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Development Bank (AfDB) - for their contribution to the success of Tanzania’s review process. On the economic front, the shift to market-led economy from the Ujamaa socialist experiment has yielded positive results. Over the last decade, Tanzania achieved appreciable economic growth rates averaging 7 per cent per annum. This encouraging economic growth reflects Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Chairperson of the APR Forum v