Projects
Current projects
The research project titled, “Enhancing Tax Compliance in Semi-Formal Business Undertakings: A Field Experiment with Small and Medium Business Entities in Tanzania.”
The project aims to test “smart interventions” to foster tax compliance. CBS have been collaborating with MoFP, TRA, BOT and NBS to design and implement behavioural inspired interventions, which will be monitored and documented to figured out which ones work for further scaling.
The research project titled “Bringing back the dormant tax payers: The role of behavioural interventions.”
The project follows as a phase II of tax project 1. The first study focused on reminders that can be effective in influencing the tax payers to turn up for re-assessment. This current study’s objective is to produce research-informed recommendations for the government and TRA in particular, about the way dropouts could be reinstituted in tax assessment process, and thus the suitable tax payer’s retention mechanism.
CLEAR PROJECT – impact evaluation:
The CLEAR project has developed and implemented a behaviour change campaign for the Tanzanian government to support the National Sanitation Campaign, which aims at increasing coverage of improved latrines and improving domestic handwashing practice.
CBS in collaboration with London School of Heath and Tropical Medicine are conducting a process evaluation on CLEAR project to gauge the impact of this innovative campaign, both for the purposes of continuing to innovate and improve, and to provide lessons for other countries.
The process evaluation is currently in the data collection stage.
Capacity Building
Training for Government MDA’s and other stakeholders
Trainings on behavioural interventions for researchers, business and private sector, and government institutions to develop interest and capacity among them. Below are trainings/workshops conducted to date.
CBS conducted a workshop, “Understanding Behavioral Science for Inclusive and Human Centric Policies”. The training workshop aim to
make participants understand human behavior and how to formulate policies which are human centric, and evidence based. Also, to advocate for evidence-based policies which are easily adopted and have a long-lasting impact. The workshop involved participants mainly policy makers, researchers from Ministries Departments
Agencies, and Higher learning Institutions. Also, participants from Local Government Authorities (LGA) and Non- Governmental Organization were involved.
CBS conducted a Behavioural Science training to the member of our Tax project’s Joint Implementation Team (JIT) to familiarize them with the Behavioural Science Field. Participants included personnel from Ministry of Finance and Planning, Tanzania Revenue Authority, Bank of Tanzania and National Bureau of Statistics who form the JIT.
CBS conducted a Behavioural Science training to the member of the Department of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam. The training aimed to familiarize them with the Behavioural Science Field and CBS activities so as to gain their interest in engaging with CBS whenever their expertise’ are needed.
CBS conducted a Behavioural Science training to a pool of MKURABITA staff. The training aimed to familiarize them with the Behavioural Science Field.
Training for Masters Students
Training aimed at exploring behavioral science field but only at an introductory level. Given the fact that this field is still new in Tanzania, the training acted as a catalyst to motivate students to do their research in this field, thus increase behavioral scientists in our region. Training conducted todate include 2018 and 2019 graduate students.
The five days course, conducted in September 2018, was advertised to all postgraduate students, targeted students with a background in basic economics.
Training for students majoring in Master of Arts in Economics and Master of Arts in Applied Economics. The five days training was conducted in November 2019
Dissertation Research Award
CBS offer a competitive scholarship for graduate students working on projects related to behaviour science and provide supervision to them.
To-date two scholarships have been offered so far to Masters students of economics who completed their studies and wrote their dissertations on:
“The choice between carrot measures and stick measures depend solely on the costs of using one over the other – Mr. Ally Samiji ”
Outreach Activities
CBS conducts information and awareness forums, workshops, conferences with the aim of engaging stakeholders to inspire and motivate them on behavioural change studies, application and their importance and usefulness in various sectors.
These forums, workshop and conferences also provide an avenue to identify areas that need behaviour change interventions as well as creating demand for behaviour change interventions; and identify potential partners in academic and non-academic arenas.
CBS also take part in different forums to show case its works, create awareness and connect with potential partners.
Assorted events/forums that CBS partook to-date includes