The Impact of Power and Power Relationships in the Public Policy Formulation Process: A Case Study of the Formulation Process of 2014 Tanzania’s Education and Training Policy

Abstract

Abstract Power struggle among stakeholders in public policy formulation process is a common phenomenon in a state informed by democratic politics. The extent of its gravity could have positive or negative implication in policy legitimacy, ownership, and implementation processes. The formulation process of Tanzania’s Education and Training Policy (ETP) of 2014 saw a substantial varied set of competing stakeholders. Each set of actors exerted a different amount of power, which subsequently impacted the policy process. Empirical data revealed that the process was dominated by government officials and few prominent as well as powerful Community-Based Organizations. Recommendations from such categories of stakeholders were likely to be included in the policy document, unlike those from the powerless, non-famous, and ordinary citizens. Besides, scarcity of resources and persuasion through arguments, which enter the category of politics of policy making process, coupled with opposing values and interests of policy actors were the main factors that determined powers over decision making. Therefore, this article suggests that a big enough budget should be provided to the entire policy formulation process, and a need to put, in place, effective power balancing mechanisms with a view to widen and deepen the level of stakeholders’ participation in policy formulation process.

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