In to Africa: Cougs contributing to Tanzania’s economic growth

Original Story Published by: Deb Strihmaier, International Programs, www.news.wsu.edu
Photo Source: WSU Insider

(Above) Michael Lege standing at the door of WSU’s office in Tanzania before the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Although cougars aren’t indigenous to Tanzania, Cougars are making their presence known throughout the country.

They serve as part of a partnership among Washington State University, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service and USAID Tanzania. As one of its first deliverables in the partnership, WSU established WSU International Development Tanzania (WSUID TZ), a non-governmental organization, to support USDA and USAID Tanzania’s Office of Economic Growth in its work to build agricultural sector growth, food security, energy, natural resources management and improved nutrition in the country.

WSUID TZ staff provide program management, technical services, training and mentoring. Before the pandemic, they also hosted about 50 meetings a year in their office, and since have arranged and facilitated virtual meetings and participation in virtual conferences.

Michael Lege, WSU International Projects manager and USDA liaison based in WSU’s Office of International Programs’ Global Partnerships and Research Services, said, “Our mission in Tanzania is capacity building. We are training and empowering the local population to manage their country’s development to the point where we can step out.”

To illustrate the importance of WSU’s engagement in Tanzania, Lege noted a particular accomplishment.

“Through our relationship with Tanzania’s Private Sector and Trade Development Partner Group and Agriculture Working Group secretariat, WSUID TZ provided input directly to the country’s President’s office on its five-year plan.”

WSUID TZ has been on the ground in Tanzania since 2016, after the first three-year agreement was signed and then extended by two years. In 2020, a new agreement for another three years was signed.