It is universally accepted that a well-planned and targeted adoption of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has a positive impact on the way that people work and should enable an organisation to be more efficient and effective in pursuing its corporate goals. The Tanzanian Government recognises the critical value of reliable, accurate and timely information to a number of stakeholders both within and beyond government system. In particular, ICT and Management Information System (MIS) are critical to the role of government in general and Prime Minister’s Office Regional Administration and Local Governments (PMORALG) in particular, in the development of appropriate, workable and sustainable solutions.

PMO-RALG exists to facilitate local governments. The development of procedures, systems and ICT infrastructure for the Local Government Authorities (LGAs) is therefore critical. Data which originate in and are used by LGAs are amongst the most important resources available to themselves, Regional Secretariats (RSs) and PMO-RALG. One of the key roles of the MIS is the development and support of systems which allow LGAs to collect, process and use the data needed for their own purposes and other Local government stakeholders. Given PMO-RALG’s mandate to support and enable LGAs in their basic functions, a key role of the MIS is the development of tools which will be used at the LGA level. Local governments are facing increasing demands for data from a variety of stakeholders, especially central and sector ministries, and development partners. A number of information systems have been developed, and others are being developed or are envisaged as part of future development of MIS for PMORALG and LGAs. These include Planning and Reporting Database (PlanRep) - A database to be used as a planning, budgeting and reporting tool. Such a system would provide local users (managers, local politicians, general public) with important information on the annual plan and budgeted expenditure. These data could also be transferred to regional and national databases; , Local Government Monitoring Database (LGMD) - A local government monitoring system for capturing and reporting service delivery and socio-economic profile data; District Roads Maintenance System (DROMAS), By-Laws Database and Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) - Financial Management Systems – ensuring that the accounts which are being computerised as part of the Local Government Reform Programme address the management requirements for financial information, especially in the context of programmed budgeting; and other set s of computerised management tools for use within local government. These would cover (amongst other areas) revenue management, water and sanitation management and personnel administration.

There is an expectation that these will be used by all LGAs, albeit in a phased approach depending on the issues of local capacity, on-going support and development of the systems. The software systems, infrastructure and equipment will need to be simple to use, robust and have a good support system.
PMO-RALG has a co-ordinating role as ‘gatekeeper’ for all systems which will be operated by LGAs. Liaison at technical level between the MIS staff of PMO-RALG and those of other Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as other stakeholders who are developing systems for use in LGAs which is essential to avoiding application problems