Contribution of private sector to community development: the case of mobile phone service providers at Dar as salaam

The study investigated the contribution of private sector to community development, specifically, mobile phone service providers in Tanzania namely Vodacom, Tigo, Zain, Zantel, and Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited. Three research objectives guided the study; identification of the services performed by mobile phone service providers to community; the effects of services performed; as well as analysis of areas where mobile phone service providers should provide more services for further improvement. The study was conducted in Dar es Salaam region in Ilala, Temeke and Kinondoni districts. Total respondents were sixteen (16) including twelve (12) community leaders in the categories of coordinators, teachers, administrators, catholic nuns, medical doctors and four (4) corporate social responsibility managers from Vodacom, Zain, Zantel and TTCL Mobile. Data were gathered through interviews, questionnaires, as well as documentary reviews and were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively.The findings revealed that mobile phone service providers supported communities in areas of education, communication and technology, health, security, shelter and food, environmental conservation and entertainment. It was found that there were no clearly known criteria for a community to qualify to get support however, preferences were given to projects that had broad community outreach including schools and orphanage centres. Involvement of mobile phone service providers partnership was necessary to direct assistance to the most needy communities. The study recommends that the government should have a clear policy on private-public partnership by recognizing and supporting the mobile phone service providers for majority of needy communities to be reached. Within this context further research is recommended to include more mobile phone service providers in other regions in the country for comparison and future operations.