Salzburg-Singida, Sister Cities and Regional Cooperation

A twinning arrangement has existed between the cities of Salzburg and Singida in the East African country of Tanzania since 1984. The expansion to the state level ten years later led to the establishment of the regional cooperation and thus to Salzburg – Singida, Sister Cities and Regional Cooperation.

For many years, the partnership cooperation has focused on infrastructure projects in the fields of health and education. Numerous school classes, teachers’ offices, teachers’ quarters, rainwater tanks, toilets and health stations and a home for street children have been built. Reforestation, garbage collection points, a large-scale water project together with the European Union (2003) and a bus station with numerous small stores (2009) are other successful projects.

In recent years, the focus has shifted away from infrastructure to direct support for people. Specialist knowledge is imparted in various training courses, and education and further training are supported. Through projects to improve the quality of life, which are increasingly aimed at girls and women, framework conditions are created that open up new perspectives. Infrastructure continues to be an issue and all measures are aligned with the country’s regional and national development strategies in order to contribute to sustainable change in people’s quality of life.

“A city & regional partnership refers to two cities, municipalities or regions with the aim of cultural and economic exchange. International partnerships are also used to exchange experts in the spirit of local Agenda 21 and are seen as a platform to support democratization in states where the rule of law and freedom are not yet considered to have been achieved (“municipal foreign policy”).”

Singida TanzaniaLake SingidaThe Sister Cities

The city of Singida is located in the center of the country at an altitude of 1,500 meters. This central market town in the midst of bizarre granite hills is framed by salty lakes. The regional capital Singida has around 230,000 inhabitants (city of Salzburg: 150,000). The region of Singida has a popultaion of around 2 million (2022) and with 49,340 km² it is about seven times the size of the federal state of Salzburg with an area of 7,156 km² and 555,200 inhabitants.

The partner organization in Singida is a small NGO called “Community Initiative Promotion”, short CIP. Together with Afesso Ogenga (director) and Violet Shaku (project manager) project strategies are developed and implementation and evaluation happen on a professional level. Know-how and commitment on both sides make this cooperation successful.

Until 2008, when CIP was founded, we worked together with CTDF (Community Trust Development Fund) as partner NGO.

Team in Salzburg:

Mag. Andrea Rainer, Program Management

Andrea has been working for Salzburg-Singida since 2011. She gained experience in development cooperation during her eight years as a workshop speaker and director of Südwind Salzburg, during several internships including a street children’s project in Nairobi, and in her studies of intercultural communication and education at the University of Salzburg. As a passionate traveler, she has spent a lot of time in Asia and other countries. Andrea is a member of the development policy advisory board of the province of Salzburg. Her main profession is yoga training leader, yoga teacher, and Conscious Dance Guide: www.andrearainer.com

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Dieter Rachbauer, Project manager and consultant

Dieter has been active with Salzburg – Singida since 2014 and has been working full-time in development cooperation and humanitarian aid for over 25 years. He brings his international experience as a consultant in content-related and strategic matters as well as in administrative and financial tasks. Currently, he is mainly supporting regional cooperation and the girls’ hostel. Dieter studied Geography in Innsbruck, Development Studies in Norwich/England and did his PhD in Communication Science in Salzburg on the topic of participation and empowerment.

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Luzia Amon, Office Management

Luzia has been with Salzburg-Singida since 2022. A trip to Uganda sparked her interest in development cooperation. During her studies in Global Project and Change Management in the Netherlands and various internships at EZA Fairer Handel in Köstendorf/Salzburg, World Fair Trade Organisation in Brussels/Belgium, and a human rights organization in Quezon City/Philippines she was able to gain experience in project work.

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Board members in Salzburg

Martina Berthold (Chairwoman), Susanne Dittrich-Allerstorfer, Johann Padutsch, Helmut Hüttinger, Ingeborg Daurer, Dieter Rachbauer, Anna Schiester, Johanna Schnellinger, Judith Schröcksnadel, Andrea Rainer, Anita Rötzer, Herta Fuchslechner, Robert Bukovc.

Board members with the Ambassador of Tanzania.

Team in Singida:

Afesso Ogenga, Direktor CIP & Upendo Home

Afesso joined CIP (Community Initiative Promotion) in 2012 and Upendo Home in 2013. He has more than 10 years of experience in managing development programs and non-governmental organizations. He has a BA in Theology with a minor in Development Studies, a master’s in Community Economic Development, and a Certificate in Community Development.

“From my experience working with the most vulnerable children, I have learned that children need love, guidance, and opportunity to explore their immediate surroundings. It is my desire to put a big smile on the face of every child. And for that matter, I strive to make Upendo home a better home for all children.”

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Violet Shaku, Project Manager CIP

Violet is a graduate of the University of Dodoma where she graduated with a Degree in Project Planning Management and Community Development. She is now doing a master’s in monitoring and evaluation. Violet joined CIP in April 2017. Before she was volunteering to teach at Musoma Community Development College.

“A large part of my work is with women, young girls, and children who are especially vulnerable. I have always enjoyed helping young women realize their full potential, help them focus on positive changes, shape their stories academically to live up to their dreams, and determine their future.”

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You can find the Upendo-Home Team here!

Board members CIP Singida

Permenas Mashanjara (Chairman), Samwel Mdungu, Lenatus Myovella, Ngasa Maliwa.

Board Members Upendo Home Singida

Parseko Kone (Chairman), Bernhard Fries, Fatuma Malenga, Permenas Mashanjara, Rehema Gwao.

History and Development: Salzburg-Singida

  • 1983: City councilor Franz Klingspiegl asks Ilse Hanak to propose a city in Africa as a twin city. Ilse Hanak travels to Tanzania and establishes contact with the city administration of Singida.
  • In connection with the Contra War, the Salzburg Latin America Committee pushes for a solidarity partnership with a city in Nicaragua. In 1983 the city of León is proposed as a twin city.
  • In 1984, the municipal council decides to initiate partnership relations with both cities (Singida and León). In 1985 a joint association is founded. Willhelm Kaufmann becomes deputy chairman for the Singida group. Other founding members were Lotte Gerhold, Willhelm Kaufmann’s partner, Eva Schröcksnadel, Willhelm Kaufmann’s daughter, Ilse Hanak, who has been committed to the women of Africa her entire life, Herta Fuchslechner, a former nurse and world traveler, who has been actively involved from the very beginning until today, and Vera Müller, who was involved until her death in 2015.
  • In 1994, the regional cooperation between the province of Salzburg and the Singida region was founded.
  • In 2002, the Singida group in the joint association became the independent association Salzburg – Singida. Town twinning and regional cooperation (at that time still town twinning Salzburg-Singida).
  • Eva Schröcksnadel – Mama Eva – was the driving force and soul of the association until 2004. She traveled to Singida at least once a year. Together with the Tanzanian partner Amos Maliwa (deceased in 2011) she was committed to the people in Singida.
  • After her death, daughter Judith Schröcksnadel takes up her position as office manager and joins the board in 2020.

For many years, the political representatives of the city and province of Salzburg have been committed to the development cooperation of the Salzburg-Singida Association. They are (or have been) actively involved in the board:
Mayor Heinz Schaden (Chairman until 2009), Johann Padutsch – City Councilor until 2019 (Chairman 2009 – 2021), Martina Berthold – City Councilor until 2023 and Member of State Parliament (Chairwoman since 2021).

Here you can find a detailed history of the foundation (in German).