Analysis of Power Relations on Timber Value Chain in Liwale and Ruangwa Districts, Tanzania

The study intended to investigate power relations among dominant institutions guiding timber value chain in Liwale and Ruangwa districts, Lindi. It adopted across sectional research design whereby qualitative methods of data collection were used. The main objective of this study was to analyze power relations that underlie timber value chain and identify actors on the value chain. Specifically, the study determined the existing power relations on the timber value chain in Liwale and Ruangwa districts. Data were collected through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and observations to answer the research questions and then analyzed using a DEDOOSE platform. The results indicated that, there were several actors in the timber value chain, including timber dealers, customers, village communities, Village Natural Resource Committees (VNRCs), district governments, forest officers, NGOs, and government agencies. Also, there are three levels of value addition which are community, district and national levels. These were associated with the customer demand from within the specific community, district and national wise. Apart from that the dominant institutions guiding timber value chain were the Tanzania National Forest Policy and the Forest Act which provide a timber value chain framework. Also, institutional, supportive and strategic power relations were the type of power relations that were identified to be underlying timber value chain. Furthermore, power struggles were observed to be existing among the Tanzania Forest Service (TFS) agents and the Forest Officers mainly on the issue of the revenue collected. The study recommends that, all actors in the timber value chain should play their roles in a way that they do not compromise the ability of other actors attain their goals. Also, to solve the issue of power struggles between the TFS and the local government Forest Officers then amendment of rules and regulations should be done.