OUR STRATEGIC FOCUS
The strategic direction for BST over the next five years (2018 to 2022) builds on the strengths, experience and competencies which it has built over time. It also takes into account new challenges and emerging opportunities and threats within the context of its internal and external operating environments. In developing this plan, BST seeks specifically to build and strengthen its capacity to effectively coordinate Bible work in Tanzania.

THE PHOTO OF BOARD MEMBERS OF THE BIBLE SOCIETY OF TANZANIA
Strategic Goal
To be a self-sustaining Bible Society able to support its core mission and support other Bible Societies through United Bible Societies’ International Support Programme, to adhere to the Philadelphia Promise.
Strategic Priorities
The following strategic priorities inform the programmes and activities of BST over the next five years (2018 to 2022).
- Focused Efforts on On-going Translations
- Enhanced Use of Scripture by Children and Youth
- Sustained Availability of Scripture for Adults
- Increased Availability of Scripture and promotion of engagement for Special Audiences
- Enhanced Mission Work by Encouraging Scripture Engagement
- Continued Institutional Strengthening of the Society
Principle activities
During the year Society’s activities were:
- Translate the Holy Scripture into various local language of Tanzania. Current, eight (8) complete local languages Bibles have been translated and Forty one (41) others have New Testament Bibles.
- We publish scriptures in various formats including print, Audio, Visual and Braille in order to meet the need of all kinds of people.
- Distribute the Holy Scriptures effectively and meaningful to Christian and Christian charches in Tanzania
- Literacy Training help around 500 people across Tanzania every year to learn basic reading and writing skills as you won’t be able to read the Bible if ones can’t read.
Focused Efforts on On-going Translations
Tanzania’s population is made up of about 135 tribes of whom only 20 tribes have Scripture translation in their local languages. While BST recognises the great challenge that this puts on it, the aim will be to handle translation in an effective manner given the limitations that exist particularly on having adequate number of skilled and competent translators despite the huge financial outlay required for translation. The Society will therefore focus its efforts on the on-going translation projects which includes translation of Old Testament Bibles for the languages where New Testaments have been completed.
The Bible Society will pursue the following objectives during this period:
- Complete the translation of some of the on-going projects.
- Publish and launch the five completed projects
- Hire and train a Translations Consultant
Enhanced Use of Scripture by Children and Youth
BST will build on the on-going initiatives as it embarks on aggressive promotion through Churches, seeks to engage more with parents, and seeks to engage more with the education system. BST will work in close collaboration with Churches to encourage parents to provide Scripture for their children. The Society will also continue working with the Council of Churches in Tanzania (CCT), the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), the Pentecostal Churches of Tanzania (PCT), the Seventh Day Adventists, and other Churches (Evangelical, Pentecostal and Independent) to encourage the use of Scripture by children and youth.
The objectives that BST will pursue to enhance use of Scriptures by children and youth are:
- Make Scripture available to children and youth in formats and designs that are attractive and encourage engagement.
- Promote the use of English Bibles in secondary schools and tertiary colleges in Tanzania.
- Advocate for introduction of Religious Education in Primary Schools.
Sustained Availability of Scripture for Adults
The objectives that BST will pursue to ensure sustained availability of Scripture for adults are:
- Increase the literate audience of Scripture in local and national languages by developing literacy programmes in areas with vernacular translations.
- Ensure availability and effective distribution of Scriptures in formats that respond to the different identified adult target groups.
Increased Availability of Scripture and promotion of engagement for Special Audiences
The Society will continue addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic through the Good Samaritan Programme and thereby contribute towards mitigation of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Tanzania. Through this programme the Society will provide HIV/AIDS materials that give basic information about the scourge and address issues of stigmatisation, voluntary counselling and testing and behavioural change.The Society will continue producing Radio and TV programmes with appropriate HIV/AIDS information and messages.
BST will respond to people with disabilities by providing Scripture in formats that respond to their needs which include text formats, audio and video cassettes.
BST will continue to respond to people who cannot read through Radio Bible, and scripture listening programmes (FCBH). This will be done mainly through Faith Comes by Hearing (FCBH) programme.
The non-Christian audiences will be addressed through Scriptures and literature appropriate to each identified group. These will include New Testament portions, New Reader portions, New Testament in poem format by Nyerere; the Bible, Old Testament, and New Testament in Arabic; Talking Bible. The Scripture will be provided in formats, styles and media that appeal to the respective audiences.
People under pressure includes refugees, rape victims, alcoholics and drug addicts, prisoners, the unemployed, street children and the destitute, people considered outcasts by society (such as people with red eyes). The Society will make relevant Scripture available to them in appropriate formats.
The Society will respond to the scripture needs for special groups by pursuing the following objectives:
- Continued outreach to people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS through the Good Samaritan Programme.
- Develop and make available appropriate Scripture for people with disabilities
- Develop and make available appropriate Scriptures for TAZI audiences.
- Develop and make available appropriate Scripture for people under pressure.
Enhanced Mission Work by Encouraging Scripture Engagement
The Society will respond to enhance mission work of BST by encouraging Scripture engagement by pursuing the following objectives:
- Establish a well-stocked bookshop to be located in Dodoma by 2022.
- Establish a well-resourced library to be located in Dodoma by 2022.
4.3.6 Continued Institutional Strengthening of the Society
The BST landscape has evolved significantly over the years, driven by internal growth and development as well as changes taking place both in Tanzania and globally. The Society is cognisant of the need to maintain strong governance and leadership; sound and effective management (including policies and systems) to support programmes and activities including translation, production and distribution of Scripture; develop and maintain an appropriate delivery infrastructure; maintain skilled, competent and committed staff; and maintain a sound and sustainable financial resource base to sustain its core mission in Tanzania as well as extend its support to the wider fellowship of Bible Societies (this will involve concerted fundraising efforts both locally and externally as well as exploring commercial income streams). The Society will also build and nurture relationships with members and key stakeholders.
BST will respond to the needs for continued institutional strengthening by pursuing the following objectives:
- Continue to build the capacity of the leadership (Board, committees and senior management and general staff) to carry out the mission of the Bible Society.
- Undertake periodic review of policies, regulations and systems to ensure relevance and effective support of operations and service delivery
- Promote and nurture ownership of the Bible Society by Churches, para-Church organisations and individuals in Tanzania by maintaining productive relationships.
- Establish distribution outlets in strategic locations in Tanzania.
- Enhance communication with key audiences including staff, members, Churches and partner organisations.
- Enhance the financial resource base through local fundraising initiatives involving members, Churches, individuals and other Tanzania based organisations/agencies.
- Initiate investments that enhance long-term financial sustainability of BST.
- Continuous assessment and upgrade of BST infrastructure including premises, equipment, meeting facilities, and other facilities.
- Promote membership through different forums

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