Staff Profile
Personal Biodata
| Name: | Ajali Mustafa Nguyahambi |
| Gender: | Male |
| Nationality: | United Republic of Tanzania |
| Language: | Swahili and English |
Personal Contacts
- +255784421842
- +255739421842
- ajali.mustafa@udom.ac.tz
- mustafaajali@gmail.com
- P. O. Box 259, DODOMA
Office Contacts
Dr. Ajali Mustafa Nguyahambi
Director Institute of Development Studies
Senior Lecturer
About Ajali
Dr. Ajali Mustafa Nguyahambi is a Senior Lecturer and Former Head of Department (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania. He has fifteen (15) years of teaching, outreach and research experience. He has rich expertise in the fields of Governance and Accountability, Politics, Civil Society and the State, Democracy and Elections, Public Policy Analysis, Institutional Strengthening, Strategic Leadership, Citizenship and Public Sector Management. He has also contributed to knowledge development through publications in local and international knowledge-sharing platforms.
Dr. Ajali holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Public Administration (BAPSPA) and a Master of Arts in Development Studies (MADS) from the University of Dar es Salaam. He also holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Dodoma. Furthermore, Ajali pursued postdoctoral studies for three solid years at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, where he gained research experience and participation in international academic collaborations. He is also an experienced team worker with strong and definitive interpersonal and communication skills, and he is proficient in English and Kiswahili.
Dr. Ajali has copious experience gained from working with bilateral and international development organizations. During such an engagement, he has developed expertise in development facilitation through capacity strengthening for local governance actors, including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Local Government Authorities (LGAs), focusing on democratic participation and good governance. As an experienced Governance Advisor, Dr. Ajali perceives the prospects to contribute positive development change to the society, wherein good governance is mainstreamed and potential capacities are unlocked for people to bring their own development.
| S/N | Study Level | Qualification Name | Institution | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doctor of Philosophy | PhD in Political Science, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, The University of Dodoma, Tanzania. |
The University of Dodoma | 2010 - 2013 |
| 2 | Master`s | Master of Arts in Development Studies, Institute of Development Studies (IDS), The University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. |
The University of Dar es Salaam | 2005 - 2007 |
| 3 | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Dar es Salaam. |
The University of Dar es Salaam | 2000 - 2003 |
| S/N | Qualification Name | Institution | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certified Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (CRBMES) |
Cambridge Academy of Professionals | 2024 - 2025 |
| S/N | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rugeiyamu, R. & Nguyahambi, A.M. (2023), Advocacy Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Resiliency to Shrinking Civic Space in Tanzania, Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Sciences, Vol. 6 (3), pp. 258 - 279. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JHASS-08-2023-0096: Emerald Publishing Limited. |
| 2 | Kontinen, T., Kilonzo, R., Msoka, C., & Nguyahambi, A. (2022) Hybrid Identities of Development Studies in Tanzania. Researches Sociologiques et Anthropologiques, Vol. 53 (2). pp. 93 - 117. Open Edition Journals. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/rsa.5664 |
| 3 | Nguyahambi, A. M. (2021) The Changing Role and Space of Civil Society Organizations in Tanzania’s Fluid Political Environment. Journal of African Politics, Dodoma: The University of Dodoma, Vol. 1(1), pp. 34 – 65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58548/2021jap1013465 |
| 4 | Kontinen, T. & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2020) Disrupting Habits of North-South Research Collaboration: Learning in Co-authoring, Journal of Development Research, Vol. 32, Issue No. 4, June 2020, pp. 529 – 543. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-020-00276-x |
| 5 | Kontinen, T. & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2020) Institutional Learning in North-South Partnerships: Critical Self-reflection on Collaboration between Finnish and Tanzanian Academics, Journal of Development Research, Vol. 47, Issue No. 2, June 2020, pp. 219 – 241. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08039410.2020.1768590 |
| 6 | Kopoka, P. A. & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2016) Nyerere’s Perspectives On Democracy: Women’s Participation In Multiparty Elections In Tanzania, In: Uongozi Journal of Development Management, Mzumbe University, Vol. 27, Issue No. 2, pp. 1 - 29. URL: https://www.ajol.info/index.php/uongozi/article/view/251596 |
| 7 | Rugeiyamu, R., & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2024) Civic Space and its Effects on Advocacy Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Tanzania. International Social Science Journal, 74: 1113 – 1133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/issj.12500 |
| 8 | Makalanga, L. B., Kilonzo, R. G., & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2022) Women Political Leaders’ Participation in Local Decision-Making Structures in Tanzania. African Journal of Applied Research, Vol 8 (2), pp. 68 – 82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26437/ajar.31.10.2022.05 |
| 9 | Anselm, B. S., Mustafa, A. N., & Godfrey, R. K. (2020). The Moderating Effect of Collective Action in the Relationship between Civic Engagement and Water Service Delivery in Kondoa District, Tanzania. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 10(3), 410429-410429. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5296/jpag.v10i3.17471 |
| 10 | Rugeiyamu, R., & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2024). Civic Space for Advocacy Non-Governmental Organizations in Developing Countries: An Illusion Project?. Innovation in the Social Sciences (published online ahead of print 2024). https://doi.org/10.1163/27730611-bja10033 |
| 11 | Nguyahambi, A. M., & Rugeiyamu, R. (2025). “It is not shrinking, ngo s need unlimited freedom”: Government Stance on the Perceived Shrinkage of Civic Space in Tanzania. Journal of Social Innovation and Knowledge, 1(aop), 1-25. “It is not shrinking, ngo s need unlimited freedom”: Government Stance on the Perceived Shrinkage of Civic Space in Tanzania in: Journal of Social Innovation and Knowledge - Ahead of print |
| 12 | Thomas, P., Mustafa, A., & Jaffu, R. (2023). Impact of Information Control Culture and Supervisory Competence on Personnel Records Management in Tanzania's Local Government Authorities. The UONGOZI Journal of Management and Development Dynamics, 33(2), 1-26. |
| 13 | Thomas, P., Mustafa, A., Jaffu, R. (2025). The Influence of Office Competence in Enhancing Personnel Records Management in Local Government Authorities in Tanzania. MSA-Management Sciences Journal, 4(4), 76-95. DOI: 10.21608/MSAMSJ.2025.382452.1102 |
| S/N | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nguyahambi, A. M. & Kontinen, T. (2022) Tanzanian CSOs in the Intersection of Civic Space, Legitimacy, and Democracy. Annual Conference of Sociology, Held at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. From 24th - 25th March 2022. |
| 2 | Nguyahambi, A. M. & Kontinen, T. (2019) "For whose interest are you working for?” Struggles over legitimacy in the “shrinking civic space” in Tanzania. Paper presented at The 5th Joint Nordic Conference on Development Research (NorDev), Organized by the Centre for Business and Development Studies (CBDS), and Held at Copenhagen Business School, Denmark. 27th – 29th June 2019. |
| 3 | Kontinen, T. & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2019) Decolonizing development research: Identities, interests and institutional room for manoeuvre in collaboration between Tanzanian and Finnish academics, Paper presented at Development Studies Association (DSA) Annual Conference 2019, Organized by The Development Studies Association (DSA), and held at The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK. 19th – 21st June 2019. |
| 4 | Nguyahambi, A. M. & Chang’a, H. H. (2019) Civil Society as an Avenue for Promoting Citizens’ Engagement: Sikika’s Social Accountability Monitoring Approach in Kondoa, Tanzania. Paper presented at Development Days International Conference 2019, Organized by the Finnish Society for Development Research (FSDR), and held at the University of Helsinki, Finland. 27th – 28th February 2019. Co-chaired Working Group 10: New civil society spaces and their limits in the Global North and the Global South. |
| 5 | Kilonzo R. G., Kontinen, T., Msoka, C. T. & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2018) Reflecting the Identity and the Future Directions of Development Studies in Tanzania, Paper presented at Nordic Africa Days 2018 International Conference, Organized by Nordic Africa Institute (NAI), and held at NAI Uppsala, Sweden. 19th – 21st September 2018. |
| 6 | Kontinen, T. & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2018) For the Nation, Communities and Career: Identities of Development Studies in Tanzania, Paper presented at 11th Annual International Southern African - Nordic Centre (SANORD) 2018 Conference, Organized by Faculty of Education and Psychology – University of Jyvaskyla, and held at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. 15th – 17th August 2018. |
| 7 | Nguyahambi, A. M., Kontinen, T. & Kilonzo, R. G. (2017) Exploring Experienced Citizenship in Tanzania, Paper presented at 13th Conference of the European Sociological Association, Organized by the European Sociological Association (ESA), and held at PANTEION University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, Greece. 28th August – 2nd September 2017. |
| 8 | Nguyahambi, A. M. (2017) The Role and Space of Civil Society in Tanzania Today, Paper presented at Development Days International Conference 2017, Organized by Finnish Society for Development Research (FSDR), and held at University of Helsinki, Finland. 16th – 17th February 2017. Co-chaired Working Group 5: Authoritarianism and civil society: Implications for organizing and mobilizing. |
| 9 | Kontinen, T., Kilonzo, R., Nguyahambi, A. M. & Holma, K. (2016) Building Citizenship Capacities in Tanzanian Civil Society: Learning as Growth into Democratic Habits. In: Education Africa? Prospects and Challenges of the New Generation. University of Jyväskylä, 19th October 2016. Jyväskylä – Finland. |
| 10 | Kilonzo, R., Kontinen, T., Ndidde, A. & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2016) Citizenship and Civil Society Interventions. Reflections from Tanzania and Uganda. In: 28th Conference of Nordic Sociological Association, 11th – 13th August 2016. Helsinki – Finland. |
| 11 | Nguyahambi, A. M. (2011) The Interface between Local Government Authorities and Civil Society Organizations in Primary Education Management in Tanzania. In: The Nordic Conference on Development Research, Copenhagen Business School, 24th – 25th November 2011. Copenhagen – Denmark. |
| S/N | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Kontinen, T. & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2023) Negotiating CSO Legitimacy in Tanzanian Civic Space. In: K. Biekart et al. (eds.), Civil Society Responses to Changing Civic Spaces, EADI Global Development Series, Open Access: Palgrave MacMillan. |
| 2 | Nguyahambi, A. M. & Kontinen, T. (2022) Communities and Habits of Citizenship: Everyday Participation in Kondoa, Tanzania. In: Holma, K. & Kontinen, T. (Eds.) Learning, Philosophy, and African Citizenship. Open Access: Palgrave MacMillan. |
| 3 | Shimba, B. F., Mwakalobo, A. S., & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2022) The Political Economy of Cluster Development Initiatives in Tanzania: Institutional Framework and Emerging Challenges. In: J. N. Mojekwu, et al., (Eds.) Sustainable Education and Development: Making Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable. Pp. 420 – 429, 2022. |
| 4 | Shimba, B. F., Mwakalobo, A. S., & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2022) The Influence of Cluster Development Initiatives on Small and Medium Enterprises Performance in Tanzania. In: J. N. Mojekwu, et al., (Eds.) Sustainable Education and Development: Making Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable. Pp. 443 – 451, 2022. |
| 5 | Shimba, B. F., Mwakalibo, A. S., & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2021) Cluster Development Initiatives in Promoting Small and Medium Enterprises in Tanzania, In: Joseph N. Mojekwu, Wellington Thwala, Clinton Aigbavboa, Lawrence Atepor, & Samuel Sackey (Eds.) Sustainable Education and Development, Springer. pp 262 – 273. |
| 6 | Nguyahambi, A. M., Chang’a H. H., Matunga, B. N., Kilonzo, R. G. & Kontinen, T. (2020) Contextualizing Citizenship in Tanzania, In: Holma, K. & Kontinen, T. (Eds.) Practices of Citizenship in East Africa: Perspectives from Philosophical Pragmatism, London: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. |
| 7 | Nguyahambi, A. M. & Chang’a, H. H. (2020) Social Accountability Monitoring as an Approach to Promoting Active Citizenship in Tanzania, In: Holma, K. & Kontinen, T. (Eds.) Practices of Citizenship in East Africa: Perspectives from Philosophical Pragmatism, London: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. |
| 8 | Nguyahambi, A. M. & Kontinen, T. (2020) “A Good Believer is a Good Citizen”: Connecting Islamic Morals with Civic Virtues in Rural Tanzania”, In: Holma, K. & Kontinen, T. (Eds.) Practices of Citizenship in East Africa: Perspectives from Philosophical Pragmatism, London: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. |
| 9 | Nguyahambi, A. M. (2015) Decentralization Reforms and Poverty Reduction in Tanzania – in Contemporary Concerns in Development Studies: Perspectives from Tanzania and Zambia, Edited by Kilonzo, R & Kontinen, T, Department of Political and Economic Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland. |
| 10 | Nambuta, A. R., Kilonzo, R. G., & Nguyahambi, A. M. (2015) Challenges of Managing Multi-Stakeholders Processes in the Decentralized Delivery of Public Services in Tanzania, In: Contemporary Concerns in Development Studies: Perspectives from Tanzania and Zambia, Edited by Kilonzo, R & Kontinen, T, Department of Political and Economic Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland. |
| 11 | Kopoka, P. A, Nguyahambi, A. M., Mwendamaka, D., & Simime, F. (2013) Nyerere's Legacy and Lessons for East African Integration: The Case of the East African Community, In: Matekere, Y. & Msabila, D. (eds.) The Commemorations of Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere, Mzumbe University, pp. 66 - 77. |
| S/N | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | CONTEMPORARY CONCERNS IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES: PERSPECTIVES FROM TANZANIA AND ZAMBIA, Edited by Kilonzo, R & Kontinen, T, (2015) Department of Political and Economic Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland. Contributed two (2) Chapters. |
| 2 | PRACTICES OF CITIZENSHIP IN EAST AFRICA: PERSPECTIVES FROM PHILOSOPHICAL PRAGMATISM, Edited by Holma, K. & Kontinen, T., (2020) London: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. Contributed three (3) Chapters. |
| 3 | SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Edited by Joseph N. Mojekwu, Wellington Thwala, Clinton Aigbavboa, Lawrence Atepor, & Samuel Sackey (2021), Springer. Contributed One (1) Chapter. |
| 4 | SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT: MAKING CITIES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS INCLUSIVE, SAFE, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE. Edited by J. N. Mojekwu, et al., (2022). Contributed Two (2) Chapters. |
| 5 | LEARNING, PHILOSOPHY, AND AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP. Edited by Holma, K. & Kontinen, T. (2022) Open Access: Palgrave MacMillan. Contributed One (1) Chapter. |
| 6 | CIVIL SOCIETY RESPONSES TO CHANGING CIVIC SPACES, Edited by K. Biekart et al. (2023), EADI Global Development Series, Open Access: Palgrave MacMillan. Contributed One (1) Chapter. |
| S/N | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nguyahambi, A. M. (2013) Civil Society, Local Government Authorities and Decentralized Management of Primary Education Management in Selected Areas of Tanzania, A Thesis Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) of the University of Dodoma. |
| S/N | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nguyahambi, A. M. (2007) Capacity Of Civil Society Organizations Towards Poverty Reduction in Tanzania: A Case Study of Community Based Organizations in Mtwara District, A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Development Studies) of the University of Dar es Salaam. |
| S/N | Period | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022 | Team Member: Consultancy on Evaluation of the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children in Tanzania (NPA-VAWC), 2017/2018 – 2021/2022, Commissioned by the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups. |
| 2 | 2018 - 2022 | Team Member: Consortium Research on Theory and Practice of Learning to be a Citizen: Experiences from Tanzania and Uganda. (CS-LEARN) (2018-2022). [CS-LEARN, 2018-2022 — Humanistis-yhteiskuntatieteellinen tiedekunta (jyu.fi)] |
| 3 | 2017 | Team Member: Study on Civil Society in Development: The Role of Civil Society Actors in Development Cooperation. Consultancy Report Delivered to the Unit for Civil Society in the Department of Development Policy in Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [lue_kansalaisyhteiskuntaselvitys_2017.pdf (helsinki.fi)] |
| 4 | 2015 - 2019 | Postdoctoral Researcher: Growth into Citizenship in Civil Society Encounters, Academy of Finland, Development Research Programme. [GROW — Humanities and Social Sciences (jyu.fi)] |
| 5 | 2010 - 2016 | Research Coordinator: The History of Development Aid in Tanzania, Development Research Programme, Academy of Finland. |
| S/N | Year of Award | Award Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018 | Visiting Researcher: Nordic Scholarship Programme (2018), The Nordic African Institute, Uppsala – Sweden. |
| 2 | 2015 | Postdoctoral Researcher: Grow into Citizenship in Civil Society Encounters (GROW) Project (2015 – 2019), Funded by The Academy of Finland Development Research Funding. |
| 3 | 2010 | PhD Candidate Participant: Higher Education Institutions Institutional Cooperation Instrument (HEI-ICI) Support Programme (2010 – 2013), Funded by Finnish National Agency for Education. |
| S/N | Period | Type | Category | Title | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022 - 2023 | Administration | Positions | Head of Department | Department of Political Science and Public Administration, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), University of Dodoma |
| 2 | 2019 - 2022 | Administration | Positions | Head of Department | Department of Political Science and Public Administration, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), University of Dodoma |
| 3 | 2014 - 2017 | Administration | Positions | Director | Confucius Institute at University of Dodoma (CIUDOM), University of Dodoma |
| 4 | 2023 - 2025 | Administration | Positions | Ag. Director | Institute of Development Studies (IDS), The University of Dodoma |