The Commission for Science and Technology is a parastatal organisation established by an Act of Parliament in 1986 (repealing the previous Tanzania National Scientific Research Council of 1968) with the mandate to advise government on all matters relating to scientific research and technology development. Principal functions of the commission include; coordination, policy formulation; acquisition, storage and dissemination of information; monitoring and evaluation of activities pertaining to scientific research and technology development; setting priorities for research, allocation of research funds, regional and international cooperation in scientific research. COSTECH has four directorates two of which are pertinent to the ATBC/SCB Africa Section activities; the directorate of research and planning where all research initiatives and applications are registered and the directorate of information and documentation which hosts the Tanzania Biodiversity Information Facility www.tanbif.or.tz .

Conducting research in Tanzania is coordinated through COSTECH and the application process is available on the commissions’ website www.costech.or.tz .