United Nations Heads and Representatives of UN Agencies in the United Republic of Tanzania recently visited the Kigoma region and several programme sites supported by the UN over the last few years. The UN has a strong presence in the region through a programme implemented jointly by 16 UN agencies since 2017. The Kigoma Joint Programme (KJP) supports the regional and district government authorities to accelerate the development of refugee-hosting communities. The KJP has seven thematic areas: youth and women’s economic empowerment, violence against women and children (VAWC); water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); agriculture; and health, HIV and nutrition. In parallel, UN Agencies also provide services in the camps to refugees who are dependent on humanitarian assistance.  Led by UNHCR, UN Agencies and implementing partners provide vital services to refugees and asylum-seekers for food security and nutrition, protection, shelter, health and education. UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Zlatan Milisic, highlighted that “As the UN, we have a responsibility to protect the rights and well-being of refugees, and we thank the Government and People of Tanzania for hosting them.” He added that “We recognise that there is a need to support the communities hosting refugees and, through the KJP, UN agencies are jointly supporting the government’s efforts to improve the livelihoods of communities in Kigoma. When the programme started in 2017, Kigoma was the last-ranking region in socio-economic indicators in the country. According to the review issued in 2020, Kigoma outperformed five other regions in some respects. We are thankful to all the stakeholders, including Government and our development partners, who have made the programme possible. The KJP currently runs till July of 2022. We are hopeful to continue expanding our partnerships for Phase Two of the KJP and continued delivery of services in the refugee camps. Over the last several days, we have visited the refugee camps and a variety of KJP activities to see how we can further strengthen coordination of humanitarian and development activities to address the needs of refugees and their hosts in an integrated manner.” The UN Resident Coordinator spoke at Muzye Maternity Ward in Kasulu District, which the UN constructed through the KJP. The maternity ward is one of several KJP initiatives the UN leaders visited during the mission. Other KJP sites and beneficiaries that were seen this time included the UN-constructed Police Gender and Children’s desk, a women’s savings group and a solarised water supply system at the Kigoma Grand School. The delegation also visited Nduta Refugee Camp in Kibondo Region and Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Kasulu Region, where they met with government officials, refugee leaders and representatives of women, elderly, youth and persons living with disabilities. They also got to see first-hand some of the services delivered to refugees, including education and health. The programme also included a visit to the Makere Centre, which coordinates the resettlement process of refugees to third party countries. The KJP has been funded through the generous support of the Norwegian Government, Irish Aid, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and core funds of UN Agencies. The Tanzania refugee operation is currently 44 per cent funded and is supported by the international community.

On October 24th the United Nations and the government of the United Republic of Tanzania commemorated the 76th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. This year’s theme for UN day was ‘Building Back with Better Health Systems’ highlighting the need to build more sustainable health systems as the country recovers from the public health and socio-economic impact that COVID-19 has had. Hon. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, the Minister of Defence and National Service graced the national commemorations which were held at Nyerere Square in Dodoma where the UN flag was raised symbolizing the Tanzania’s commitment to continue working with the United Nations and to uphold the values embodied in the United Nations Charter. The ceremony was attended by government officials from mainland and Zanzibar, the Dodoma Regional Commissioner, Youth representatives, UN heads of agencies and staff, member of the Tanzanian Defence Forces and Dodoma residents who were in the premises of the square. Dr. Tax made assurances that the Government is determined to play its role in combating COVID-19 highlighting that, “Tanzania continues to support world efforts to counter COVID 19 by ensuring all precaution measures including those recommended by WHO are followed. It is self-evident that the UN continues to be a leader when dealing with challenges that cross boarders such as COVI 19. Congratulations for this.” Dr. Tax also commended the UN’s support to vaccination efforts. “Allow me to congratulate UN Tanzania for their contribution on ensuring that Tanzania receives COVID 19 vaccines and for taking necessary measures to make the vaccine available to its staff in the country. Let me assure you that the government values your contribution,” she said. Speaking on behalf of the UN system, Mr. Zlatan Milisic, the UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting the government and people of Tanzania to achieve their national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mr. Milisic highlighted how COVID-19 has overwhelmed health systems all over the world and pointed out that, “There is a clear need to create more resilient health systems that will ensure our communities and people are healthy, have access to basic health services and able to better withstand health crises such as COVID-19.” He added that, “It is only by working together and having all hands-on deck, that we will be able to achieve the SDGs and create more sustainable health and other systems, as we build back better from the pandemic.”

Digital technologies are fuelling explosive growth, innovation and connection around the world. But these tools are also creating new kinds of inequalities. In Tanzania, as in many countries, girls have less access than boys to the internet and digital tools, including smartphones, and as a result, what they could achieve, their gifts, vision, ingenuity and the passion they could offer to the world is lost. Information that empowers In Tanzania, 69,0001 girls become pregnant every year at a time when they should be in school, learning and gaining the skills which will allow them to flourish as they move into adulthood. Gender inequalities, including violence, poverty and a lack of access to age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health education, information and services intersect to fuel teenage pregnancies and deny girls of their potential ­– digital tools can help fill the gaps. “We find that girls become more open to discussing the challenges they face after watching Harakati za Ngeti  - Ngeti’s Movement,” says Debora Maboya, Head of Operations and Programmes at Tai Tanzania.  “Girls need to be able to access non-judgemental sexual and reproductive health information and education that they can relate to.” Nawez'a educational journey is threatened by a marriage arranged by her parents, but she shows that she has the power to fight for her rights Tai Tanzania is revolutionizing the way sexual and reproductive health education is taught both in and out of school across Tanzania through 3D animation, tackling the challenges and inequalities that continue to impinge on young girls’ rights and choices including gender-based violence and harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, early, child and forced marriage and adolescent pregnancy. Each animation uses an instantly recognizable female role model, and while she may not have all the answers for adolescents, she is a source of both information and inspiration for her audience. “Ngeti, our animated girl character, speaks out loud about the difficulties the girls who are watching are experiencing,” says Shalom Milele, a videographer and animator at Tai.  “It gives them the confidence and hope to fight for their rights.” More than 3 million young people have watched the animations online since Tai Tanzania launched the series in 2017, and a further 8,000 young people have been reached through sessions that allow them to discuss and ask questions about issues raised in the films. Creating a safe and accessible digital world UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, in Tanzania is supporting young entrepreneurs to harness technology and their creativity to expand access to accurate and age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health information, education and services, through the AMUA Accelerator, a public private partnership. Since 2017, eight teams of young people, with an equal representation of young women, have been supported with seed funding and mentoring to launch their apps, including one that simultaneously translates sign language into text and vice versa so that health workers and persons with hearing impairments can communicate effectively.  “We recognize the power of young girls in Tanzania in today’s digital world,” says Deborah. “Tai are also providing a space at our studios where girls can get experience and training in the digital creation of 3D animation videos.” On 11 October, on International Day of the Girl, with its national theme “Digital Generation Our Generation – “Kizazi cha kidigitali. Kizazi chetu”, UNFPA celebrates girls in Tanzania, like Deborah and Shalom, who are not only using digital tools, but creating them to close the gender gap, and remain committed to creating a digital world that is accessible and safe for all, allowing girls to build a better future. 1 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2015/16.

Sheikh Is-haka Vuai is the Secretary of the Zanzibar Imams Association (JUMAZA) and also the Secretary of the North A District Faith Leaders Gender-Based Violence Action Group, which has been championing efforts to end violence and harmful practices against women and girls on the isles over the last two years. He openly opposes early marriage in his community – not an easy role he says. “About six of my Madrassa [Islamic religious school] students between the ages of 15 to 17 dropped out of school over a period of less than five months,” he recalls. “They not only lost the opportunity to get a religious education, but also lost the opportunity to build their future through school education, which was cut short because of the marriage.”  What saddened him even further, he adds, was that one of the students returned home less than four months after being married, pregnant, alone, and without any way of supporting herself or her child. Changing minds and attitudes Early marriage is a sensitive issue ­– 18 percent of Zanzibari girls are married before the age of 18 with nearly 3.5 percent of these girls married before the age of 15.[1]  Sheikh Is-haka and his fellow faith leaders, are conducting extensive outreach in communities  and since July 2021, the North A District Action Group has engaged with over 2,730 people, including men and community leaders, at Madrassas, schools, community gatherings, and Mosques. Their message is clear – early marriage has adverse psychological and health impacts on girls, has negative impacts on the economy and sustainable development, and is not acceptable under any circumstances. “Our main focus is on the health risks, which include maternal and child mortality, and the negative impacts on girls who cannot realize their dreams. If the marriage fails, without an education a girl really has no future,” says Sheikh Is-haka Vuai. UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, in support of the Revolutionary Government’s National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children (2017-2022), has been partnering with faith leaders in Zanzibar for several years. There are now 11 Faith Leader Gender-Based Violence Action Groups in Zanzibar, one in every district, whose members are working tirelessly to  tackle the discrimination and gender inequalities that continue to impact on women and girls’ rights, choices and ability to realize their potential.  A better and more equal future Today, UNFPA announced the launch of  a three and a half year programme – “Chaguo Langu Haki Yangu – My Choice My Rights”, funded by the Embassy of Finland. The programme will focus on empowering young women and adolescent girls to uphold their right to live free from violence and harmful practices, including female genital mutilation and child marriage. Project activities will focus on Mara and Shinyanga Regions, mainland Tanzania, and Zanzibar. UNFPA will leverage its existing partnership with faith leaders under the project to continue driving efforts to end violence against women and girls and child marriage in Zanzibar. The news is welcomed by the District Faith Leaders Gender-Based Violence Action Groups who say their campaign will not stop until violence and harmful practices against women and girls end.  “We have seen some encouraging progress over the last few years,” says Sheikh Is-haka Vuai, “And I have high hopes that if these efforts are sustained then violence and harmful practices against women and girls, including early marriage, will not only be significantly reduced, but eliminated altogether.” Ali Hamad. [1] 2015. Population Council. The Adolescent Experience In-Depth: Using Data to Identify and Reach the Most Vulnerable Young People.