United Nations in Tanzania

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Tanzania:

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Publication

13 December 2022

UN Tanzania Key Developments (June - September 2022)

What is presented in this publication are some key developments of the UN’s collective work in Tanzania covering July-September 2022. This is the first edition of this publication under our UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2027, which commenced on July 1st earlier this year and will guide the work of the UN system in Tanzania for the next five years. We are implementing and supporting a broad range of programmes and initiatives across the four outcome areas of the UNSDCF, namely, People, Prosperity, Planet and Enabling Environment.

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01 September 2022

Government and Development Partners Meet in Zanzibar for Strategic Dialogue

Yesterday, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Development Partners Group (DPG) held a Strategic Dialogue Meeting to enhance development cooperation and foster attainment of sustainable development aspirations for Tanzania. It was the first time that the meeting was being held in Zanzibar and the two sides discussed the status of their Development Cooperation Framework (DCF) including progress that has been made in its implementation, areas that could be improved and ways to improve collaboration going forward. The meeting was opened by the First Vice President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, H.E. Othman Masoud Sharif, on behalf of the President of Zanzibar and the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, H.E. Hussein Ali Mwinyi. The First Vice President thanked development partners for supporting Tanzania bilaterally and multilaterally and committed to continue providing a friendly environment for development support to Tanzania. The meeting was well attended by the DPG under the leadership of the respective co-chairs of the DPG, the acting High Commissioner of Canada, H.E. Helen Fytche and UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Zlatan Milisic. Other DPG members in attendance included heads of development cooperation and representatives from Brazil, the European Union (EU) and its member states, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, as well as Japan, Norway, Oman, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and also heads and representatives of UN Agencies in Tanzania and of the World Bank and African Development Bank. Speaking on behalf of the DPG, Mr. Milisic commended the visible progress made in the development cooperation between the DPG and the Government over the years highlighting that, "DPs appreciate the Government’s recognition of the importance of national unity and social cohesion, rule of law, respect for human rights, an equitable society, peace and security, as prerequisites for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development." Mr. Milisic added that, "DPs will continue to work with Government and other actors on these values, seeking to increase access to justice and human rights protection, and to ensure that no one is left behind in the development processes." The Government and DPG agreed to follow up on a number of actions to further enhance development cooperation in Tanzania which will be tabled at a high-level meeting between the two sides that is set to take place later this year. The Strategic Dialogue Meeting was also attended by a broad range of civil society, business representatives and academic and research institutions. The dialogue was followed by a Consultative Meeting Between DPs and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar under the theme ‘Zanzibar’s Strategic Position to Enhance Engagement in Sustaining Development’. This meeting took place the day after the strategic dialogue with the same stakeholders participating. It was co-chaired by the Secretary of the Revolutionary Council and Chief Secretary, Engineer Zena Said and the DPG co-chairs. The consultative meeting focused specifically on development cooperation in Zanzibar and included briefings for DPs on the Zanzibar Development Plan (ZADEP) 2021-2026 and its priority areas. DPs also gained better insight into the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) for Zanzibar, opportunities and challenges for the health and agriculture sectors, as well as private sector and civil society engagement in the development agenda. The DPs also presented to stakeholders and gave their perspectives on partnerships, the blue economy and potential opportunities to enhance cooperation.

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19 July 2022

UNHCR-supported community centres giving hope to young Tanzanian women

____________________________________________________________________ “Malogerwa vocational school changed my life. I am now an entrepreneur, and my future is bright,” asserted 21-year-old Sporah. “I have a job now with a Non-Governmental Organization. I would not have gotten this position without the knowledge gained from learning computer skills,” voiced Yuditha with a broad smile. Sporah and Yuditha are two examples of hundreds of young Tanzanian women who have acquired practical skills that enable them to master various trades from the vocational training centres located at the periphery of the refugee camps in Kibondo and Kasulu Districts. The training offered by UNHCR and the Danish Refugee Council include; Information Community Technologies (ICT), tailoring, soap making, phone fixing, bicycle repair, hairdressing, and baking, among others. Born to a low-income family in Kibondo District, Sporah was unable to go beyond primary school due to poverty. Likewise, 19-year-old Yuditha from Kasulu District finished her secondary education in 2019 but could not continue with tertiary education due to financial difficulties. Sporah and Yuditha joined classes at Maloregwa and Nyarugusu, respectively, after receiving information from their village leaders. Following a rigorous screening process, Sporah took up tailoring and embroidery classes. “I learnt and developed skills in tailoring, embroidery, design, life skills, and financial literacy that has helped me make informed financial decisions in my business,” she said. After the training, Sporah received a sewing machine as part of a start-up kit, and she has now set up a thriving business where she is also training other young women. Yuditha, on the other hand, made it to the highly contested ICT course, being one of the three women in a class of 40 students. “Growing up, I was always fascinated watching people typing and moving the computer mouse around at nearby stationery shops. I always wished I could do the same one day,” she laughs. “Today, I am a proud ICT certificate holder, from the only institution offering this course in the entire village, and happily employed,” she adds. During the 3–6-month skills training at the community Centres, refugees and Tanzanians from nearby villages learn side by side, interact freely, and learn from each other. “I met new people and made new friends among them, refugees. They are people just like you and me; what differentiates us (Tanzanians) from them (refugees) is they are living at the camp while we are at home where we can practice after classes,” said Sporah. “Access to livelihood reduces refugees’ dependence on humanitarian aid and increases self-reliance among communities,” said Peter Opio, UNHCR Livelihood Officer. “Extending services to the host community contributes to promoting peaceful coexistence and enhances social cohesion between refugees and refugee hosting communities in line with the aspirations of the Global Compact on Refugees,” he added. Nengo Village leader Mr. Jumanne Rashid added that the training centre has opened doors to many young people in his area and helps them become self-reliant, which is crucial in reducing poverty at the district level. The village leader appealed to UNHCR and partners to continue with the support as it helps them achieve their development goals. Constructed in 2017 under the United Nations Kigoma Joint Programme (KJP), with funding from the Government of Norway, the Community Centres have contributed positively to the lives of 3,764 (2,017 female) individuals. More than 15 percent (570) of the graduates were Tanzanian nationals from the nearby villages. Through the KJP, UNHCR, and other UN actors have been working towards achieving collective outcomes that reduce the needs, risks, and vulnerabilities of communities in the Kigoma region accrued over multiple years.

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04 July 2022

KOICA, the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and UNOPS launch construction of school science labs in Zanzibar

KOICA, Government of Zanzibar, UNOPS Begin Construction of Science Laboratories The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have held a groundbreaking ceremony at Jongowe to mark the start of the construction works of science laboratories in 10 secondary schools in Zanzibar. The ceremony took place on 29 June 2022 at Jongowe Secondary School, Tumbatu, Zanzibar. The ceremony was presided by Hon. Ali Abdulgullam Hussein, Zanzibar Deputy Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Mr. Kyucheol Eo, Country Director for KOICA Tanzania, and Mr. John Fofanah, UNOPS Project Manager, who confirmed their commitment towards improving Secondary Education in Zanzibar.
As part of KOICA’s Enhancing the Quality of Secondary School Education through a holistic approach in Zanzibar (EQSSE-Z) project, UNOPS is constructing science laboratory facilities and procuring laboratory equipment for 10 secondary schools in Unguja (5) and Pemba (5).
Each of the multipurpose science laboratories will accommodate a maximum of 40 students, at a time, and will be equipped with equipment and reagents necessary for conducting physics, chemistry, and biology experiments. Starting with Jongowe Secondary School in Tumbatu, construction works commenced in April 2022, aiming to complete all works before the end of 2022. The project is funded by KOICA with a value of USD 3 million.
The overall objective of the EQSSE-Z project is ensuring better teaching and learning in secondary schools through the development of teachers’ capability, improvement of the teaching and learning environment, and quality assurance in education with community-based monitoring. UNOPS’ role is to support KOICA in the delivery of the infrastructure component of the EQSSE-Z project to address the lack of science laboratories for learner-centred teaching and learning. The project contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Hon. Ali Abdulgullam Hussein, Zanzibar Deputy Minister of Education and Vocational Training, said it is now time to ensure that teaching of science is improved to have graduates with relevant skills required to support the need of this century of Science and Technology. Mr. Kyucheol Eo, Country Director for KOICA Tanzania, said that KOICA is pleased to establish 10 science laboratories in 10 schools to provide quality science education for secondary students in Zanzibar. Science and technology are strong foundations and science will contribute to social and economic development of Zanzibar. Mr. Rainer Frauenfeld, Director of UNOPS Office for East and Southern Africa, expressed appreciation for the collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and KOICA in commencing the construction works in the ten prioritized secondary schools, which marks an important step in achieving the objective of ensuring quality education in physics, chemistry, and biology in Zanzibar.

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07 December 2022

UNHCR commemorates DAFI’s 30th Anniversary

On 6 December 2022, UNHCR, in collaboration with its partner, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), organized a ceremony in Dar es Salaam with the participation of high-level officials, including a Representative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy, and UNHCR's Deputy Representative. This celebration followed the 30th-anniversary commemoration launched at the University of Iringa in July 2022 with an introductory seminar on refugee rights and international refugee protection. At the end of the said ceremony, DAFI students, participants, and the University's management planted more than thirty trees around the higher education structure. In addition, other commemorations were held at refugee camps in Nduta and Nyarugusu in Kigoma region. As a reminder, the DAFI Scholarship Programme is an academic initiative implemented by UNHCR with financial support from Germany, enabling young refugees to pursue higher education. More specifically, it offers qualified refugee students the possibility to earn an undergraduate degree in hard science, social sciences, humanities, and arts in their countries of asylum. In Tanzania, the programme was launched in 1994, and, to date, more than 460 refugees benefited from the scholarship, allowing them to access local universities. These include the University of Iringa, the University of Dodoma, the Institute of Finance and Management, and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences of Dar es Salaam. "The DAFI Scholarship Programme is the unique opportunity for refugee students to pursue their studies at the tertiary level in Tanzania," said Mr. Yanik Yankeu, Education Officer at UNHCR Tanzania. For UNHCR, such initiatives benefit students and allow them to positively contribute to their host communities or their country of origin after voluntarily repatriating. "If we give education to refugees, we are contributing to solving problems that lead to turmoil which results in many people being driven away from home." So said UNHCR's Deputy Representative, Mr. George Kuchio, in his opening remarks. As of 30 June 2022, a date marking the end of an academic year, 81,605 refugee children out of 95,028 school-age children were enrolled in 56 camp-based schools. This increase is attributed to administering of examinations to 7,143 candidates, including 5,581 from the Democratic Republic of Congo and 1,562 from Burundi, for the 2021 and 2022 cohorts, respectively. Moreover, during the ceremony, Ms. Amina Ismail Haji, a Computer Science student and one of the DAFI refugee beneficiaries, spoke on behalf of the scholarship recipients in Tanzania. She thanked the Government of Tanzania for the protection and for granting permission to exit the camp to pursue education at different levels of study. However, she expressed some challenges refugee students face, like “permit delays” and “living costs”. Currently, less than 1% of refugee students have access to tertiary education in Tanzania. This figure could be explained by, among various factors, the lack of mainstreaming refugee education into the national education system, high examination costs, financial constraints, and language barriers. "I call for more collective efforts and investment in higher education for refugees to help transform their lives and prospects. These efforts would ensure we reach the global '15by30' goal, aiming to increase enrolment in higher education of young refugee women and men to 15% by 2030," added Yankeu, UNHCR's Education Officer.

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07 December 2022

Refugee-hosting Communities to Receiving Development Support from UN & Partners

The United Republic of Tanzania has been hosting refugees for several decades warranting greater support, not just to the humanitarian response, but also for the sustainable development for host communities. The UN responded to this need through the Kigoma Joint Programme (KJP) which was launched in 2017 and concluded in June earlier this year. The KJP Phase One (KJP I) built a more equitable response to the region's responsiblity of hosting over 250,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi. The UN in Tanzania, in collaboration with National and Regional Authorities and many other partners, managed to build the resilience of host communities and refugees through developmental interventions in refugee hosting areas and service provision for all. KJP I operated through six (6) themes which are: Youth and Women Economic Empowerment; Agriculture; Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC); Education; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); and Health+. Through the interventions under these thematic areas, more than 400,000 people were reached mainly from the refugee hosting districts (67% being women). The evaluation report of the programme, joint assessments and testimonies from the region affirm that there have been significant improvement people’s lives in these areas. Looking to build on these interventions, the UN, together with the Government and other development stakeholders, have today launched the KJP Phase Two (KJP II) which will run from 2022-2027. Whereas KJP I focused only on the districts that were hosting refugees in the region, KJP II aims to cover all six districts of Kigoma Region, namely Kigoma, Uvinza, Buhigwe, Kasulu, Kibondo and Kakonko. In line with the SDGs principle of leaving no one behind, KJP II will target the most vulnerable people including those living with disabilities. Speaking at the launch, UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Zlatan Milisic, highlighted the four outcomes of phase two and emphasized that, "As the UN in Tanzania, we reiterate our recognition to the refugee host communities as agents of change in our efforts toward sustainable development in Tanzania. Approximately USD 92.5 million will be required to achieve all outcomes in all the targeted populations and geographical areas of which USD 20.6 million is committed by participating UN Agencies and generous support/pledge from our development partners, some of them are present with us here - asanteni sana!" KJP II Outcome Areas The four outcome areas of the KJP II are aligned to the overall outcome areas of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) which will guide the work of the UN in Tanzania from 2022-27. The four outcome areas as the apply to KJP II are: People Ensuring more people in Kigoma, particularly the most marginalized and those affected by humanitarian situations, participate in equitable and inclusive quality education and skills development, climate resilient WASH services, integrated, resilient and gender-responsive health and nutrition services and protection. Prosperity Ensuring people living in Kigoma Region working in MSMEs and small-scale agriculture, especially the most vulnerable, women and youth, achieve increased and more sustainable productivity and incomes with more equitable access to productive resources. Planet Ensuring communities in Kigoma Region have improved capacity to manage and conserve natural resources and land, increased resilience to disasters and adverse effects of climate change and have greater access to efficient and renewable energy. Enabling Environment Ensuring that communities in Kigoma participate in and benefit from more effective, inclusive, and accountable economic, migration, governance, peace, security and justice systems.

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22 November 2022

Elderly Refugee Couple benefit from Non- Communicable Diseases (NCDs) - Project

“My life greatly improved after receiving medication and complementary feeding for my diabetes” said Elongo Byosaa. Ms. Elongo Byosaa (71) and her husband Ramazani Yangya (75), are Congolese refugees living in Nyarugusu camp. The couple were diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension in January 2022 thanks to World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) three-years project . Since 2020 at different times the couple experienced combined symptoms of severe headache, dizziness, frequent urination, excessive thirst, and weight changes that caused weakness and inability to perform their daily activities. Her husband became blind as a result of the diagnosis which made the couple more dependent on assistance. Elongo and her husband fled Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1990s due to insecurity and turmoil that caused displacement to thousands. Elongo remembers “the gunshots, machetes, dead bodies and blood everywhere” right before all their three children were tragically killed. The couple managed to carry a few items including one family picture before they left Congo with their two young grandsons. Every year, on 14 November, the world celebrates World Diabetes Day to raise awareness on the disease. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. Both the number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have been steadily increasing over the past few decades In the refugee camps, 6,138 diabetes and hypertension consultations have been made among refugees and 760 among the host population who seek services in Nyarugusu camp. Elongo and husband started their diabetes treatment immediately after diagnosis in early 2022. As part of a comprehensive response to NCDs, UNHCR and partners through the WDF funding are conducting community mobilization for early diagnosis of NCDs especially diabetes, training of health care workers, supply of diagnostics, provision of complementary feeding, and provision of specialist consultations in the camps. Speaking on his change of diet, Ramazani says “I receive additional meals as advised by doctors to help with my diabetes.” He receives fruits and vegetables to supplement pulses, maize flour, vegetable oils and others provided by United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Ramazani believes this change of diet has greatly improved his life and management of diabetes symptoms and others like him at the camp. “Diabetes and other NCDs are on the increase globally and continue to burden the health systems especially in the developing countries,” explained Gideon Ndawula, UNHCR Public Health Officer. This is worse in humanitarian settings where health systems are majorly set up to deal with infectious diseases. Health services inclusive of NCDs in Nyarugusu camp are provided through the Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS) main hospital and an additional health facility. “This additional health facility is appreciated by people we serve as this brings the service closer to their home areas,” said Mohamed Abbas, TRCS Health Coordinator. “Targeting prevention through community sensitization and mobilization, early diagnosis accompanied with a health system strengthening approach to handle NCDs will provide a positive outcome in addressing the increasing NCDs burden on the health system,” added Gideon. The program targets to reach over 240,000 refugees and asylum seekers and 53,000 people from the host community. With the current - project of the World Diabetes Foundation, UNHCR and partners continue to provide the necessary support and services. However, more funds are needed in the lacking areas and ongoing challenges including lack of self-empowerment and resources for patients to self-monitor their diagnosis, medical referrals, and general health infrastructure improvements and expansion.

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04 November 2022

Tanzania marks 77th Anniversary of the United Nations

The chosen theme in Tanzania articulates the shared aim of putting people first in the development process by addressing the interconnected challenges of the most vulnerable and marginalized people. This theme is also line with key global targets for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which contribute to ending poverty, protecting the planet, and bringing peace and prosperity to all. Inclusivity addressed reducing inequality by empowering and promoting the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities. The official UN Day celebration took place at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam on October 24th, 2022. A flag-raising ceremony, a parade and students entertainment marked the day. There were also statements read by the Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Hon. Damas Ndumbaro (MP), the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Zlatan Milisic and a youth representative from the United Nations Association (UNA), Mr. Reynald Maeda. The raising of the UN flag is a symbol of the continued commitment and partnership of the government of the United Republic of Tanzania in working together with UN agencies, funds and programmes to bring development in this country. Speaking to the media, the UN Resident Coordinator, Zlatan Milisic said, “We thank the Government of Tanzania for its continued partnership and for the enabling environment that allows UN agencies funds and programs to work in this nation. The United Nations is committed to continue working closely supporting the government on achieving it’s national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” In May earlier this year, the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Philip Mpango launched the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNDSCF) 2022-2027. The UNSDCF is the UN’s blueprint for supporting the Government and people of Tanzania to achieve the country’s national development priorities and the SDGs. It commenced implementation in July 2022 and will guide the work of the UN system in Tanzania for the next five years. On his part, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mbarouk Nassor Mbarouk said, “The United Nations is an important partner in the development of Tanzania. We have partnered for many years bringing development in various sectors of our nation through their various plans and development assistances. This year the Government in partnership with the United Nations launched the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework which will end in 2027 and which is aligned to the third National Development plan. It is our expectation that the plan will be very successful.” Concurrent celebrations to mark UN Day also took place in Zanzibar and Kasulu District in Kigoma. For the Isles, The Hon. Minister of Health in Zanzibar, Dr. Nassor Mazrui, graced a celebratory event intended to recognize the role of community health workers (CHVs) as a vehicle for inclusion and sustainability at the community level, consistent with the theme of this year. In Kigoma, the celebrations were through a blood donation drive. The Kasulu District Commissioner, Col. Isaac Anthony Mwakisu officiated the celebrations which brought together UN staff to donate blood with support from the Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS). The Red Cross Society is an implementing partner at the Nyarugusu camp, providing health services to both refugees and host communities.

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26 May 2022

Diplomatic Community Visits Refugee Camps in Tanzania

Diplomatic Community Visits Refugee Camps in Tanzania Members of the diplomatic community from the embassies of Belgium, the European Union, France, Japan, Great Britain, United States of America, and Switzerland in Tanzania, visited two refugee camps in North-western Tanzania from 16 to 19 May 2022. During the visit, which aimed to raise the profile of the Tanzanian refugee operation, the delegation had insightful meetings with refugee leaders, government officials, United Nations Agencies, and Partners from Non-Governmental Organizations. They observed refugees receiving some essential services and visited specific projects benefitting both refugees and the host community in the areas of energy and environment, birth registration and certification, water, sanitation and hygiene, health, education, livelihoods, prevention and response to gender-based violence, and food and nutrition, among others. The mission members paid tribute to the Government and people of Tanzania for its long tradition of keeping its doors open and providing safe harbor to populations forced to flee their countries for over 60 years. They further commended Tanzania and its leaders for always being at the forefront of regional peacebuilding efforts, allowing thousands of refugees to return home safely, where possible, or find other durable solutions. Currently, Tanzania hosts some 248,000 refugees and asylum seekers, predominantly from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mission noted the need for a strengthened enabling policy environment to provide protection and assistance for refugees while in asylum while pursuing concrete, long term solutions for the entire population. It further noted that if refugees had more formal access to livelihood and income generation opportunities, it would benefit Tanzania. This would ultimately lead to increased tax revenues and additional employment opportunities, and it would further enhance supply and market processes in the country, further boosting the economy. Currently, a strict encampment policy renders refugees almost entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance. Acknowledging that providing asylum comes with environmental concerns and administrative and economic challenges, the mission members underlined the International Community’s commitment to continue supporting the Government’s efforts as guided by the principles embodied in the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). The GCR calls for the needs of both refugees and their host communities to be taken into consideration in an integrated manner. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has described this as an approach “that recognizes that these communities have their own economic challenges and security concerns, and their hospitality must be matched with development investment.” For several decades, with the International Community’s support, the United Nations family and other humanitarian partners have brought this international solidarity to improve the welfare of Tanzanians as an important refugee-hosting nation. These resources continue to impact the local community positively in the refugee-hosting area and beyond. One such initiative is the Kigoma Joint Programme, a five-year programme being implemented by 16 UN Agencies in collaboration with the regional and district authorities. The delegation was able to visit some of the Joint project sites to witness the impact on the lives of Tanzanians. When the programme started in 2017, Kigoma was the last-ranking region in socio-economic indicators in the country. According to recent reviews, Kigoma now outperforms five other regions in some respects. By expanding and increasing support to host communities, the programme also enhances peaceful co-existence between refugees and host populations. The international solidarity and funding to support the refugee operation in Tanzania over the past several years has been commendable. However, more funding is required to meet the ever-growing needs. Of the US$114.5 million needed by UNHCR to assist refugees and host communities in Tanzania this year, only a fraction has been received from donors so far. In Tanzania, UNHCR works with the Government, the Diplomatic Community, humanitarian and development partners, and other stakeholders to fulfill the Agency’s core mandate - to support the Government to provide refugees, asylum seekers, and other people of concern with international protection, assistance, and durable solutions.

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Press Release

01 February 2023

African leaders unite in pledge to end AIDS in children DAR ES SALAAM, 1 February 2023

International partners have set out how they would support countries in delivering on those plans, which were issued at the first ministerial meeting of the Global Alliance to end AIDS in children. The meeting hosted by the United Republic of Tanzania, marks a step up in action to ensure that all children with HIV have access to life saving treatment and that mothers living with HIV have babies free from HIV. The Alliance will work to drive progress over the next seven years, to ensure that the 2030 target is met. Currently, around the world, a child dies from AIDS related causes every five minutes. Only half (52%) of children living with HIV are on life-saving treatment, far behind adults of whom three quarters (76%) are receiving antiretrovirals. In 2021,160 000 children newly acquired HIV. Children accounted for 15% of all AIDS-related deaths, despite the fact that only 4% of the total number of people living with HIV are children. In partnership with networks of people living with HIV and community leaders, ministers laid out their action plans to help find and provide testing to more pregnant women and link them to care. The plans also involve finding and caring for infants and children living with HIV. The Dar-es-Salaam Declaration on ending AIDS in children was endorsed unanimously. Vice-President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Philip Mpango said, “Tanzania has showed its political engagement, now we need to commit moving forward as a collective whole. All of us in our capacities must have a role to play to end AIDS in children. The Global Alliance is the right direction, and we must not remain complacent. 2030 is at our doorstep.” The First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos agreed. “This gathering of leaders is uniting in a solemn vow – and a clear plan of action – to end AIDS in children once and for all,” she said. “There is no higher priority than this.” Twelve countries with high HIV burdens have joined the alliance in the first phase: Angola, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The work will centre on four pillars across: 1. Early testing and optimal treatment and care for infants, children, and adolescents; 2. Closing the treatment gap for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV, to eliminate vertical transmission; 3. Preventing new HIV infections among pregnant and breastfeeding adolescent girls and women; and 2 4. Addressing rights, gender equality and the social and structural barriers that hinder access to services. UNICEF welcomed the leaders’ commitments and pledged their support. "Every child has the right to a healthy and hopeful future, but for more than half of children living with HIV, that future is threatened," said UNICEF Associate Director Anurita Bains. "We cannot let children continue to be left behind in the global response to HIV and AIDS. Governments and partners can count on UNICEF to be there every step of the way. This includes work to integrate HIV services into primary health care and strengthen the capacity of local health systems." “This meeting has given me hope,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “An inequality that breaks my heart is that against children living with HIV, and leaders today have set out their commitment to the determined action needed to put it right. As the leaders noted, with the science that we have today, no baby needs to be born with HIV or get infected during breastfeeding, and no child living with HIV needs to be without treatment. The leaders were clear: they will close the treatment gap for children to save children’s lives.” WHO set out its commitment to health for all, leaving no children in need of HIV treatment behind. “More than 40 years since AIDS first emerged, we have come a long way in preventing infections among children and increasing access to treatment, but progress has stalled,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children is a much-needed initiative to reinvigorate progress. WHO is committed to supporting countries with the technical leadership and policy implementation to realise our shared vision of ending AIDS in children by 2030.” Peter Sands, Executive Director of The Global Fund said, “In 2023, no child should be born with HIV, and no child should die from an AIDS-related illness. Let’s seize this opportunity to work in partnership to make sure the action plans endorsed today are translated into concrete steps and implemented at scale. Together, led by communities most affected by HIV, we know we can achieve remarkable results.” PEPFAR’s John Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, said he remains confident. "Closing the gap for children will require laser focus and a steadfast commitment to hold ourselves, governments, and all partners accountable for results. In partnership with the Global Alliance, PEPFAR commits to elevate the HIV/AIDS children's agenda to the highest political level within and across countries to mobilize the necessary support needed to address rights, gender equality and the social and structural barriers that hinder access to prevention and treatment services for children and their families." EGPAF President and CEO, Chip Lyons, said that the plans shared, if implemented, would mean children were no longer left behind. “Often, services for children are set aside when budgets are tight or other challenges stand in the way. Today, African leaders endorsed detailed plans to end AIDS in children – now is the time for us all to commit to speaking up for children so that they are both prioritized and included in the HIV response.” Delegates emphasized the importance of a grounds-up approach with local, national and regional stakeholders taking ownership of the initiative, and engagement of a broad set of partners. “We have helped shape the Global Alliance and have ensured that human rights, community engagement and gender equality are pillars of the Alliance,” said Lilian Mworeko, Executive 3 Director of the International Community of Women living with HIV in Eastern Africa on behalf of ICW, Y+ Global and GNP+. “We believe a women-led response is key to ending AIDS in children.” The alliance has engaged support from Africa REACH and other diverse partners and welcomes all countries to join. Progress is possible. Sixteen countries and territories have already been certified for validation of eliminating vertical transmission of HIV and/or syphilis; while HIV and other infections can pass from a mother to child during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, such transmission can be interrupted with prompt HIV treatment for pregnant women living with HIV or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for mothers at risk of HIV infection. . Last year Botswana was the first African country with high HIV prevalence to be validated as being on the path to eliminating vertical transmission of HIV, which means the country had fewer than 500 new HIV infections among babies per 100 000 births. The vertical transmission rate in the country was 2% versus 10% a decade ago. UNAIDS, networks of people living with HIV, UNICEF and WHO together with technical partners, PEPFAR and The Global Fund unveiled the Global Alliance to end AIDS in children in July 2022 at the AIDS conference in Montreal, Canada. Now, at its first ministerial meeting, African leaders have set out how the Alliance will deliver on the promise to end AIDS in children by 2030. [END] Contact UNAIDS | Charlotte Sector | sectorc@unaids.org The Global Fund | Ann Vaessen | ann.vaessen@theglobalfund.org UNICEF | Lazeena Muna-Mcquay | lmunamcquay@unicef.org WHO | Sonali Reddy | reddys@who.in

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Press Release

07 December 2022

UNHCR commemorates DAFI’s 30th Anniversary

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Press Release

07 July 2022

Global Lead Coordinator for COVID-19 Vaccination Delivery in Tanzania

Mr. Ted Chaiban, the Global Lead Coordinator for COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership (CoVDP), is in Tanzania for an official four-day visit. A key part of his visit took place yesterday where he met with Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Philip Isdor Mpango to discuss strategies to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Tanzania and meet its vaccination coverage goals. Mr. Chaiban has also been meeting with other high-level Government officials, development partners, communities, religious leaders and other key stakeholders during his visit. “I congratulate the Government for their efforts in promoting vaccination against COVID-19. I am here to take stock of where Tanzania is in meeting its vaccination coverage objectives and identify a way forward to address any bottlenecks and scale-up the vaccination programme,” said Mr. Chaiban. He was speaking alongside the Minister of Health, Hon. Ummy Mwalimu following a joint meeting between the two of them, the Minister of Finance and Planning, and the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Governance). Mr. Chaiban stressed that the pandemic is far from over and that the risk of new variants, especially in under-vaccinated populations, remains high. “COVID-19 is still with us and we need to ensure that we protect those most at risk including the elderly, people with underlying conditions, frontline health workers and those working in sectors such as tourism and hospitality. The vaccine is our best protection against COVID-19. No one is safe until we are all safe. As they say in Kiswahili: ‘Ni ujanja kuchanja’! Mr. Chaiban was appointed as CoVDP Global Lead Coordinator, at the level of Assistant Secretary-General, in February 2022 by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. ### Note to editors: COVID-19 Vaccination Update
As of early July 2022, almost 12 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered globally. According to the WHO, 61 per cent of the world population have been fully vaccinated butonly 13 per cent in low-income countries. The WHO Africa and Eastern Mediterranean regions account for the largest proportion of unvaccinated for the total population. In Tanzania, the COVID-19 vaccination programme started on 28 July 2021. About 10 million Tanzanians have received at least one dose and 8,553,930 (13.96%) have been fully vaccinated to date. About Ted Chaiban
Ted Chaiban has a long and illustrious career with UNICEF. He has been Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa since October 2019. Prior to this role, he was UNICEF Director of Programmes (2014-2019), Director of Emergency Programmes (2012-2014), UNICEF Representative in Ethiopia (2009-2012) in Sudan (2005-2009) Sri Lanka (2002-2005). Read his full bio here. About COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership (CoVDP)
The COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership (CoVDP) is an inter-agency initiative launched by UNICEF, WHO and Gavi in January 2022 to support the 92 AMC countries in accelerating vaccine delivery with a particular focus on the 34 countries, including Tanzania, that were at or below 10 per cent in January 2022.

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Press Release

18 May 2022

Government & UN launch Five-Year Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework

The Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Philip Isdor Mpango and the UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania, Mr. Zlatan Milisic, have launched a development cooperation agreement which will guide the work of the UN system in Tanzania for the next five years. The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the five-year period July 2022 to June 2027, was launched today in Dar es Salaam in the presence of representatives from the Government, the diplomatic corps, civil society and the media. Developed jointly by the Government and UN, the UNSDCF provides a framework for the UN’s support to Tanzania to achieve national development priorities, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as regional aspirations and commitments including the Africa Agenda 2063. The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Zlatan Milisic, thanked the Government for sustained cooperation in designing the framework and emphasized that the UNSDCF was developed with the underlying principle of leaving no one behind, which aims to ensure that the most vulnerable and marginalized groups are prioritized. “I thank the Government and the development community in Tanzania for being with us every step of the way in formulating the UNSDCF,” said Mr. Milisic. “This launch comes at an important time with just eight years remaining to achieve the SDGs and Agenda 2030. The UN will continue working closely with the Government to deliver the commitments agreed to in the UNSDCF and we count on the support of all partners in its implementation,” he added.
The strategic priority areas of the UNSDCF were developed based on an analysis of Tanzania’s development landscape and where the UN is best positioned to leverage its comparative advantages to accelerate progress on national development priorities and the SDGs. These areas include strengthening social services empowering women and girls; transforming the economy; strengthening national governance systems; building resilience and assisting with climate change adaptation among others. This is Tanzania’s first UNSDCF following the global reforms of the UN Development System initiated by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
On her part, Senior Development Coordination, Head of UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and Strategic Planner, Ms. Shabnam Mallick, added that, “The UN System in Tanzania is large, a factor which has its own pros and cons. I am therefore pleased that the RC Office in Tanzania was able to quietly corral the valuable and disparate resources of the UN development system in Tanzania and support the RC, UNCT, Government, and national partners towards increased coherence, effectiveness and efficiency in producing a strategic framework that will guide development engagement and the trajectory of SDGs’ activities for the next five years. I thank all partners and colleagues for their dedication.”

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Press Release

09 March 2022

Ensuring Women and Girls Count for Generation Equality

According to the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report of 2021, it will take at least another 135 years for the world to achieve gender parity. At this rate, no one alive today is likely to see a world where gender equality is realized. The good news is that some countries will get there faster through committed leadership, investment and public policy. International Women’s Day, celebrated on the 8th of March every year is an opportunity for us to reflect on the efforts that have been made thus far, and what more needs to be done to accelerate progress towards a more gender-equal world. There have been some positive gains for women and girls in recent decades, yet today, women still experience numerous challenges. Women are still more likely to be poor than men, experience high rates of violence and abuse, and carry the greater burden of unpaid care work in the home. They continue to be underrepresented in leadership and decision-making, as well as science and technology fields, with persistent gender biases serving as barriers to women’s progress. Women living with disabilities are especially vulnerable, face even more forms of discrimination, and are further left behind. Tanzania’s theme for International Women’s Day this year is “Generation Equality for Sustainable Development: Let’s participate in the forthcoming census”. This is an important and timely reminder that women and girls need to be counted and visible in the census. We need to understand their potential and their realities to inform national planning, and specifically to implement Tanzania’s Generation Equality Forum commitments to promote women’s economic justice and rights. In short, Tanzania needs solid data and evidence on women and girls in order to deliver on its commitment to achieve gender equality by 2030. In a country where women and girls make up the majority of the country’s workforce, it is imperative to collect and analyze comprehensive data on women and girls. This data will help to shape gender-responsive policies, laws, plans, programmes and budgets to uplift women and girls across the country. Population censuses provide official data on how many people live in a country, where they live, the breakdown of age and sex, as well as key social and economic characteristics of the population. Various fundamental assistance programs that support improved protection, education, health and economic security outcomes for women and girls rely on census data to inform them. Census data also aids the country in understanding the different needs and characteristics of the nation. It is vital that everyone, especially women and girls, take part to determine where to focus development efforts. To ensure that the census is as inclusive as possible, and delivers the gender data that is needed, both women and men, girls and boys need to understand why it is important. This includes adolescent girls. As adolescence is a tipping point in a girl’s life, this data will help ensure they can access the right resources and opportunities so that the girls of today can become the leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers of tomorrow. It is also critical to identify and address existing gender biases in data collection. Women and girls who work outside the market economy have historically been invisible in official statistics due to discriminatory social and cultural norms and attitudes. These biases need to be tackled head-on to ensure that the census takes into account women and girls’ contributions to their families’ livelihoods and the economy and that this data reflects their lived realities. Focusing on the census this International Women’s Day further demonstrates the government’s commitment and resolve to ensure that the census is gender-responsive and to improve the production and use of gender statistics more broadly. The government has also made commendable progress in recent years in making gender data more available and accessible, which has translated into a number of important publications including the Social Institution and Gender Index (SIGI) Tanzania, which provides evidence on how discriminatory social norms and practices continue to limit women’s and girls’ access to opportunities and rights. Generation Equality envisions a world where all people have equal rights and opportunities. Where there is equality in political leadership, classrooms, corporate boardrooms, and farm fields. Where women and girls, including those with disabilities, are safe and have equal access to economic opportunities. On this International Women’s Day, let us ensure that we enhance our collective efforts to make that vision a reality. Keeping all women and girls visible in national data sources can propel us in the right direction. We are proud to be accompanying Tanzania on its journey towards gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment. A journey that, with good data to guide our choices, does not need to last 135 years.

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