DAR ES SALAAM: Civil society organizations, research institutions, and development stakeholders from across the country have discussed strategies grounded in evidence to prevent and address violence against women and children (VAWC) through the What Works 2 (WW2) programme.
The discussions were held in Dar es Salaam today, during the soft launch of the Familia Imara project, which is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the WW2 programme.
The project will implement various evidence-based approaches to prevent violence and abuse against women and girls in Tanzania.
Speaking at the event in Dar es Salaam, Ms Anna Wilson, Development Director at the British High Commission in Tanzania, emphasized that the WW2 programme is an international initiative supported by the UK government.
Its goal is to generate evidence and identify best practices in combating violence against women and girls. The Familia Imara project is one of these proven strategies.
“The Familia Imara project is being implemented in four regions of Tanzania: Mwanza, Mara, Dodoma, and Geita,” Ms Wilson said. “Today’s event aims to engage other development stakeholders, civil society organizations, and academic institutions in discussions about effective approaches to combat violence against women and children. We’ve also had the chance to discuss coordination systems, existing evidence gaps, and areas where future collaboration can take place.”
The Familia Imara project has completed its inception phase and is now transitioning to full implementation, which is expected to last for about two and a half years, making the total duration of the project around three years, she added.
She also highlighted that while the project will primarily focus on the four regions, training and evidence gathered will be shared across the country.
“WW2 is not only a programme being implemented in Tanzania, but it is a global initiative. It aims to reach both direct and indirect beneficiaries, and we expect the results and evidence collected will guide national-level decisions and actions,” Wilson said.
She further noted that after the completion of the project, partners will be invited to discuss the evidence and results, ensuring sustainable participation and making impactful decisions.
On her part, Ms Elfrida Kumalija, Senior Project Manager for the Familia Imara project at Global Communities Tanzania, introduced the project and explained that it operates across 15 districts in the four regions. The project will provide support and services to victims of partner and child abuse.
“Today’s meeting is focused on introducing the Familia Imara project to development partners working on related issues such as nutrition, child development, and violence prevention,”
Ms Kumalija said. “The meeting has provided an opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues and explore how the project can improve its implementation, its outcomes, and the factors that influence its success. We’ve received valuable feedback from development stakeholders and have had the chance to build relationships for future collaboration.”
She further noted that initial activities, including developing family education curricula, conducting gender and equity research, and creating a strategic plan for collaboration with the government on the MTAKUWWA (National Plan to Prevent and Respond to Violence Against Women and Children), have already begun.
Meanwhile,Mr Yassin Ally, Executive Director of Kivulini, an NGO advocating for the rights of women, girls, and children, said that their organization is working closely with Global Communities, the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), and Emory University in the U.S. to implement the Familia Imara project, which aims to strengthen families to be free from violence, promote nutrition, and ensure the proper care and upbringing of children.
The event marks a significant step in Tanzania’s efforts to combat violence against women and children, with a strong focus on evidence-based strategies and multi-sectoral collaboration.