Norwegian Church Aid in Tanzania
- Presence established: 2006
- Funds used in 2022: 48 million NOK
Our work in Tanzania focuses on four topics: Figthing Inequality; Climate Smart Economic Empowerment; Gender-Based Violence; and Sustainable Faith-Based Health Care.
Tanzania is a relatively stable and peaceful country, which has recently enjoyed considerable progress in social, political and economic development. Tanzania reduced its poverty rate between 2007 -2016 and has sustained relatively high economic growth over the last decade. Despite these positive developments, the country faces significant development challenges. It currently experiencing slower economic growth, unequal distribution of wealth, high fertility rates, persisting gender inequality, youth unemployment and the negative effects of climate change. Gender inequality is a serious issue and sustained by patriarchal systems, customs and traditions. Female genital mutilation is a dominant form of gender-based violence (GBV) in some regions. Early pregnancy, often related to rape, and early marriage are common and represent a major obstacle to gender justice. Harmful dominant norms and incoherent policies and laws affect the realisation of women’s and children’s rights. Agriculture continues to provide a livelihood for 70% of Tanzanians, especially the poorest. Civic space, human rights and the rule of law are increasingly under threat. Corruption and mismanagement of public resources also remain a challenge.
NCA established its presence in Tanzania in 2006 and has a long history of working together with local faith-based actors to help people climb out of poverty and promote justice. Throughout its presence, NCA has nurtured an interfaith civil society movement, working for peace and social cohesion, accountable governance, economic justice and gender equality. For NCA, facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue and cooperation is a key approach to strengthening the role of civil society and promoting sustainable development results in the country.
NCA in Tanzania strengthens the capacity of civil society actors and civic space to foster human dignity and rights, and to empower people to participate in the development and implementation of public policies and development plans. Together with civil society organisations, NCA and partners work to implement long-term development programmes in the following areas:
Humanitarian response
NCA increases local resilience and bridges the gap in the humanitarian-development nexus through emergency preparedness and response planning and developing the capacities of local and international ACT Forum members. This ensures appropriate, timely, effective and coordinated response to crises when they occur.
Long-term Development
In Tanzania, NCA empowers people for positive, active citizenship so that they can climb out of poverty and participate fully in society. The approach strengthens civil society, faith actors, and interfaith platforms to deliver results through Climate Smart Economic Empowerment, Fighting Inequality and Gender-based Violence programmes. Working with local partners, NCA prioritises empowering youth, women and religious leaders as change agents for sustainable livelihood, job creation, ending GBV and reducing inequalities.
NCA Tanzania will scale up programmes in Dodoma, Kigoma, Lindi, Manyara, Pwani and Tabora in the coming years, while supporting innovation and maintaining existing work in the Iringa, Kilimanjaro, and Morogoro regions. NCA interventions target poor and marginalised communities and faith actors, with a focus on women and youth in rural areas as well as small-scale farmers.
