“All over the world, young people say: “Nothing about us, without us!” At UNFPA, we have heard, learned and taken this principle to heart. Our partnerships with young people are, and must always be, based on their active and meaningful participation”. Mark Bryan Schreiner, UNFPA Representative, in the United Republic of Tanzania.
18 April 2024, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The Safeguard Young People (SYP) programme is official launched with the Hon Patrobas Katambi,the deputy Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office; Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability United Republic of Tanzania.
“The "Safeguard Young People Program in Tanzania" is part of the implementation of the National Agenda. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to urge all Sectors and stakeholders implementing the Safeguard Young People Program in Tanzania to ensure that the implementation of the Program is in line with the National Goals for Investment in Health and Youth Development, but also in line with Vision 2025, This project is important for our youth, as it aims to protect them and also prepare them to hold various leadership positions”. Hon Patrobas Katambi, the deputy Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office; Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability United Republic of Tanzania
The UNFPA Representative in the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Mark Bryan Schreiner, said that: “The results being celebrated today have been achieved because of the Government of Tanzania strong leadership through respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies who not only gave us direction and guidance on the programme implementation, but also coordinated the 1st phase of programme implementation from the national-to-the-community level to achieve success. We must also highlight the contribution of our Implementing partners and youth themselves in what we have achieved in the first phase of the programme”.
In 2020/21, SYP was expanded to include countries in the Eastern Africa Region: Rwanda and the United Republic of Tanzania. In Tanzania, the programme has been implemented within the context of UNFPA’s 9th Country Programme 2022 to 2027; the Country Programme aims to scale up effective programmes for adolescents and young people with special attention to sexual and reproductive health, including HIV prevention while providing evidence and advocating for their holistic development.
“But we are equally well-aware of the challenges we still need to overcome. Across Tanzania, not all young people face the same reality when it comes to their education, health, well-being, decision making and participation in various platforms. There remains high rates of teenage pregnancy, child marriage, HIV and STI transmission”. Said Mark Bryan Schreiner, UNFPA Representative in the United Republic of Tanzania.
This is in line with UNFPA’s commitment to the realization of the three transformative results by 2030: ending unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths, ending gender-based violence and harmful practices, and the East and Southern Africa regional priority to end new HIV infections. Tanzania has just completed its 1st Phase of the SYP and has now signed a new contract with the Embassy of Switzerland in Tanzania for the second Phase of the project which will run from 2024 – 2026.
“The Swiss government, as a partner of the Tanzanian government, recognizes the challenges that exist due to the high rate of population growth in Tanzania, especially for young people. These challenges affect health outcomes, especially related to reproductive health and nutritional issues; they affect economic outcomes, especially due to lack of adequate and needed skills, and unemployment; and they even affect psychological and social outcomes. These challenges are most serious, so much so that they could derail the country’s development for years to come. These challenges need to be tackled without delay, and with the utmost resolution. That is why we believe programmes like 'Safeguard Young People' (SYP) are so important to be implemented” . H.E. Didier Chassot Ambassador of Switzerland to Tanzania and Representative to the East African Community.
Sexual, physical, emotional and psychological violence remain common forms of violence affecting young people. Low educational attainment and high unemployment rates continue. Youth with special needs, such as youth with disabilities, continue to be deprived of the opportunities for accessing education, health and employment that can help them reach their full potential.
“The Safeguard Young people programme has given me the courage to realizse my potential and to know my value as a young girl: it empowered me to hold on my dreams, the sexually and reproductive health and roghts education has enabled me to make the right decision & control over over my body. Anna Mbalwa 16 Years, Tanzania SYP beneficiery.
UNFPA believes there is a continued need to invest in Young People to realize the Human Capital that Tanzania requires to achieve its’ national development goals, and the SDGs. With more than three quarters (76.7%) of its population below the age of 35, young people and their development must be at the center of our investments.
“For the United Nations family, we are harnessing our support through the United Sustainable Developement Cooperation Framework (2022-2027). The SYP Programme is a critical contribution, supporting Tanzania to unlock a unique opportunity to invest in the young human capital and reap the social and economic benefits – harnessing the so called Demographic Dividend. Now is the time for Tanzania” ! Mark Bryan Schreiner, UNFPA Representative, in the United Republic of Tanzania.
The SYP programme acknowledges and builds on the role of young people in making this continent better. Young people cannot be ignored any longer, and SYP builds in making sure that young people’s voices are loud, precise and clear. Partnering with young leaders to move faster and deeper as we ensure the realization of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for all of them in the region and in the country.
UNFPA - proud to support the United Republic of Tanzania in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland - in its effort to realize the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents and young people. The endorsement of the Safeguard Young People Programme by the Government is key in ensuring the success of the SYP in Tanzania.
In the SYP regional meeting, Tanzania won the award in the Integrating Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and economic empowerment interventions category. This recognizes the UNFPA Tanzania Country team’s efforts in ensuring that young people in Tanzania are equipped with the correct Sexual Reproductive Health and lifeskills knowledge which empower them to pursue their dreams. None of these achievements could have been realized without the leadership and support from key Government Ministries, departments and agencies; civil society partners, and young people themselves.
During the launch of the SYP Phase II programme in Tanzania, the chief guest Hon Patrobas Katambi, the deputy Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office; Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability United Republic of Tanzania with the entire delegates, H.E. Didier Chassot Ambassador of Switzerland to Tanzania and Representative to the East African Community and UNFPA Tanzania Representative Mr. Mark Bryan Schreiner including the young people had a priviledge to preview and launch the official SYP Music Video titled "Kijana Acha Alama" which was composed by the Tanzanian Musician Ben Pol featuring Tommy Flavor and Phina. These musicians are also the United Nations Champions for the Suistanable Development Goals SDGs (Global Goals).
About Safeguard Young People
Safeguard Young People (SYP) is a regional flagship youth program that started in 2013 with a focus on selected countries in Southern Africa, including, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Its goal is to improve the health and well-being of adolescents and young people aged 10-24 years, with emphasis on improving sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality among young people.
The Programme has a governance and management architecture agreed upon with the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) which is co-funding this program with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). At the National level, the program focuses on creating a conducive political, legal, and policy environment and developing the capacity for Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and Youth Participation. It will also support the strengthening of effective coordination and partnerships in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. At the Regional and District levels, the interventions will focus on strengthening institutions' capacity to deliver quality Comprehensive Sexuality Education/Life Skills (CSE) and Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) for in-school and out-of-school young people. It will also support the scaling up of integrated youth-friendly service provision in selected regions of Kigoma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Dodoma, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba).
