Singida - Five new facilities to support women’s empowerment and respond to gender-based violence are being handed over to the Government of Tanzania local authorities in Singida region, through the support of UNFPA and UN Women, funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea through Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The five facilities: three One Stop Centres, one Police Gender and Children’s Desk, and one Collection Centre, and associated training and programming, have already significantly expanded gender-based violence (GBV) response capacity and women’s economic empowerment.
Dr. Majaliwa Marwa, UNFPA Assistant Representative, Presenting the remarks during the handing over ceremony of One Stop Center
that held at Ikungi, Singida, Tanzania. Photo: @UNFPATanzania / Warren Bright
The handover ceremonies are being held on 22 May in Singida and on 24 May in Shinyanga. The ceremonies are being attended by Regional Commissioners, UN agencies and KOICA representatives and local authorities, and celebrate the achievements of the Joint Programme, Realizing Gender Equality through Empowering Women and Adolescent Girls. The Joint Programme, now in its final year (2020-2023) was funded by KOICA with 4.9 million USD. Through the programme over ten thousand people have been reached to enhance knowledge of their rights, support gender equality, and expand capacity to prevent and respond to GBV, and strengthen women’s economic empowerment in both Singida and Shinyanga Regions.
Ms. Heo Eun, KOICA Tanzania Deputy Country Director, Presenting a remarks during the handing over ceremony of One Stop Center
and the Collection Center that held at Ikungi, Singida, Tanzania. Photo: @UNFPATanzania / Warren Bright.
“We commend the Government of Tanzania’s efforts in social and economic development including addressing issues of GBV and women economic empowerment. KOICA looks forward to providing vital legal, social, and medical services to GBV victims through the One Stop Centres which were constructed by our Project,” said Mr. Shin Manshik, KOICA Tanzania Country Director. “Also, we are expecting to see consistent empowerment and growth of women agriculture groups who will contribute to Tanzania economic growth in the future by supporting the Collection Centre”.
The One Stop Centre at Bugarama Health Centre in Shinyanga Region is already functioning; the One Stop Centres at Ikungi District Hospital and Singida Referral Hospital in Singida Region have opened. These Centres, based on the grounds of health facilities, promote a survivor-centred approach to violence against women in a supportive environment, and provide GBV survivors with health, legal, and psychosocial support all under one roof.
The One stop center at Singida Referal Hospital funded by KOICA Tanzania with the support from UNFPA Tanzania and
UNWOMEN Tanzania Joint Programme Photo: @UNFPATanzania / Warren Bright
The Police Gender and Children’s Desk in Bugarama, now officially launched, offers those exposed to violence and at-risk individuals respectful and confidential legal support and referral services to appropriate facilities. The One Stop Centres and Police Gender and Children’s Desks, all in newly constructed buildings, enhance infrastructure and strengthen local capacity to prevent and respond to GBV and harmful practices.
“One Stop Centres, and Police Gender and Children’s Desks offer essential and life-saving services for GBV survivors,” said Dr. Majaliwa Marwa, UNFPA Assistant Representative, United Republic of Tanzania. “We are honoured to support local authorities in their efforts to empower women and girls, through enhanced infrastructure and skill-building of the professionals responding to GBV.”
The Collection Centre in Ikungi District, Singida Region is also already functioning; this space enables scores of women and female youth small-scale farmers who sell horticulture produce to aggregate and store their produce, thereby enhancing collective marketing, improving postharvest handling, and leveraging economies of scale in marketing.
The Collection center at Ikungi District Funded by KOICA Tanzania through the UNFPA Tanzania and UNWOMEN Tanzania
Joint Programme, implemented in Singida and Shinyanga Regions in Tanzania. Photo: @UNFPATanzania / Warren Bright
“Economic empowerment is a key method to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment,” said Hodan Addou, UN Women Representative to Tanzania. “Joint Programme efforts, including: the Collective Centre, gender-responsive land ownership rights, and inputs for agricultural productivity, all support women to measurably improve their income and resilience. In collaboration with local authorities, we are proud to support hundreds of women and female youth farmers to enjoy their rights, build their capacity, and expand their economic potential.”
Overall achievements of the Joint Programme include the training of over 450 duty bearers (for health workers, paralegals, police officers) on prevention of and response to Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), including those working at the One Stop Centres. Nearly 300 health care workers have been trained in GBV case management, including staff from the One Stop Centres. Impact is expanded through support for VAWC protection committees at the village, ward and district level.
A Sustainability Plan has been developed with local government authorities in the respective districts to maintain the results achieved through the Joint Programme and to scale up best practices to benefit other villages and districts. The Sustainability Plan facilitates local government partners and communities to continue efforts to uphold the rights of women and girls to live free from violence and promote gender equality and socio-economic empowerment.
For further information please contact:
Warren Bright,
Communications Analyst,
UNFPA Tanzania.
Phone: +255 22 216 3516,
Email: bwarren@unfpa.org
