By Ayubu Lulesu

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – April 22, 2025 The Chaguo Langu Haki Yangu (CLHY) Programme, a national initiative aimed at eliminating gender-based violence (GBV), child marriage, and female genital mutilation (FGM), has received an eight-month extension and an additional $1.7 million in funding from the Government of Finland. This announcement came during a two-day stocktaking and technical meeting held from April 10–11, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Dar es Salaam.

The meeting brought together over 150 stakeholders, including representatives from the Government of Tanzania Mainland, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, United Nations Population Fund, the Embassy of Finland, service providers from the police and social welfare officers, civil society organizations, faith leaders, men and boys, women and girls and representatives from Organisations of Persons with Disabilities from Zanzibar and Mainland including SHIVYAWATA and SHIJUWAZA. The event marked a critical moment to reflect on achievements, share lessons learned, and chart a path forward for inclusive, rights-based programming—for women and girls, particularly women and girls with disabilities.

Ms. Abeida Rashid Abdallah Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children - Zanzibar urged all stakeholders to continue mobilizing resources and political will:

“We cannot use lack of funding as an excuse to ignore violence against women, children, or people with disabilities. The money is available—what we need is action.”

Voices from the ground emphasized the real-life impact of the programme.

 “Before this programme, I didn’t know I had the right to say no to violence or have a dream,” said Neema Thobias, a woman with disability from Kahama district. “Now, I train others like me to claim their rights.” 

Key commitments made during the meeting include:

• Supporting to disseminate and operationalise the NPA-VAWCsII of both Zanzibar and Mainland and the regional strategic plans.
• Strengthening data systems through the Persons with Disabilities Management Information System (PD-MIS)
• Enhancing quality and inclusive survivor services at the One Stop Centres, Police Gender Desks, and using the toll-free national child helpline and its sms service 116.
• Increasing outreach through school-based education and community mobilization to enhance protection of girls in school and advocate for change in social and gender norms that perpetuate gender based violence, child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation.
• Scaling up life-skills training and economic empowerment opportunities for out of school adolescent girls and young women, including adolescent girls and young women with disabilities.

UNFPA Country Representative Mark Bryan Schreiner shared key results, noting a decline in GBV from 30% to 29% and a reduction in FGM from 10.2% to 8.3% nationally.

“These numbers show progress,” he said, “but they also remind us that every percentage point reflects thousands of lives. We still have work to do.”

The Chaguo Langu Haki Yangu Programme operates in Mara, Shinyanga, Urban-West Unguja, and South Pemba regions, directly benefiting adolescent girls and young women, especially those with disabilities. Indirectly, it is strengthening institutions, policies, plans, and transforming harmful social norms.

Ms.Annah Lisa, Deputy Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Finland in Tanzania reaffirmed her country’s commitment to supporting efforts that ensure equal opportunity for all.

“We are dedicated to combating violence and discrimination by empowering everyone to make informed, safe life choices,” she stated.

As the extended phase moves forward, the focus is on scaling sustainable impact and aligning with national and global commitments—including the Tanzania Vision 2050 for Mainland and Zanzibar, the National Plans of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children (NPA-VAWCs II) for Mainland and Zanzibar, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD).

“This programme has been like water reaching a dry field,” said a faith leader, Ms. Amina Salum Khalfan “We won’t treat this as a temporary effort—we will keep fighting to protect the rights of women, girls, children, and people with disabilities.”

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Media Inquiries:

Dr. Warren Bright, 

UNFPA Communications Analyst,

United Republic of Tanzania

Mobile: +255 764 43 44 45 

Email: bwarren@unfpa.org