This qualitative study, commissioned by UNFPA under the Global Disability Fund programme, implemented by UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women in Tanzania, examines how unpaid care responsibilities relate to gender based violence (GBV) among girls, youth and women with disabilities in Tanzania. Grounded in a rights-based perspective aligned with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the study aims to inform inclusive, gender-transformative care policies that uphold dignity, autonomy and participation for persons with disabilities and their care providers. 

Fieldwork in urban and rural areas (Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga and Dodoma) engaged women and men with disabilities (as both caregivers and care recipients), family caregivers, community leaders and service providers. The study was carried out from May to October 2025. In Tanzania, women and girls (especially those with disabilities) shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid caregiving in homes and communities,spending approximately 4-4.6 hours per day on unpaid care and domestic work compared to 1.2–1.4 hours for men, meaning women perform around three times more unpaid care work than men (NBS, 2025). 

This gender gap reflects global patterns, where women undertake about 75% of unpaid care work worldwide, also averaging three times more hours than men (World Bank, 2023).In Tanzania, this burden is further intensified in households affected by disability. With 11.2% of the population living with disabilities (2022 Population and Housing Census), caregiving demands are significantly higher due to the need for continuous, time-intensive, and specialized support. 

These intensive care responsibilities sustain families and enable participation in daily life, but often remain invisible in policy and support systems. Care demands limit caregivers’ access to education, work and social activities, while persons with more intensive support needs (for example, those with multiple or severe impairments) require almost round-the-clock assistance. Without accessible services (healthcare, education, respite or day-care), many families face social isolation, economic strain and reduced autonomy. These conditions can increase the risk of violence and compromise the rights of both caregivers and care recipients.