Tanzania NGO Pioneers Multi-Level Approach to End Gender Violence
WiLDAF plans to expand its "My Choice My Rights" program, focusing particularly on protecting women with disabilities and fighting early marriage.
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania— WiLDAF Tanzania has developed a comprehensive model combining legal reform, economic empowerment, and community engagement to combat gender-based violence, showing promising results across the nation, writes Winston Mwale.
The organization's approach has helped over 200 women launch businesses in 2023 while establishing local committees nationwide for reporting violence.
This dual focus on economic independence and safety creates sustainable pathways for women's empowerment.
"We're collaborating with women's rights organizations to ensure that our commitments lead to action," said Anna Kulaya, National Coordinator of WiLDAF Tanzania.
She emphasized their push to reform outdated marriage and inheritance laws that restrict women's rights.
The initiative's success stems from its three-pronged strategy: establishing gender desks in universities, providing vocational training with startup grants, and engaging men and traditional leaders as allies through the Jamii Imara Project.
Current limitations include the persistence of discriminatory laws and the need for broader geographic coverage of support services.
Similar programs have shown success elsewhere in East Africa. Kenya's Women Enterprise Fund, for instance, has demonstrated how economic empowerment can reduce vulnerability to gender-based violence.
Research indicates that combining economic initiatives with legal advocacy creates more sustainable change than either approach alone.
The model's effectiveness has led Tanzania to become Africa's first nation to address violence against women during elections.
International organizations recognize this approach as potentially transformative for other developing nations facing similar challenges.
WiLDAF plans to expand its "My Choice My Rights" program, focusing particularly on protecting women with disabilities and fighting early marriage.