Wic News. The monthly Bulletin of the Women s Information Centre. FROM WIC s MANAGEMENT. From WIC s Management. Issues Communitybased

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1 Wic News WOMEN S INFORMATION CENTRE WOMEN S INFORMATION CENTRE From WIC s Management Issues Communitybased approach to the fight against HIV/AIDS The Ministry in Action -Interview with the Director of the 1 2 Inside new Depart- this issue: ment of Children -Women s Bank Work- WIC Documentation Centre The monthly Bulletin of the Women s Information Centre N. 1 August 2003 FROM WIC s MANAGEMENT Dear reader, In this issue number one, the second of this series of WIC News, we would like to provide you with an overview on some of the many activities undertaken by the Ministry of Community Development, Gender Children. In the section ISSUES we look at the community based approach to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. This article outlines the strategy that the Ministry has adopted in order to involve communities in the fight against the pemic. In the section THE MINISTRY IN ACTION you will find 2 articles. The first one being an interview with the recently appointed Director of Children Department, Mrs. Alice Rugumyamheto, where she outlines the main roles responsibilities of the Department of Children as well as the expected main activities. The second one provides a summary of the proceedings of a workshop recently organized by the Ministry to discuss the process for the establishment of a Women s Bank. During the workshop it was recommended that a Women s Bank be established using the new model of Savings Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOS). The new model advocates a change from the traditional welfare oriented SACCOS to more business oriented ones, with more extensive use of information, communication technology. The last section comes directly from WIC DOCUMENTATION CENTRE intends to provide the readers, interested in topics presented in the current issue, with suggestions for further reading for more information, through a list of documents available in the centre links to relevant websites. Page 1 Enjoy the reading. WIC s management Main Policies of the Ministry Project supported by by the Italian Government, implemented with the technical support of of the Italian Association for Women Women in in Development Development Institutional Strengthening of the Ministry Institutional Strengthening of the Ministry of of Community Development, Gender Chil- Community Development, Gender Childrendren Project n. AID Project n. AID

2 No.1 August August Page Page 2 2 Newly ISSUES Director of Children COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS The Ministry of Community Development, Gender Children has developed launched a Strategic Framework for Community- Based Protection of Women Children Against HIV/AIDS in The specific areas that the strategic framework will address include cultural norms, values, beliefs practices that subordinate women children as they relate to violence against women children including forced marriages The strategic framework is not an operational plan, rather it is a guide for stakeholders to develop more focused effective interventions to protect women children against HIV infections to provide care to those already affected. Since HIV/AIDS/STIs transmission is mainly a result of individual actions, it is imperative that the onus of combating protecting women children against HIV infections the impact of AIDS lies with the individuals family members. After all in Tanzania HIV infections are mostly transmitted through hetero sex. The challenge ahead therefore, is how to have everyone who is sexually active participate effectively in sexual behavior change practice safer sex. In Tanzanian communities there are indeed many varied social economic problems, including poverty HIV/AIDS/STIs. Many of these problems affect individuals families most can thus be best addressed at those levels. It is with this understing that the community development policy recognizes the family as the basic unit for development interventions including poverty reduction, protection against HIV infections overcoming the impacts of AIDS. Families have the basic resources the ability to identify their own development problems make decisions. In addition family is the basic institution at which the impact of repugnant cultural values, behavior norms are most felt practiced. Hence, the specific areas that the strategic framework will address include change of cultural norms, values, beliefs practices that subordinate women children especially as they relate to violence against women children including forced marriages, tattoos, wife or partner battering, wife inheritance, polygamy Female Genital Mutilation, which are not uncommon in some Tanzanian communities.

3 No.1 No. One August August Page 3 Contd../ /.. Contd ISSUES ISSUES The Ministry of Community Development, Gender Children trains community development officers workers, who are subsequently employed posted by local government authorities up to the ward sometimes village level, where they are charged with the responsibility of working with the people facilitating community family participation in solving their problems which include those related to HIV/AIDS/STIs. The Ministry also has the role of spearheading enhanced people s participation gender mainstreaming activities through the empowerment of communities in general of women in particular. Through community development the Ministry hopes that people will take measures to combat HIV/AIDS. Community development refers to measures which enable people, both men women, recognize their own ability to identify their problems to use the available resources to earn increase their incomes build a better life for themselves. In pursuit of this strategy, the Ministry intends to reach men women as individuals in groups, through its network of 58 folk development colleges (FDCs) which are spread throughout the country. The Ministry will also make use of community development staff who work closely with communities. The Ministry has also the role of spearheading enhanced people s participation gender mainstreaming activities through the empowerment of communities in general of women in particular

4 No.1 August 2003 Page 4 INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN THE MINISTRY IN ACTION President Benjamin Mkapa recently appointed Mrs. Alice Rugumyamheto Director of the newly established Department of Children in the Ministry of Community Development, Gender Children. Mrs. Rugumyamheto, in an exclusive interview with WIC news writer, described the roles responsibilities of the new Children Development Department. Question: Why was the Children Department Created? It was later on realized that in order to address children development issues properly there was a need to have a department of its own Answer: In the past, children affairs were incorporated in the Gender Children Department, that was headed by Mrs. Edine Mangesho. It was later on realized that in order to address children development issues properly, there was a need to have a department of its own. The other reason is that with time the Department of Gender Children had Mrs Alice Rugumyamheto exped so much that for efficiency it became necessary to split it into two departments: gender women development children development. The newly established Department has two sections: Family section Child section, headed by Assistant Directors. The main responsibilities of the Children Development Department are as follows: 1.To prepare indicators enlist customs traditions which inhibit growth development of the child advocate for policies laws to eradicate them. 2.To monitor evaluate problems related to children in need of special protection. 3.To monitor evaluate children adolescents concerns on HIV/AIDS. 4.To initiate, develop, monitor evaluate programmes which implement the family development policy. 5.To prepare disseminate guidelines on how to implement the family development policy. 6.To follow up prepare reports on the implementation of the family development policy. 7.To monitor coordinate issues related to the elimination of harmful traditional practices, e.g Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). 8. To coordinate, monitor evaluate activities of the population Family Life Education Programme (POFLEP). 9.To plan, prepare strategies, coordinate monitor implementation reports on the convention of the rights of child (CRC) the African charter on the rights welfare of the child. 10.To coordinate, follow up/monitor prepare implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) the African charter on the rights welfare of the child. 11.To coordinate the implementation of the activities for the Day of the African Child. 12. To monitor evaluate the implementation of all resolutions agreements on the child.

5 N. 1 August 2003 Page 5 Contd../ IN ACTION THE MINISTRY The newly created department has a long list of activities which need to be implemented, however priorities are as follows: IN ACTION 1. To finalize disseminate the Family Development Policy. 2. To prepare guidelines for the implementation of the Family Development Policy. 3. To review the Child Development Policy, translate it into English disseminate it to all stakeholders. 4. To prepare a National Plan of Action (NPA) for the implementation of the United Nations resolutions on Child Development. 5. To prepare the country report on the implementation of the (CRC). 6. To incorporate children issues in the Public Expenditure Review. 7. To prepare a programme for (POFLEP) in order to address, among other things, harmful traditional practices. 8. To prepare organize the commemoration of the Day of the African Child. 9. To establish a national committee for children affairs. Question: How do you feel in holding this new position? THE MINISTRY Answer: I feel delighted to have been appointed as head of this department, however I realize that it is a very challenging position that requires commitment, cooperation inputs in terms of time but I am ready happy to take up the challenge. The most interesting part of the job is the fact that I will be contributing towards the development of the Tanzanian children. I love children so I am happy to get an opportunity which will enable me to devote my time energy for them. I think the work in this department will be interesting because in this position I will need to liaise coordinate with various stakeholders such as NGOs other Ministries, for instance the Ministry of Labour Youth Sports, the Ministry of Education Culture, the Ministry of Health International Organisations like UNICEF UNFPA, to mention a few. I like networking liaising with other departments, institutions NGOs for I used to do so when working with the Ministry of Education Culture. I believe this will make my work not only interesting but also rewarding. Mrs Rugumyamheto holds a Masters Degree in Education is a teacher by profession. She is married with three children, boys girls. I realize that it is a very challenging position that requires commitment, cooperation input in in terms of time but I am ready happy to take up the challenge The new Department of Children at the Ministry of Comunity Development Gender Children

6 No.1 August 2003 Page 6 WOMEN S BANK WORKSHOP THE MINISTRY IN ACTION The participants to a two day dissemination workshop held at Kibaha on facilitating the establishment of a women s bank recommended the provision of training on Savings Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOS) to leaders, women, community development officers, cooperative officers so that the proposed move to establish Women s SACCOS becomes business oriented. There is need to provide working tools especially transport to community development officers who work in the wards villages to reach many targeted groups at a short time They said that there is a need to provide working tools, especially transport (bicycles, motorcycles), to community development officers who work in the wards villages, to enable them to reach many target groups in a short time. They urged the Ministry of Community Development, Gender Children (MCDGC) to carry out a feasibility study to assess whether the Women Development Fund (WDF) could be used to build capacity of established women s SACCOS, develop sensitization programmes empower business oriented SACCOS. The participants added that, in preparation of the women s bank as business oriented SACCOS, the Ministry, in collaboration with Savings Credit Cooperative Union League of Tanzania (SCCULT), should prepare guidelines to enable preparations implementation of the women s bank. They said these guidelines should be included in by laws, savings loan policy, financial regulations business plans. Presenting her paper on the aim the objectives of the workshop, the Assistant Director of Women in the MCDGC, Dr T. Kassimoto, said the idea of establishing the women s bank originated from women who participated in the International trade fair in She said the Equal Opportunity for All Trust Fund (EOTF) the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania (FAWETA) had organized a procession of business women in their speech to the President, His Excellence Benjamin William Mkapa, they requested the government to establish a women s bank. Dr. Kassimoto added that since then, the government has taken various steps in facilitating the establishment of women s bank, including consultations with stakeholders conduction of an analytical study. Dr Kasimoto said the women s bank would be a bank established by women themselves as SACCOS. This situation calles for sensitizing women to join SACCOS in the long run these SACCOS to turn into women s banks at district level. She added that women SACCOS would enable women to put their money in a safe place, with interest ultimately to easily secure loans whenever they needed. Another paper, on Micro Finance Policy, was presented by Mr Peter Mashingia, a consultant. He pointed out that in 1991 the government initiated financial sector reforms, including liberalization of interest rates, elimination of administrative credit allocation strengthening of the bank of Tanzania s role allowed the entry of private banks. He said that the Micro new Finance Policy is important because the majority of Tanzanians have low income. The access to financial resources exercises offers the possibility of managing scarce household resources more efficiently, protection against risks, provision for the future the possibility of taking advantage of investment opportunities in economic terms.

7 N. 1 August 2003 /.. Contd Page 7 THE MINISTRY IN ACTION The Executive Secretary of SCCULT, Mr Abdul Mshaweji, presented a paper on New Model SACCOS where he stated that traditional SACCOS were social oriented while the new model was business oriented making use of information, communication technology. He added that with the new products, services outreach programmes, SACCOS would help to narrow the gap between the Have More the Have Less, reduce poverty, hence the concept of business oriented SACCOS. Business oriented SACCOS are member-responsive, financially sound growing enterprises which are adopting business principles while maintaining their cooperative identity spirit. Another paper was presented by Mr Stephen Rusibamayila of the Univesity College of Ls Architectural Studies (UCLAS), team leader of the research on the modalities for the establishment of a women s bank. He presented the whole process of the study including the methodology used, ownership, management clientele of a women s bank. He said the findings revealed that women s bank should be owned by women themselves managed by experienced professionals in banking the clientele will be women but a small window should be open to men. They recommended that the women s bank should be in the form of SACCOS the Women Development Fund should act as a guarantee fund for women to access credit in order to start women s bank. The participants of the two day workshop were from Mtwara, Mbeya,Mwanza,Dar-es-salaam, Tabora, Shinyanga, Kilimanjaro, Ruvuma, Kigoma, Arusha, Singida, Dodoma, Tanga regions, included women groups individual business women. The representative from Rukwa region did not attend due to communication problems. The workshop was funded by the Italian government through the Italian Association for Women in Development (AIDOS). Women s bank should be owned by women themselves managed by experienced professionals in banking the clientele will be women but a small window should be open to men Participants to the Women s Bank Workshop

8 N. 1 N. zero August 2003 July 2003 Page 8 8 WIC DOCUMENTATION CENTRE WIC DOCUMENTATION CENTRE The WIC documentation/library is pleased to inform its esteemed users the general public, The WIC that documentation/information the moment plans are underway centre is in pleased a bid to enrich inform its its collection readership by about ordering the various newly released new materials, document improve by the the Ministry services of Community thereafter Development, launching of Gender the its linked Children, entitled for easy Monitoring access to the Indicators collection, for the even Convention at a distance on by the using Elimination modern of ICT. all forms of WOMEN S website, INFORMATION Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This is the ministry s document highlighting the CENTRE LIST essential OF KEY parameters DOCUMENTS to be RELATED used in measuring TO THIS ISSUE the progress made in various sectors in the country 1. The in strategic the implementation framework of for the community-base International Convention. protection of women children against HIV/AIDS/STIs ( ) MCDGC, Kivukoni Front This is an analytical work that addresses the fight against HIV/AIDS pemic. It s main concern LIST OF is KEY the DOCUMENTS role by which MCDGC RELATED plays TO in ISSUE promoting No.1 P.O Box 3448 enhancing community capacity 1. in The making strategic informed framework reproductive for community-based health decisions against protection HIV infection of women mitigate chil- Dar es Salaam Tanzania the dren AIDS against impact HIV/AIDS/STIs on children ( ) women. The document s MCDWAC, focus is on the ministry s approach This is an analytical strategies work to that protect addresses women the Ministry s children approach against HIV/AIDS/STI strategies infections to protect from women the grassroots children to against the national HIV/AIDS/STIs scale, highlighting from the grassroots the would be to the community national participation strategies as a tool for HIV/AIDS/STIs intervention; monitoring evaluation. level. The Phone document highlights community participation strategies as tools for combating 2. National report on follow-up to the World Summit for Children, -MCDGC, Fax: HIV/AIDS/STIs. a monitoring evaluation toolkit in the campaign against HIV infection info_wic@uccmail.co.tz This mitigating report provides the AIDS an impact account on of children progress made women. in the implementation of the world declaration for programme of action by Tanzania for achieving goals set at the World Ministry Summit 2. National For of Community Children report on in follow-up New Development, York in to 1990, the Gender World in which Summit Tanzania Children for Children, government Main Policies MCDWAC, was represented. This report Child Development The provides document an Policy account highlights - Dar of es progress various Salaam government made (Tanzania): by Tanzania measures, MCDWAC, in the including implementation policies of the This strategies World policy Declaration aiming examines at addressing the Programme basic rights the of prevailing of Action the child in problems achieving the affecting goals factors set affecting children at the World the in the provision Summit country. of for children s It is also a rights useful in statistical Tanzania. Responsibilities facts resource of publication children, on parents, various ministries parameters concerning institutions Children the for well in New child s being York rights of are the in analyzed children The document their explained. mothers, highlights Laws as various which well as government have their effects access measures, on to children the basic including amenities. policies strategies aiming at addressing the prevailing problems affecting chil- are listed. social dren 3. Study in the on country. facilitating It is also the a useful establishment statistical of facts women s resource banks: publication final report on various info_wic@uccmail.co.tz Community parameters Development Policy - Dar es Salaam (Tanzania): MCDWAC, 1996 ESRF/MCDGC, concerning the 2002 well being of children. This policy is intended to help people bringing about their own development. It provides This is a final study report done by the Economic Social Research Foundation for the MCDGC, 3. meaning Study aimed on facilitating at the indicators the of establishment Community Development. of of women s The bank policy banks: with explains the final objective who report are of responsible providing ESRF/MCDWAC, micro for bringing financial 2002 about services community to women development to be economically (Community more Development productive, increase Actors) their their incomes responsibilities hence i.e. overcome the family/household, poverty. It s analytical local Government, study detailing the various central modules Government, available This is politicians the for final establishing report Donor of women s a study Agencies. carried banks It further out that by the explains the MCDGC Economic the could basic utilize principles Social to Research achieve of Community sustainabilitytion (ESRF) ownership, for Work the empowerment MCDGC. how to The strength study of women, looked the Community outreach at various Development. modules good governance. of establishing women s Founda- Development Women bank in Tanzania. Gender It recommended Advancement that Policy the SACCOS - Dar module es Salaam be employed, (Tanzania): as MCDWAC, this would USEFUL LINKS lead to ensuring ownership, empowerment of women, outreach good governance, This hence policy sustainability. replaced the 1992 women in Development Policy to ensure mainstreaming of This is the link to Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) website, Through this link, gender issues into development process. It will guide society towards gender equality. A one USEFUL can LINKS view various issues pertaining to the commission s vision, mission, goal objectives. It also has a link the key resource documents on the strategies to combat he short user-friendly version of this policy is being prepared. AIDS This is pemic, the link to vis. Tanzania National Commission AIDS Policy for AIDS National (TACAIDS) Multi-Sectoral website, Strategic providing Framework the commission s HIV/AIDS vision, 2003 mission, goal objectives, strategies activities geared towards combating the AIDS pemic. This site includes links to key resources such as the National Desk editor: Emmy INTERESTING LINKS Marealle Desk editor: Emmy Marealle AIDS Policy the National Multi-Sectoral Strategic Framework on HIV/AIDS This site is the government official website. Graphics: Sophia M.Cho This website contains information about what UNICEF does how it has strategize to M.Cho It contains information about the main factors leading to gender imbalances continue functioning as its priorities in Tanzania, its plan of action, so as to improve the inequalities in Tanzanian society. It explains how these inequalities prevent our society from realizing its full potential in all the activities of development, at the eco- situation This website of the contains children information the country, about as what the UNICEF body does created in Tanzania to work with with regard others to to its Pictures: overcome mission of the fostering obstacles Child that Survival poverty, Protection violence, disease Development discrimination as well as in place the current in a Pictures: Page 1-5: MCDGC MCDGC WIC nomic, social political level. WIC child s efforts path. to mitigate In the the site impact further, of you HIV/AIDS will also on find children. material The for site users highlights with specific the fund s interests, strategies as the priorities press in a broadcasters, bid to avert the educators, obstacles development that poverty, professionals violence, disease children dis- This site is a rich multi-lingual resource with information on international campaign to eradicate female genital muti- such themselves. crimination place It gives in a a child s brief profile path. The of the site country also gives situation, a brief profile a quick of the countries country as facts well lation in countries in Africa. The site offers ample information on case studies, researches, activists movements, news, campaigns events addressing the FGM sheet, as links apart to other from UN several bodies other that links work that closely one with can UNICEF. explore. problem. The site has been realized within the context of the Stop FGM project, The views expressed in this The bulletin views do expressed not necessarily in co-financed by the EC implemented by AIDOS in collaboration with the This is a UNICEF linked site the 1990 World Summit for Children (WSC), an official resource site to the information about the convention, largest gathering of world leaders in this represent bulletin the do views not Improving Women's Access to Credit in Community Development Programmes is the title of the association No Peace without Justice. The Tanzanian component is implemented by necessarily Minsitry of represent of this linked site within the website for The Global Development Research Center (GDRC), Community TAMWA. the history assembled at the United Nations to discuss about the fate of the world s children. Development views of the Gender a virtual organization that carries out initiatives in education, research practice, in the This site provides information on the Ministry Children. of Community The spheres site of links environment, to the key resources urban, community, documents, economy The WSC Declaration information. on The the site Survival, is in Protection documents Development related to micro of Children financing as A well Plan as of several Action for links implementing to resources the that Declara- address various Development,Gender convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, adopted Children by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979.Consisting of a preamble 30 gender tion in the 1990s. development. It also has a link to the Goals for Children Development in articles, This convention defines what constitutes discrimination against women the 1990s apart from other useful UNICEF links. sets up an agenda for actions to be taken at country level to end such discrimina-