MenEngage Africa Resources

Tanzania is a country in East Africa with a coastline on the Indian Ocean. It is bordered by Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. Its name derives from the name of the two states: Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which united in 1964 to form one country. The major economic, political and commercial city of Tanzania is the coastal city of Dar es Salaam, although the official capital is Dodoma. Tanzania has an estimated population of 45 million.

MenEngage Tanzania

In Tanzania, there is increasing recognition of the potential role that men play as supporters and partners in women’s health-seeking, such as the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), home-based care (HBC), antenatal care (ANC) visits and family planning (FP). Experiences in the community and with health workers have found that health providers are not equipped with the skills to counsel both men and women together in the context of HIV counseling and testing. Although policies and guidelines now exist that encourage couple counseling, capacity of providers and the quality of the services in this respect is still low. Standard operating procedures, job aids and training materials are a few resources that would better operationalize the inclusion of men in health services.

Given the opportunities that exist, MenEngage Tanzania aims to strengthen the accessibility of health services to promote men as partners in gender equity, HIV prevention and improved reproductive health outcomes, through the promotion of policies and actions that engage men. Formed in 2008, the network was later re-launched in 2011 by the Secretariat (CHAMPION  Project – EngenderHealth) to create a network built around common advocacy priorities with a clear agenda, purpose and identity. 

Purpose of the activities at country level

• To engage in national-level awareness-raising activities that highlights the importance of male involvement in HIV and AIDS and sexual and reproductive health (SRH).
• To promote national policies and strategies that support men’s roles as facilitators of family health (i.e. men, women and children).
• To promote organizational (e.g. health facilities and workplaces) policies that support men’s roles as facilitators of family health.

Network members

MenEngage Tanzania has a dedicated team of 22 member organizations, representing Government of Tanzania departments and local and international organizations. As Secretariat, CHAMPION successfully coordinates quarterly general meetings, monthly steering committee meetings and all other network activities within Tanzania. A formal terms of reference outlines the roles and responsibilities of network members, with an annually rotating steering committee. 

MenEngage Tanzania Members

Government Agencies

• TACAIDS (Tanzania Commission for AIDS) *
• NACP (National AIDS Control Program) *
• RCHS (Reproductive and Child Health Services) *

Local Organizations

• HDT (Human Development Trust) *
• MEWATA (Medical Women’s Association of Tanzania) *
• Tanzania Interfaith Partnership *
• NACOPHA (National Council for People Living with HIV and AIDS)
• WISE (Women in Social Entrepreneurship)
• UMATI (Tanzania Family Planning Association)

International Organizations

• Jhpiego *
• UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) *
• RFSU (Swedish Organization for Sexual Enlightenment) *
• CARE International *
• Pathfinder International *
• Plan International
• EngenderHealth (CHAMPION and ATP Projects) *
• AMREF (African Medical and Research Foundation)
• The Balm in Gilead (Tanzania)
• Marie Stopes *
• IntraHealth International
• FHI (Family Health International)

* Steering Committee Members

Key Successes

MenEngage Tanzania is a strong, diverse network with shared goals and policy priorities, a facilitator of learning and skills-building for engaging men in health services and advocacy, and an active public advocate for engaging men in the health of Tanzanians.  

• MenEngage Tanzania is a strong, diverse network, successfully established thanks to CHAMPION’s extensive mapping and assessment of potential partners. Clear roles and responsibilities have been jointly defined for all members, as well as detailed annual action plans that guide the network’s activities.  The annually rotating steering committee provides each member organization with a sense of ownership and subsequently enhancing their skills and leadership in network coordination.  
• MenEngage Tanzania is a facilitator of learning, continuously developing a community of practice on engaging men in health care. This is achieved through the facilitation of a variety of learning sessions on working with men, analyzing policies and programs through a gendered lens, and implementing advocacy plans.  
• MenEngage is an active public advocate, recently establishing a subcommittee to work the media around male engagement in PMTCT as part of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s five year national plan. MenEngage Tanzania conducts interviews on television and radio, submits newspaper articles and letters to the editor for publication, and works with high profile figures to publically discuss engaging men in PMTCT.

Contact

For more information, please contact:

Myra Betron
EngenderHealth/CHAMPION
Plot 277 Chato Street
Post Office Box 105410
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: +255-22-277-4941
Fax: +255-22-277-5950
Mobile: +255 75 669 1069
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