Save the Children in Tanzania
Save the Children (SC) is a global leader in development and humanitarian programming worldwide, working as the preeminent voice for children with governments, civil society and private sector partners for over a century.
Save the Children has been working in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania to advance the rights of children since 1986. The first programme was opened in Zanzibar focusing on maternal, newborn, child health. Currently, we are implementing programs in 15 regions of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. Save the Children Tanzania operates in both development and humanitarian contexts, with presence in Nyarugusu and Nduta refugee camps in Kigoma region.
Save the Children supports children in health and nutrition, child protection, education, child poverty and child rights governance programming. We use a system strengthening approach, partnering with the Government of Tanzania, civil society organisations, private sector, academia/ research institutions and international organisations.
OUR VISION: a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.
OUR MISSION: is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.
Save the Children is focusing on inspiring three specific breakthroughs for children by 2030:
Survive: No child dies from preventable causes before their fifth birthday.
Learn: All children learn from a quality basic education.
Be protected: Violence against children is no longer tolerated.
Currently, the Tanzania country office delivers its programs under five main strategic goals;
Goal 1: Ensure equitable health services, foster healthy & resilient communities, and support government systems for lasting health outcomes.
Goal 2: Access to safe and inclusive quality education for all boys and girls.
Goal 3: All children are protected from abuse, exploitation, violence, and digital harm, with strong mechanisms to remedy violence against them.
Goal 4: Child sensitive social protection and resilience building of communities to improve wellbeing of children and youth.
Goal 5: Government and LNAs capacity are strengthened to deliver on children and youth’s rights and ensure their participation in public decision making.
The situation for children in Tanzania
Tanzania’s population is 61.8 million, with 44.8% being children under 15. Poverty affects 27% of the population, with 8% living in extreme poverty. Agriculture, involving 65.6% of the population, remains the main economic sector.
Violence against children (VAC) is a significant issue: 28% of girls and 13% of boys face sexual violence, often at home, while 73% of girls and 72% of boys suffer physical abuse, mostly by relatives. Psychological abuse affects about 60% of children. Corporal punishment is widely used in homes and schools due to limited awareness of alternative discipline methods.
Children face online risks, including sexual abuse and exploitation. The Disrupting Harm report (2022) estimated 200,000 children were subjected to online sexual abuse in 2021. Victims are often unaware of the abuse.
Social norms perpetuate violence, with many accepting domestic violence and child marriage, particularly in rural areas. While the prevalence of FGM dropped to 8% in 2022, it remains common in some regions.
In refugee settings, limited livelihood opportunities push children into child labor and trafficking.
Child participation structures are limited and underfunded, with many children unaware of their rights or how to engage in governance.
Tanzania is part of several international and national initiatives to end VAC. Laws like the Law of the Child Act and action plans addressing child labor and trafficking have been developed. Interventions include improving coordination between agencies, training frontline workers, setting up child protection systems, and creating One Stop Centers for survivors of violence.
Despite progress, cultural attitudes and gender inequality remain significant challenges, requiring continued efforts to transform social norms and empower women and girls.
AREAS OF OPERATIONS
Mariam is one of the children who benefited from the USAID Lishe Endelevu (Sustainable Nutrition) project aimed at improving maternal and child health. Moshi J.Lukindo
GET IN TOUCH
SAVE THE CHILDREN TANZANIA
P. O. Box 10414, Plot 257, Kiko Avenue,
Mikocheni A, Mwai Kibaki Road,
Dar Es Salaam;
EMAIL info@savethechildren.or.tz
PHONE +255 22 27 01 725
News & Stories
18 Jun 2026
Consultancy Opportunity: Impact Assessment for ProFuturo Digital Education Project (Kigoma, Tanzania)
Save the Children Tanzania is inviting qualified consultants or consulting firms to submit proposals to conduct an impact assessment of the ProFuturo Digital Education Project implemented in refugee camps in Kigoma Region.
17 Jun 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PROTECTION SYSTEMS MUST BE STRENGTHENED TO SAVE CHILDREN’S LIVES IN TANZANIA – SAVE THE CHILDREN
Save the Children is calling for urgent action to strengthen child protection systems in Tanzania following a series of recent cases of violence, abuse, and exploitation against children reported across the country. The organisation warns that these incidents are not isolated tragedies but indicators of broader systemic gaps that continue to put children at risk. Save the Children urges government institutions, law enforcement agencies, community leaders, parents, teachers, and the public to work together to prevent violence, ensure justice for affected children, and create safe environments where every child can grow up free from fear, abuse, and harm.
10 Jun 2026
ZANZIBAR GIRLS RECLAIM SCHOOL DAYS THROUGH IMPROVED WASH
For years, Aisha*, a 14-year-old girl in Zanzibar, missed several days of school every month due to challenges managing her menstrual health. Through the SWASH project, funded by The Big Heart Foundation, she received menstrual hygiene education, reusable sanitary pads, and access to improved gender-sensitive school facilities. Today, Aisha* attends school with confidence, no longer missing lessons, while thousands of other children across Zanzibar are also benefiting from a safer and more supportive learning environment.
