Collaborating with partners to scale parenting programs in Tanzania

In January 2024, the Tanzanian National Parenting Consortium convened in Arusha to launch Phase 2 of their project: ‘Building a National Parenting Support System to Prevent Violence Against Children in Tanzania’, funded by the Wellspring Philanthropic Fund. 

Comprised of esteemed organisations such as the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS), Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH), and Clowns Without Borders South Africa (CWBSA), the National Parenting Consortium has exemplified remarkable synergy in pursuit of our collective goal: to reduce violence against children through an integrative model of delivery, while laying the groundwork for the scale-up of evidence-based playful parenting support within existing delivery systems in Tanzania.

Phase 1 of the project, spanning from January to October 2023, focused on establishing the foundational elements necessary for scaling processes. This involved exploring the scale-up context and creating an enabling environment for the formation of a multi-sectoral National Parenting Group (MSPG) in Tanzania, co-chaired by the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups and the Parenting Consortium. Additionally, WHO & UNICEF Country offices have pledged their participation in the MSPG, showcasing the collective effort required to address complex challenges and improve outcomes for families.

The kick-off of Phase 2 at the beginning of this year aimed to strategise and plan forthcoming activities, reflecting on the successes and challenges of Phase 1 to ensure seamless planning and implementation of Phase 2 initiatives. Representatives from consortium institutions collaborated to develop a detailed implementation plan, outlining specific roles, responsibilities, and desired outputs for each partner organisation. This comprehensive roadmap emphasises alignment and clarity of purpose, crucial for the effective execution of upcoming endeavours, while highlighting our commitment to institutionalising sustainable practices for maximum impact.

Phase 2 is pivotal and will focus on supporting the Government of Tanzania and parenting stakeholders in developing a national evidence-based coordination framework, strengthening infrastructure and technical capacity for delivering evidence-based parenting interventions at scale, and co-developing a national scale-up strategy for evidence-based parenting interventions. Additionally, the consortium will engage in national and regional initiatives to share learnings and support parenting and the prevention of violence against children.

Looking ahead, the consortium eagerly anticipates the transformative impact of this project on child wellbeing, increased parenting support, and the overall reduction of violence against children at a national level. With meticulous attention to policy formulation, planning, budgeting, and implementation, we are poised to drive the scale-up of evidence-based parenting support in Tanzania, ensuring a safer future for all children.