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 Feb 2026
TANZANIA: Over 130,000 children risk losing essential services as refugee camp closures approach
More than 130,000 refugees and asylum-seeking children living near Tanzania’s border with Burundi could lose access to education and all essential services in coming weeks due to an accelerated repatriation programme.
18 Feb 2026
Break the Silence: Strengthening child protection systems to end violence against children in Tanzania
What happens when violence becomes normal, hidden behind culture, fear, and silence? Across Tanzania, too many children grow up carrying pain no one sees and stories no one hears. It’s time to confront what’s happening behind closed doors and spark a conversation that refuses to stay silent.
5 Feb 2026
Strengthening Household Resilience Through Dairy Goat Interventions
For years, Ndikiray struggled to provide enough nutritious food for her two young sons, relying on basic meals that left them vulnerable to malnutrition. Everything began to change when she joined Save the Children’s Lishe Yangu, Maisha Yangu project and received training and a dairy goat. What followed was more than improved nutrition it was new income, growing confidence, and a future she can finally plan for.