IN a bid to foster inclusivity and empowerment within urban communities, the Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI) brought together members and leaders of Tanzania Federation for the Urban Poor (TFUP) to equip them with essential skills and to address gender-related issues.
Speaking during the event in Dar es Salaam recently, CCI programme officer, Theresia Ntanga said the major objective is to ensure that urban poor communities develop a culture of helping each other as well as become champions of gender equality for sustainable development.
She said the initiative aimed to raise awareness about gender equality, challenge, and equip participants with the tools to address gender-related issues within their communities effectively.
“We work to ensure that we increase awareness and understanding of gender equality principles, challenging stereotypes, empowering community members to advocate for women's rights, promoting inclusivity in decision-making processes, and equipping participants with the necessary skills to address gender-based challenges,” she said.
She said the participants, most of whom come from poor communities and unplanned settlements, were also trained promoting women’s empowerment and integrating gender considerations into community development initiatives.
Ntanga said the gender training yielded significant positive outcomes, including heightened awareness and understanding of gender equality principles, shifts in attitudes towards gender-sensitive practices, enhanced capacity to identify and address gender-based challenges, strengthened networks among community groups, and increased advocacy for gender equality.
Husna Shechonge, TFUP coordinator said: “There is a need to continue to educate especially the lower communities on gender issues, in our communities that is where the biggest problems occur, young children and especially women must be given education on gender issues so that they can raise their voice about the violence that is taking place, this it will even help development from the family level and the nation as a whole.”
She underscored the need for continued efforts to promote inclusivity and empowerment within urban poor communities.
“By fostering awareness, challenging stereotypes, and empowering participants, the programme has laid the groundwork for more equitable and inclusive communities where every member can thrive,” she said.
Euster Kibona, an activist for gender issues said: “Gender equality is one of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and it aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, which is expected to end in 2030.”
She said to ensure the sustainability of these efforts, regular follow-up and monitoring are recommended to assess the long-term impact of the training.
“Integration of gender training into broader community development programmes, collaboration with stakeholders, continued investment in capacity-building initiatives, and promotion of gender-responsive approaches are essential for fostering lasting change and promoting equality within urban poor communities,” she said.