Unpaid care work—such as cooking, cleaning, child-rearing, and caring for the sick—is essential to every household and society. Yet, across Tanzania, this burden disproportionately falls on women and girls, limiting their time, economic participation, and well-being.
To address this imbalance, Women and Social Protection (WSP) is proud to be part of a transformative initiative: “Scaling up Innovations for Reducing and Redistributing Women and Girls’ Unpaid Care Work in Rural Tanzania”, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) – Canada.
From Research to Action: Groundwork in Kishapu District
WSP participated in a comprehensive baseline study in Kishapu District, Shinyanga Region, to understand the nature, extent, and impact of unpaid care work in rural settings. The findings of the study played a vital role in shaping two complementary approaches to the upcoming intervention phase:
- Entrepreneurship Support – Enhancing women’s income-generating potential while reducing time poverty.
- Norm Change Strategies – Addressing deep-rooted cultural expectations and redistributing care responsibilities, especially between men and women.
Learning from Rwanda: A Regional Exchange of Ideas
In preparation for rolling out the intervention, a delegation of five WSP staff members, joined by representatives from Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) and Relief to Development Society (REDESO), embarked on a five-day learning exchange visit to Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC).
The goal of the visit? To gain insights from RWAMREC’s “Bandebereho Male Engagement Program”—a successful initiative promoting:
- Men’s involvement in caregiving and domestic roles
- The dismantling of harmful gender norms
- Prevention of gender-based violence
The program’s documented impact in Rwanda inspired the Tanzanian delegation to adapt and implement similar gender-transformative interventions in Kishapu—tailored to the local context and community needs.
“Bandebereho taught us that gender equality begins at home. Changing mindsets is key to changing systems,” one delegate noted after the visit.
A Gender Transformative Vision for Tanzania
This IDRC-funded initiative aims not just to reduce the burden of unpaid care on women and girls, but to redistribute it fairly across genders. The project’s long-term goal is to scale these strategies beyond Kishapu, building momentum for national recognition of unpaid care as both a gender equality and development issue.
Through partnerships, community-driven solutions, and strategic learning exchanges, WSP and its collaborators are helping pave the way for a future where women and girls can thrive—both at home and beyond.