Africa’s Social Policy Trajectories Tanzania

Abstract

This report examined the culture of social policymaking in the history of Tanzania (Mainland) to establish how
policies have integrated gender-equitable and transformative elements. The report was developed as part of the
Gender Equitable and Transformative Social Policy Approaches in Africa (GETSPA) research project (2020-
2022). The study adopted the understanding that transformative social policy facilitates changes in social relations
by providing opportunities and mechanisms that transform discriminatory social norms and practices. Employing
a qualitative-historical approach, the study examined the evolution of social policy formulation in Tanzania
through five eras, namely the Late Colonial Era (1940s – late1950s); Early Post-Independence Era (Early 1960s –
1970s); Era of Crisis and Adjustment (1980s – Early 2000s); Beyond Adjustment (Late 2000s – 2018); and the Era
of COVID-19 (2019 – Present), identifying key milestones, major drivers influencing policy direction and their
implications to gender equality and overall social well-being. Sectors of focus were Education; Health; Work and
Employment; and Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH). The study has established that Tanzania has
experienced fundamental shifts in social policy formulation, reflecting the social, political and economic
transformations that the country has undergone. Prevailing political orientation in each era,changing local socioeconomic
realities, and global processes, such as the CEDAW, are other factors. Among its achievements were
mainstreaming gender equality in key legal and policy instruments and processes; gender-sensitive representation,
and an active civil society. However, some gender-based inequalities persist, such as violence against women and
gender-based violence (GBV), early pregnancy and abuse of minors. Political hesitation in changing certain
policies and limitations on agency to challenge discriminatory power relations are other factors. COVID-19 partly
slowed down economic growth and further exposed some gender-related inequalities. It is, thus, recommended
that more efforts should be put in empowering policymakers and communities alike to interrogate their
conceptualisation about gender equality so that they embrace mechanisms that permit its meaningful realisation.

Keywords: Social policy, gender equality, policy evolution, Tanzania, gender-transformative approaches