Ireland allocates Sh52 billion to fight gender violence, poverty
Ireland’s Minister for Diaspora and Overseas Development Mr Ciaran Cannon
What you need to know:
The money will be used to rollout a number of development and social activities as well as fight in gender violence
Mwanza. The Irish government has allocated Sh52 billion ($20 million), to implement various development and social activities including health sector improvement, nutrition, good governance, poverty reduction and fight against gender violence.
Ireland’s Minister for Diaspora and Overseas Development Mr Ciaran Cannon said the money has been injected through Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF), to implement the Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN), to enable poor households to increase incomes and opportunities while improving consumption.
The boost comes only days after Aga Khan Foundation Network pledges to up its development support to the country.
Speaking during his one day tour to Misungwi District on Monday October 16, Mr Cannon said Sh910 million will be given to Kivulini, a Mwanza based Non-Governmental organisation for the implementation of a gender-based violence campaign in ten wards in Misungwi district.
The campaign was previously implemented in only five of 27 wards of Misungwi district.
Kivulini Director Mr Yassin Ali said through public awareness campaign funded by the Irish government, his organization has succeeded to reduce gender violence in the area from 56 percent to 35 percent for the past one year.
Misungwi District Physician Dr Zablon Masatu told the visiting Minister that Misasi Health Center is among health sector beneficiaries from the health sector basket fund donated by development partners, Ireland included.
"During 2016/17 financing year, Misungwi District it received Sh797 million through health sector basket fund to improve infrastructure, service and access to medicine. We are expecting another Sh959 million this year, "said Dr Masatu
Tasaf's CEO Mr Ladislaus Mwamanga said over five million beneficiaries from 10 000 villages across the country have been reached.
Addressing a public rally at Amani grounds in Misungwi Township, after receiving implementation reports from both Tasaf and Kivulini, and hearing from the beneficiaries, the visiting Minister expressed his satisfactory, promising that the Irish government will continue supporting development programs in Tanzania.
"After hearing from themselves, I personally realized that the funds reaches the beneficiaries. We will continue to supporting Tanzania; especially in addressing child and pregnant women mortality, drugs shortages and gender violence," he promised
Ms Ngollo Dotto, a widow from Misungwi village and one of the beneficiaries said she managed to build a three roomed house and sustain her family of five children and two grandchildren using the money from Tasaf.
"I have saved at least Sh15, 000 I was paying as a monthly rent," said Dotto
Mwanza Regional Commissioner Mr John Mongela promised that the government would continue to monitoring the implementation of donor funded projects to ensure the funds reaches the beneficiaries.
