Groundbreaking 'Stawisha Maisha' Programme to combat child malnutrition launched

MKURANGA, 29 October 2024 – Today, the Government of Tanzania launched the Stawisha Maisha programme, a key initiative designed to tackle child malnutrition and stunting in the country. This innovative programme, developed by the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) with technical support from UNICEF and supported by the World Bank, aims to improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition among Tanzania's most vulnerable populations.

With nearly one in three children under the age of five suffering from stunting, with the greatest burden felt by those children from the lowest wealth quartile (39 per cent). the Stawisha Maisha programme represents a critical step forward in addressing the dual challenges of poverty and undernutrition in Tanzania. The programme integrates financial support through the Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN) with education on healthy nutrition practices, offering a comprehensive approach contributing to breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty and malnutrition.

“The partnership between the Government of Tanzania, TASAF, the World Bank and UNICEF is a testament to the power of collaboration in driving sustainable change,” said Lawrence Oundo, UNICEF Representative a.i. speaking at the launch. "Through innovative solutions like Stawisha Maisha, we can break the cycle of malnutrition and poverty, ensuring a brighter future for Tanzania's children."

Since 2010, Tanzania has made significant progress in reducing stunting rates, which have fallen from 42 per cent to 30 per cent. However, much work remains to be done, as stunting continues to disproportionately affect children in the poorest households. Stawisha Maisha aims to address these inequities by complementing TASAF’s cash transfer to vulnerable households with an educational programme to foster long-term behaviour change in nutrition and child care practices.

During the launch, which was officiated by the Coast Regional Commissioner, Honourable Aboubakar Kunenge, the TASAF Executive Director, Mr Shedrack Mziray, celebrated the programme's impact on Tanzania's national social protection agenda, emphasizing that the Stawisha Maisha programme is a prime example of how social protection and health initiatives can work together to improve the lives of most vulnerable people. “I am honoured to stand before you today as we officially launch the Stawisha Maisha programme - an initiative that symbolizes our unwavering commitment to combat one of the most pressing challenges facing our nation: malnutrition and stunting among our children,” he said.

The Stawisha Maisha programme is currently being rolled out in six regions across Tanzania, with plans for national scale-up in the coming years. UNICEF and TASAF are working closely with local communities to implement the programme through peer-led discussions and innovative tools such as solar-powered radios to disseminate nutrition education. As part of the partnership, UNICEF will continue supporting TASAF in monitoring and evaluating the programme's impact, ensuring that it delivers meaningful results for children nationwide.