Govt, UN Women team up to collect gender stats

Morogoro. The President's Office-Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) has teamed up with the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, and Children, the UN Women, and other stakeholders to develop a system for collecting gender-related statistics from the grassroots level.

This includes collecting extensive data on over 50 gender indicators at the leadership and economic levels within the country.

The Community Development Officer from the PO-RALG, Mr Linus Kahendaguza, made the statement during a three-day working session which commenced on Thursday, November 28, 2024, here.

The working session gathers officials from cross-sectoral ministries, including health, education, public service, PO-RALG, and communications.

He said the system would help provide accurate insights into gender-related incidents from the new specific system other than the current general system.

"The existence of by-laws against gender-based violence targeting women and children will help women overcome physical abuse, teenage pregnancy, and early marriages, which have hindered many girls from achieving their educational dreams," said Mr Kahendaguza.

The session organised by the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) also discussed gender-responsive budgeting.

He said the first focus area for loan disbursement would begin in all 184 local councils, targeting women and youth as the primary beneficiaries.

"The formulation of by-laws within local government authorities, villages, and councils in preventing violence against women and children is ongoing, and so far, 28 councils have already enacted by-laws to combat violence against women and children," he said.

TGNP analysis and research officer Neema Mwaisela, stated that following the recent government decision to resume the disbursement of 10 percent loans to women, the youth, and people with disabilities, stakeholders have recommended that the loan application process be structured in a user-friendly system that promotes equity and avoids bureaucracy.

Ms Mwaisela explained that the TGNP experience from the 10 percent loan procedure (4pc for women, 4pc for youth, and 2pc for people with disabilities) before the suspension shows that the process was marred with numerous confusion.

This was because, she said, applicants were required to prepare a project proposal, which became a barrier for rural residents as many of whom lacked sufficient understanding, leading to a large number of people missing out on the opportunity.

She advised that since the government has reinstated the loan disbursement, it is the right time to reassess the provision of services to ensure those systems are more community-friendly, and to tackle the challenges and bureaucracy facing citizens living in peripheral areas in accessing services.

"At the TGNP, we conduct budget analysis through each ministry to identify any gaps, and we have found that there is a huge gap in gender-related issues, which is a cross-cutting matter," said Ms Neema.

According to her, some of the challenges related to gender equality in government ministries include fewer females than males who have grabbed employment opportunities.