TANZANIA GENDER AND NEWS SUMMIT 2018 Print Media (Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, 23/08/2018, Lydia Shekighenda) Topic: Provision of vital services panacea to challenges facing women Acceleration of Gender-responsive Sustainable Development Goals localisation

SYNOPSIS The article focuses on how the provision of vital services such as water and health is important to humanity and when these services are moved closer to the society the life would be made easier especially to the women who do most of the household tasks. Majority of women in the country are still spending more time on domestic work with limited access to social amenities, However, the situation is different to the women in Kazimzumbwi Village in Kisarawe District, Coast Region, where access to these services has helped them to spare time and engage on other small scales businesses including vegetable farming thus boost their family incomes. Before these services were available in their locality, villagers had to walk between four and six kilometers to collect water and ten kilometers to access health services. This article is an example of gender awareness and sensitivity to advance gender equality Post- 2015, because it portrays positive image of women that they are capable of contributing in raising their families incomes, apart from being seen as mere nurtures in homes. It gives data and background information with a clear picture where the challenge may be in the country, and what ought to be done. Story link: http://www.dailynews.co.tz/news/2018-08-055b66d449a827e.aspx   Acceleration of Gender-responsive Sustainable Development Goals localisation

Habiba Rashid, attends a customer at her stall in Kazimzumbwi Village of Kisarawe District.

Habiba arranges her wares

GENDER AWARENESS RATING   SCORE (1-10) The subject is either specifically about gender or one in which gender is mainstreamed.  9 Women and men (boys and girls) views are consulted equally and given equal weight.  10 The article/programme consults the views of those who make decisions as well as those affected. Male and female sources are treated with dignity and respect. 10  The article/programme challenges gender stereotypes and embraces diversity. The article/programme prompts gender awareness through informed public debate. Relevant statistics are disaggregated by gender. The article/programme takes a rights based approach. The article/programme provides fresh views on every day news. The article/programme is bold and courageous. TOTAL  99

Sustainable Development Goals This article covers SDG 5 target which requires countries to recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.   It has integrated some of the SDGs such as number one which is about poverty eradication, 6 provision of clean water and sanitation, 10 reduction of inequalities within and among countries. The provision of vital services has helped women to spare time and engage in some income generating activities, which in turn has helped to boost their livelihoods thus support the implementation of SDG number three which ensures healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Acceleration of Gender-responsive Sustainable Development Goals localisation

Zena Khalfan draws water from one of the ponds in her village ready to water her vegetable garden

BACKGROUND After undergoing a three day training on gender awareness and responsive reporting organised by UN women and Gender Links, I was further enlightened on ways to provide social services in communities which have been affecting women in development.   I produced this article to push for allocation of sufficient budget to provide the amenities/vital services such as water and health services in order to reduce the burden of the womenfolk tasked in households to look for them and instead also be onboard to contribute in other development sectors. The societies expect the women to spend time fetching water, taking care of children including in perhaps distant clinics, washing clothes and utensils, just to mention a few. But with the availability of these services, they will spare time to also engage in other economic activities and in a way break the vicious cycles of poverty in their midst. Acceleration of Gender-responsive Sustainable Development Goals localisation

Kazimzumbwi Dispensary

TARGET AUDIENCE   I expected this article to reach the general public and change mindset for equal share of responsibilities in the routine household tasks, polices, and for decision makers, law makers and the government to consider increasing the budget to make them become easily available so that all people can equally have enough time to engage in economic activities . Since the article has just coming out I believe, the targeted audience must have had a glance at it, and would see the real predicament on the ground, and address them, though change is gradual and can not just come overnight without also consulting various stakeholders on the way forward. I received phone calls from right activists and various readers commending me for the good article which would push for women empowerment in a way in the society. 

PROCESS/METHODOLOGY After coming up with the idea, I identified the area where I could do my story as Kisarawe District in Coast Region. Here, I went through various publications before I visited the area.   I visited Kazimzumbwi Village and met its local leaders and villagers who had a lot to say about the services and thereafter, talked to the Kisarawe District Water Engineer, District Executive Director, Minister for Water and Irrigation, District Medical Officer, Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly as well as Children and also made reference to the national policies on Water and health services. All these voices are important as stakeholders in bringing to light the actual situation on the ground and measures ought to be undertaken to guaranteed the provision of the services. Acceleration of Gender-responsive Sustainable Development Goals localisation

IMPACT Since the provision of these services is a policy issue and the article has come out recently , I believe, the targeted audience have had a glance at it and they just cannot come back overnight with changes without them also consulting their stakeholders for pending decisions.   I expect it will change the society’s perception towards women (in the patrilineal marriages) where they are married and seen as children nurtures, but instead bring them fully in the national development arenas. It will also push for allocation of more budgets to provide many of the of social services. With policy changes taking time, the story has deposited some seeds that will in the near future see the leaders acting upon the problems facing women, not only in Kisarawe but the whole country. Acceleration of Gender-responsive Sustainable Development Goals localisation

FEEDBACK The story has received a widespread readership after it was posted online and with its link put on various social network platforms run by the newspaper such as twitter and instagram. I have also received calls from people in Kisarawe and women's rights groups congratulating me for a good story , they said will go a long way in influencing leaders to have a rethink on women's position and challenges in the country. Acceleration of Gender-responsive Sustainable Development Goals localisation

FOLLOW UP After reporting the story, I am planning to make a follow up with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation as well as the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elders and Children to know if there are plans to allocate more funds in the national budget for the sectors countrywide.   Equally, I will also visit Kisarawe District Authorities to get information about the ongoing projects and later go back to villagers to establish whether there are any improvements. Thank You Acceleration of Gender-responsive Sustainable Development Goals localisation