The Jijenge project, Tanzania
The Jigenge project is a joint initiative run by AMREF, the city council in Mwanza, Tanzania, local communities, and a network of other NGOs. We target women’s reproductive health in a holistic way, regarding it as part of a broader range of health care priorities. The project addresses domestic violence, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, prostitution, polygamy, and patriarchal inheritance practices.
Main objectives of the project
Jijenge aims to reduce poverty by promoting good quality, accessible reproductive health care for women, and strengthening government and community health care practices in the Lake Victoria area. The project promotes the need for qualified staff who provide gender-sensitive sexual and reproductive health services. Jijenge also funds and lobbies for networks at the community, district, and national levels to promote women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Key achievements
- Primary health care services in the eight districts of the lake zone have been improved by promoting qualified personnel who provide quality, gender-sensitive reproductive health services.
- The gender-sensitive, women-friendly approach to reproductive health has now been adopted by all seven districts in Mwanza region.
- Community members in the district, both men and women, have been trained in human and reproductive rights, gender, and reproductive health issues. They, in turn, train and mobilize fellow community members to understand the issues and change behavior.
- The project has helped to bring issues such as domestic violence, female genital mutilation, and patriarchal inheritance practices out into the open.
- The Jijenge project has brought together at least 20 organizations that now advocate for stronger policies to ensure that these issues are covered by district and national health plans, and that local authorities cannot ignore them in the future.
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