Policy advocacy: the case of Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA)

Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) has been singled out in this case study because it has demonstrated an impressive capacity in policy advocacy in Tanzania. Its policy advocacy strategy focuses on women and children rights in social, economic, political and cultural aspects of Tanzania’s societal public. This study demonstrates the extent to which TAMWA has interacted with government to promote good governance. The main objective of the paper is to shed light on organizational capacity of Tanzania’s civil society organizations in general and women organizations in particular in promoting public awareness on critical societal issues and in advocating and lobbying for policy changes and thus contributing to good governance.

The author’s objective of analysing the organizational activities of TAMWA is to gain a clear perspective of its lobbying and advocating techniques and how it interacts with the government to effect policy changes. The paper examines the TAMWA /state relations in a wider social, economic, political and cultural context. It examines in detail the relations between TAMWA and the state, focussing attention on TAMWA’s campaign against sexual harassment of women and children. The case study specifically examines the impact of TAMWA’s organizational activities in terms of influencing policy changes and creating awareness of people’s human rights among the members of the public. It also examines changes that have occurred as a result of these activities and how these have had impact in a wider social, political, economic and legal environment.

The paper reflects that TAMWA has maintained a harmonious working relationship with the government and has therefore registered full support from the government and its organs. It concludes that TAMWA has been able to win the support of not only the public, by creating awareness among them on problems related to violence against women, but also of other stakeholders within civil society by building coalitions and networking in policy advocacy.

The main question in this analysis and interpretation should be; what has contributed to this pattern of behaviour on the part of the government? Theoretically, the answer to this question can be found in the nature of activities, the campaign and the strategies adopted by TAMWA. The campaign to safeguard the rights of women and children has been part of government policy and it has taken several steps towards that end. The only problem has been effecting implementation of its own commitment to safeguard the rights of women

Finally, the author concludes that for CSOs to be effective in influencing policy changes for good governance, they don’t necessarily have to confront the government. Indeed a well- calculated strategy of “partnership” with the government can yield good results.

Publisher: Civil Society and Governance Programme
Year of Publication: 2000