SUSTAIN Tanzania was founded in July 2021 and officially registered as an NGO in September 7, 2021. The idea to establish this organisation which originated from a shared interest between its founding members on helping the community, especially vulnerable women, youth, children and people with disabilities facing different social, economic and environmental challenges affecting their welfare as human beings. Secondary drive was to make use of our skills and knowledge to contribute to the efforts of the government and other non-government to empower the community to respond to the aforementioned challenges and safeguard the well-being of its people.

Due to social and cultural norms (e.g., female genital mutilation), illiteracy, and poverty, northern Tanzanian regions, such as Arusha, which is home to the majority of the Maasai people, have experienced violence and exploitation against women. SUSTAIN held an initial consultation with the Longido District’s Community Development Officer. It was discovered that elements of gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation are still present in the district, owing primarily to the aforementioned causes. This challenge draws SUSTAIN Tanzania’s attention to the need to assist and contribute to the efforts of the government and other stakeholders in the Longido district to raise awareness, empower, and strengthen capabilities against women’s violence, abuse, and exploitation.

SUSTAIN’s vision is to see an increase in the number of Maasai women and men advocating for women’s rights and empowerment in the face of violence, abuse and exploitation. Furthermore, SUSTAIN aims to increase women’s access to land, education, and employment, laying the groundwork for a just community that respects and recognises women’s vital roles in societies’ social and economic development.

SUSTAIN’s solutions for achieving the goals above include community mobilisation, gathering evidence on the scope of the problem and effective methods for addressing it, social and economic empowerment of stakeholders, particularly women, training and capacity building, and raising awareness and changing mindsets in the community. These activity-based approaches/solutions will be carried out in collaboration with relevant government authorities and other non-state actors involved in the project.