Experience of Collaboration between Advocacy NGO’s and Government Social Welfare Officers in Preventing Children from Sexual, Emotional and Physical abuse in Arusha City, Tanzania

Abstract

It is estimated that 86% of children aged 2 to 14 are subjected to sexual, emotional and physical abuse globally. Regardless of the vulnerable situations, which expose children to the risk of being harmed, it is very possible to prevent children from harm by having commitments and deliberate efforts by different actors such as families (including kin), communities, states, NGOs, international organizations, or other stakeholders concerned with the best interests of children. The purpose of this thesis was to explore experiences of collaboration between Advocacy Non Governmental Organizations and Government Social Welfare Officers in preventing children from sexual, emotional and physical abuse in Arusha, Tanzania. The thesis is a fieldwork study employing in-depth interviews as method of data collection.Secondary data was also used in this study. The study included three government social welfare officers and three representatives from advocacy nongovernmental organizations. The study findings indicated that collaboration between advocacy NGOs and government social welfare officers exists. Furthermore, the study also disclosed opportunities and challenges of collaboration between advocacy NGOs and government social welfare officers Apart from getting their experience of protecting children from harm, the sample was able to demonstrate nature and experience of collaboration between Arusha City Social Welfare Officers and Advocacy NGOs working in the child sector in Arusha.