Zanzibar intensifies war against GBV

ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar Ministry of Community Development, Elderly, Gender and Children, in collaboration with the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation (ZMBF), has signed a partnership agreement to promote community development and combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry’s offices in Kinazini, Unguja and was attended by officials from both institutions.

The agreement was signed by Ms Abeida Rashidi Abdullah, Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry and Ms Fatma Fungo, Executive Director of ZMBF.

Following the signing, Ms Abeida stated that the five-year partnership will focus on enhancing community wellbeing through initiatives such as nutrition awareness, health and childcare and efforts to eliminate gender-based violence and exploitation.

ALSO READ: Men encouraged to report gender-based violence done to them

She stressed that the collaboration aims to strengthen Zanzibar’s GBV case management system by improving data collection on beneficiaries, service providers and available support services to facilitate effective planning and decision-making.

“The ministry is committed to working with partners like ZMBF to build a society where women and children are safe, healthy and empowered to achieve their goals,” said Ms Abeida Rashidi.

Ms Fatma Fungo underlined the importance of the partnership, stating, “This agreement is a crucial step in our journey to empower communities and protect those most vulnerable. By working together, we can drive lasting change and promote the well-being of women, children and youth in Zanzibar.”

The Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation (ZMBF) is a non-governmental organisation founded in 2021 by First Lady Maryam Hussein Mwinyi.

It is dedicated to improving the lives of women, children and youth in Zanzibar.