The government is seeking to strengthen safeguards against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in health programmes funded by the Global Fund, amid efforts to ensure that beneficiaries receive services in a safe environment and have access to support when their rights are violated.
The initiative is being pursued through a four-day training workshop in Dar es Salaam, running from October 26 to 29, 2026, bringing together leaders of the Tanzania National Coordinating Mechanism (TNCM), grant recipients and institutions implementing programmes supported by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The training focuses on Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), with particular emphasis on strengthening institutional accountability, preventing abuse and establishing effective mechanisms for reporting incidents.
It also seeks to ensure that survivors receive appropriate support, putting the protection of people's rights, dignity and safety at the centre of health programme implementation.
The training comes as the government and the Global Fund continue efforts to improve oversight, coordination and accountability in the management of funded programmes, including ensuring that institutions responsible for implementing them uphold ethical standards.
One of the key areas is building the capacity of TNCM leaders and committee members to strengthen governance, supervision and accountability in implementing PSEAH requirements.
The programme also targets the Ministry of Finance, which serves as the Principal Recipient (PR) of the grants, the Ministry of Health as the Lead Sub-Recipient (LSR), and other sub-recipients.
These institutions are expected to strengthen internal protection systems and ensure that safeguarding measures are incorporated into their operations rather than treated as separate administrative requirements.
Another focus is identifying and reducing risks of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment at the point of service delivery, where beneficiaries interact directly with health workers and programme implementers.
Effective safeguards are important in protecting people who depend on health interventions, particularly vulnerable beneficiaries, while ensuring that concerns and reported incidents are handled through appropriate channels.
The workshop brings together senior government officials involved in policy coordination, health administration and oversight of Global Fund-supported programmes.
Those attending include Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities) Permanent Secretary and TNCM Chairperson Dr Jim Yonazi; TNCM Vice-Chairperson Godlisten Moshi; Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr Grace Magembe; and President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government Deputy Permanent Secretary Prof Tumaini Nagu.
Others are Tanzania Commission for AIDS Director Dr Adam Mrisho and TNCM Executive Secretary Kent Pius.
The training is expected to strengthen the ability of institutions involved in the programmes to prevent misconduct, respond to reported cases and ensure that access to health services is not undermined by exploitation, abuse or harassment.