LocationsHidden No More: How Tanzania Is Putting Care and Inclusion on the Map
July 2, 2026
Real change begins when every voice has a seat at the table. Together, stakeholders are shaping care systems that are more inclusive, visible, and responsive to the needs of all Tanzanians.
We all give or receive care at some point in our lives. It is the quiet force that keeps our families going, supports the economies and holds our communities together. Yet millions of people across Tanzania, this vital work and the people who rely on it has been invisible to those who plan public services.
Up until now, care has been treated as a private family matter rather than a national priority. While Tanzania has a solid policies spanning health, education and labor, these efforts have historically run in silos. Without coordination, families are often left to navigate a fragmented system alone.
But a quiet transformation is underway, linking national discussions on the mainland with innovative digital mapping in Zanzibar to bring care out of the shadows.
Mainland: Changing How We Value Care
In June 2026, a two-day gathering in Morogoro brought together government officials, civil society organizations (CSOs), academia and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), to confront a difficult question: why are our care systems still failing the people who need it the most?
For many in the room, the breakthrough wasn’t just about policy clauses—it was a shift in perspective. Participants began to see care not merely as a family duty or a charity issue, but as an economic driver. When a parent must stay home full-time to care for a child with a disability because there are no local support systems, it affects household income, local productivity, and gender equality.
The consensus from Morogoro was clear: good intentions are no longer enough. To make a difference, Tanzania needs to break down departmental silos, pool resources and build unified national plan.
A moment of unity and purpose—stakeholders from across Tanzania Mainland come together in Morogoro to shape a shared vision for inclusive care systems, marking the beginning of a national journey from dialogue to action.
Zanzibar: Mapping the Invisible
While Mainland partners mapped out the strategy, Zanzibar put a practical solution into action.
For people with disabilities and their families, the biggest hurdle is often just finding out where to go for help. Information on local clinics, therapy, or specialized schools is usually scattered, leaving caregivers to search in the dark.
To bridge the gap, the Zanzibar government, supported by UNDP and the Global Disability Fund (GDF), piloted the Care Geo-referencing Tool (CGT). The goal was simple: find the people, locate the services and bridge the gaps.
The results are staggering. Teams mapped 133,831 people with disabilities and identified 1,697 service centres across Unguja.
Beyond counting numbers, this digital map revealed exactly who is being excluded. The data showed that high percentages of individuals with psychological disabilities (68.7%), visual and hearing impairments (65.7%), intellectual disabilities (61.5%), and children with disabilities (58.0%) with disabilities are still entirely cut off from the services they need.
For planners, these are no longer just statistics; they are a clear roadmap showing exactly where to build the next school, clinic or support centre.
Common Pitfalls in Care Planning
The "One-and-Done" Data Trap: Databases quickly become obsolete. For the Care Geo-referencing Tool to work long-term, local government systems must continuously update it.
Underestimating the Caregiver Burden: Policymakers often focus only on the person receiving care, forgetting that the health, mental well-being, and financial survival of the caregiver (usually women and girls) is just as critical.
Nothing about us, without us. Advancing care systems that are informed by experience, driven by evidence, and designed for inclusion.
A Global Effort with Local Roots
Tanzania’s strides are part of a larger global program designed to support women, girls and people with disabilities. funded by the Global Disability Fund, this initiative spans countries from Mozambique, Kenya, Colombia, and Panama, brought to life locally by a partnership between UNDP, UN Women, UNICEF, UNFPA, ILO, and OHCHR alongside grassroots disability organizations.
Ultimately, this work is about restoring dignity. By trading fragmented silos for shared data and open dialogue, Tanzania is proving that the first step to improving lives is making sure everyone is seen.
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