MenEngage Tanzania (MET) Network

MenEngage Tanzania (MET) is an umbrella network of 36 member organizations working with men and boys to promote children and women rights in Tanzania. MET works through partnerships with likeminded organizations to promote women’s rights, children’s rights, gender equality, access, and acquisition of SRH services.

The network was established in 2014 following series of consultative meetings between the Network Secretariat (CDF) and the Secretariat of the MenEngage Africa Alliance, Sonke Gender Justice, a South African based NGO. MET is a member of the MenEngage Africa Alliance (MEA), which is a regional network of the MenEngage Global Alliance. MET uses research and information sharing, joint trainings, policy audit and advocacy at local, national, regional, and international levels, and community mobilization in accomplishing its mission.

MET network aims to see men and boys with positive minds and attitude towards promotion and protection of women and children rights for gender equality. CDF holds the secretariat of the MET.

Objectives

• To promote inter and intra network collaboration between MET partner organisations on issues related to engaging men and boys for gender equality, health, and human rights.

• To improve capacity of MET partner organisations to engage men and boys for gender equality, health, and human rights.

• To strengthen coordination among MET partner organisations, government, development partners and stakeholders at all levels.

• To mobilise constituencies of MET partner organisations for common advocacy goals.

MET Achievements

More than 23 MET member organizations increased their capacity building on SMART advocacy especially on access to and utilization of SRHR services, children, and women’s rights, positive parenting, the role men, and boys on ending violence and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV).

MET network has participated and convened different advocacy meetings with government and religious leaders to promote a movement of men and boys in ending GBV.

Various community mobilization interventions, which involved men and boys to understand their role in eliminating harmful practices affecting women and children have been jointly conducted by MET network members through different awareness sessions, "Men's café" discussions, campaigns, media sessions, and dialogues.

MET engaged different media platforms (mainstream and digital media) to reach more people on men’s role to ending VAWC and promote gender equality.

MET network has been actively joining forces with other stakeholders in advocating for LMA, 1971 Amendment and re-entry policy.

32 MET members enhanced their knowledge on how to integrate Gender-Transformative Approach (GTA) in implementation of MET interventions for more results.

MET network has increased its recognition among other organizations including Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs) and the feminist-based organization who previously had negative perception and understanding of the network. As a result, received invitations to speak about the role of men to end VAWC at various events organized by TGNP, WFT-Trust and YUNA.

20 MET members increased their understanding on the feminist movement and feminist-informed solidarity; working with men and boys as a feminist movement and as a tool to deconstruct and shape masculinities and violence; and building accountability in working with women rights organizations in Tanzania for joint efforts to ending violence. MET successful launched the report on "Tanzania’s State of Fathers," which highlights the role of men in promoting gender equality, positive parenting, and child protection