Strengthening advocacy for consumer rights.
Collaboration to strengthen consumer protection through advocacy, awareness, and capacity building.
Overview
This Consumer Protection project focuses on strengthening advocacy bodies like the FCC, TCRA CCC, LATRA CCC, RCCs, NCAC & TCAR to advocate for consumer (traders') protection rights. It also includes raising awareness through mass media campaigns, strategic convenings, and online courses. Critical issues are addressed through strategic convenings, capacity building of 90 CSOs, an online course on consumer protection issues, and litigation support.
Objectives & Key Focus Areas
Main Objective: By 2027, ensure that Tanzania has a robust and effective consumer protection framework that significantly contributes to enhancing fair trade practices within the country.
Specific Objectives include;
- To strengthen the process of identifying and addressing consumer protection issues, ensuring that resolutions favor consumers.
- To dramatically elevate consumer protection awareness, spanning both demand and supply dimensions of the trade sector. To fortify the capability of civil society actors, equipping them to take a more active and influential role in consumer protection initiatives.
- To embed regulatory councils dedicated to consumer protection within the institutional framework, ensuring standardized and consistent operations aligned with national aspirations.
- To nurture a dynamic movement around consumer protection, fostering a community that champions consumer rights.
- To activate entities such as the NCAC, CCCs, and regional/sectoral committees to proactively advocate for consumer protection.
Impact & Achievements
The project has significantly advanced consumer protection and economic empowerment in Tanzania. Over 10 consumer protection issues were identified through a Political Economy Analysis, leading to the development of a Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strategy informed by a survey of 369 consumer voices.
Two strategic convenings on consumer protection during launch and CSO Week 2025 engaged 250 stakeholders from civil society, the private sector, and the government to inform policy and practice. Additionally, sensitization activities, including community radio programs, consumer clinics, and public lectures, were conducted during World Consumer Rights Week (7th - 15th March 2025) in partnership with key stakeholders, directly reaching approximately 500 people.
