Twaweza East Africa

Empowering Future Journalists: A dialogue on the media landscape On November 28, 2024, under the umbrella of the Coalition on the Right to Information (CoRI), Twaweza, in collaboration with the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), facilitated an impactful engagement with Journalism and Mass Communication students at Dar es Salaam Tumaini University. The event centred around the current state of the media environment in Tanzania, delving into its challenges, opportunities, and the way forward for young journalists. These discussions were particularly significant, given that the future of journalism rests with these aspiring professionals. Lively and thought-provoking discussions characterized the session. Twaweza seized the opportunity to present findings from its recently launched "Journalist Voices" report, highlighting pressing issues facing industry journalists. The presentation left many students visibly taken aback. As the harsh realities of the profession unfolded, questions such as, "Am I in the right field?" and "What is my role in addressing these challenges?" visibly lingered in the audience's minds. Unveiling the Realities of Journalism The report, presented by Annastazia Rugaba, Twaweza's Director of Advocacy and Engagement, vividly portrayed journalists' struggles, including inadequate compensation, lack of contracts, and gender disparities in newsrooms. Annastazia pointed out that while these challenges persist, journalists often shy away from reporting on them, raising an important question: “If journalists do not address these issues, who will?” She highlighted real-life cases that resonated deeply with the students, emphasizing the need for journalists to use their platforms to advocate for their rights. She also addressed the gender imbalance in newsrooms, noting that female journalists frequently encounter biases. For instance, their stories are often relegated to less prominent sections of newspapers, rarely gracing the front pages. Her presentation sparked a wave of curiosity among the students, many of whom expressed eagerness to learn more about the findings of the "Journalist Voices" report and how they could contribute to addressing these issues. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ddqRS_t4

The #SautiZaWananchi platform rapidly and reliably makes data on citizens' views and experiences accessible to a broad audience. In multiple cases across the three countries, we have seen governments acknowledge, endorse, and act in response to the collected inputs from citizens. Watch the video to learn more about #SautiZaWananchi. Or read the report here: 10years.twaweza.org

"...My people don't understand about the #SHIF. I don't understand #SHIF " Hon. Shakeel Shabbir, MP, Kisumu East Constituency. If the people need help understanding the new system, how will it serve them? Please join us later today at 6:30 pm via Twitter Spaces to discuss #SHA (Social Health Authority) and what it means for Wanjiku. #Kenya

Kipekee naomba kutumia fursa hii kuwashukuru sana FEMINIST LEAD (wakiwakilishwa na dada Rebeca Gyumi) pamoja na Twaweza East Africa kwa kuweza kutushika mkono tangu siku ya kwanza tukiwa na wazo tu 🥹 Mpaka jana tumeweza kuonesha filamu yetu ya #NAFASI kwa mara ya kwanza in public 🙌🙌 . Pili niishukuru team ya her_education_ foundation kwa kufanikisha hili jambo 🙌🙌 . Tatu naishukuru team ya Production ikiongozwa na Sudi Masomwa Mlitisha sana . Bila kuwasahau ndugu zangu from MEDEA Tanzania, Reach out Tanzania na PLAO Kwakweli mlijua kutuunga mkono katika safari hii. . Pia niwashukuru dada viongozi vijana kutoka Jukwaa la Dadas Rise na wengine wote. Mlijua kutisha 🙌 🙌 Niwashukuru wote ambao mlikuja kujumuika pamoja nasi siku ya Jana. Mungu awabariki sana 🙏 .

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a knowledge-sharing session organized by UNESCO, Twaweza East Africa Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children and the Ministry of Information communication and Information Technology in Tanzania. The training focused on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) for gender equality. It was an inspiring platform to learn about the role of data in reporting on gender issues. One key takeaway was how incorporating data into gender stories ensures accuracy, credibility, and informed decision-making. This was particularly emphasized during the session on "Leveraging Data to Enhance Gender Advocacy through Media." We also explored the Jamii Check platform, which empowers citizens with fact-checking tools to combat misinformation. This platform provides access to reliable data that can drive impactful decisions. During the session, I had the opportunity to share my experience in using data for accountability. I discussed our Budget Monitoring Tool for Options Tanzania Accountability Team, integrated with systems like PlanRep and FFARS, which is helping to improve resource management in healthcare especially on SRH. This was during my time at Tanzania Mentors Action which was Among the organisations in the Accountability Team. Additionally, I highlighted TanzMED leading role in ensuring a robust mental health dataset in Tanzania and introduced our App. I encouraged participants to download the #TanzMEDApp to make health a part of their everyday lives. TanzMED we make your health lifestyle simple. Overall, the training emphasized the importance of media literacy and responsible journalism, particularly in gender sensitive reporting. I'm looking forward to implementing these insights into my work. #Literacy4GenderEquality #UsawawaKijinsia #ICT

Good morning from Arusha! #CSOWeek2024 kicks off today. Join us for a week of partnership, collaboration, and engagement among CSOs, citizens, and the private and public sectors. "The future of #Tanzania depends on such strategic partnerships between the private sector, private sector, as well as the CSOs." - Zuweina Farah, Director External Affairs, Vodacom Foundation. #ChangeNiSisi

Good morning from Arusha! #CSOWeek2024 kicks off today. Join us for a week of partnership, collaboration, and engagement among CSOs, citizens, and the private and public sectors. "The future of #Tanzania depends on such strategic partnerships between the private sector, private sector, as well as the CSOs." - Zuweina Farah, Director External Affairs, Vodacom Foundation. #ChangeNiSisi

We're throwing it back to #CSOWeek2023! #DYK, over 3,000 civil society actors have joined the #CSOWeek annual event for the past six years. CSO Week is a dynamic platform for exhibitions, discussions, networking, and outreach events. It provides a space for CSOs to converge, exchange ideas, and collectively address issues vital to Tanzania's future. Are you ready for #CSOWeek2024? It's happening from September 9 to 13 in Arusha! Only 11 days to go! Register now at http://csoweek.or.tz

Since 2013, we have been gathering data on the experiences and opinions of citizens and presenting the results to the public and policymakers. This new compendium of 10 years of #SautiZaWananchi shows the enormous number of stories that citizens must tell. And more than that, it shows how important it is to pay attention to what citizens are saying and how much we can all benefit from doing so.” - Aidan Eyakuze. Read the compendium report here: 10years.twaweza.org

#SautiZaWananchi is rapidly and rigorously bringing citizens' experiences and views to policymakers. For the past decade, we have amplified citizens' voices in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Join us next Tuesday as we celebrate Sauti at ten. We will discuss some of the biggest challenges facing citizens in these three countries and much more! Register here to join: http://bit.ly/3WoaZWl