Chama cha Uzazi na Malezi Bora Tanzania (UMATI)
Chama cha Uzazi na Malezi Bora Tanzania (UMATI) is an independent, not-for-profit, non-political national non-governmental organization providing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services in Tanzania. UMATI was founded in 1959 and is a full member (MA) of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF); It was recently adopted by the IPPF in September 2019. UMATI is governed by a well-established political volunteer structure from the national to the societal grassroots level. Volunteers dedicate their time and expertise to promoting and maintaining the MA and its functions.
UMATI’s vision:
Tanzania where people are free to choose and exercise sexual and reproductive health and rights without discrimination.
UMATI mission:
Support sexual and reproductive rights and provide information and services targeting youth and disadvantaged people.
UMATI value:
Volunteerism, innovation, accountability, non-discrimination and focus on youth.
Organizational capacity and experience in sexual and reproductive health and rights programs:
Since its inception, the association has responded to numerous national and international challenges for its growth. This move contributed to the accumulated experience in providing high quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services in the country. In the new strategic plan, the association is reviewing and reshaping itself in line with the inevitable challenges of moving toward youth-focused sexual and reproductive health services. UMATI has undergone an improved change in focus from family planning to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) with youth aged 10–24 years remaining the primary target group.
In the year 2000, UMATI witnessed a paradigm shift marked, among other things, by the decentralization of decision-making to the association. It included the establishment of four regional administrative offices. Through the decentralization undertaken, each district office has a mandate to make decisions geared towards its growth and development.
Recently, UMATI has adapted a new 3-year strategic plan (2016-2019) to the context of a strategic direction that will focus on 4 main outcomes including:-
Review the impact and support of national policies and advocates for Emiratisation and implementation of the global and regional commitment.
Empowering youth (10-24 years old) to make safer choices regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights and using youth networks and clubs to reach more young people (10-24 years old)
Providing integrated high-quality services through UMATI-owned facilities while building capacity for other partners to deliver high-quality services on our behalf
Building a strong operational organization with effective governance and volunteer structure and doubling the association’s revenues
UMATI has tremendous experience working with key populations in implementing several interventions and programs/projects such as “Youth as Equal Partners in Sexual and Reproductive Health” in collaboration with RFSU targeting youth under the theme of Male Participation in Sexual and Reproductive Health. The Youth Voices for Change project is supported by the UK Department for International Development. The CHAMPION project under Engender Health targeting men, addressing sexual and reproductive health of young women working in the informal sector in Kilimanjaro region in collaboration with four partners (DSW, 4H, local government and private foundations), ISHI campaign under FHI360 aimed at empowering young men and girls to address to gender-based violence. FORWARD SUPPORT.
Recently with the support of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, UMATI implemented initiatives on sexual and reproductive health and rights targeting key populations especially sex workers through an outreach approach in Tanga, Dar es Salaam (Temeke) and Morogoro. Through these interventions, the Association has gained sufficient experience working with men and women using innovative strategies in the field of issues related to sexual and reproductive health including gender transition, HIV/AIDS prevention and inclusion of economic empowerment through their participation and participation.
In some of its projects, UMATI has been able to work with inmates and the community surrounding prisons by conducting cervical cancer screening, testing, and early treatment.
Among the successful, innovative and unique projects are Youth as Equal Partners (YMEP), Youth Voices for Change (YVC) and Youth Sex Education in Schools (SES). Other programs include the Teenage Mothers Program for Income-Generating Activities at Temeki Youth Center (rescuing young girls who have been expelled from school due to pregnancy), Dar es Salaam and Mbeya. The main purpose of this intervention was to empower the girl child by integrating information and services related to sexual and reproductive health, rights and economic empowerment, a peer education programme, and a community-based programme. Implementation of the intervention targeting young women working in the informal sector in the Kilimanjaro region, and the Girls Empowerment Initiative in Musoma to name a few. UMATI has useful documentation on lessons learned for these projects that are worth sharing with partners.
Community service providers employed by UMATI have improved the delivery of high-quality service and thus increased the number of people, especially boys and girls aged 10 to 24 years old, who can access sexual and reproductive health information and services through our clinic, youth centers and outreach program across all regions.
Contact Information
UMATI Head Quarter
Upanga – Maliki Street
P.O.Box 1372
Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania
Tel; +25522-2150156 /
+255-22-2152479
Fax; +255 22 2152479
Email; infor@umati.or.tz