Peer-reviewed article
REFLECTIONS ON NETWORKING DYNAMICS TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN IN TANZANIA
Annah Kamusiime, Lydia Belinda Sandi, Doris Muhwezi Kakuru ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how networks of organizations in Tanzania work together to prevent and respond to violence against children. Researchers conducted interviews and focus groups with grassroots workers, network leaders, and funders across three districts in Dar es Salaam. The study found that violence against children is complex and requires multi-faceted responses, and that networks can amplify impact and visibility but also face significant obstacles. The researchers conclude that network actors need to be more intentional about their relationships and roles within networks.
Key points
- Violence against children is complex and multidimensional, requiring corresponding multifaceted networking responses
- VAC networks take various forms depending on their goals and often have unspecified lifespans
- Networks yield benefits including stronger voice, visibility, enhanced impact, and potential efficiency gains
- Networks encounter bottlenecks that negatively impact their ability to achieve goals
- Network actors need to be more reflexive about their space within networks and pursue intentional strong relationships
Limitations
This is a qualitative exploratory study focused on one region of Tanzania, so findings may not generalize to other settings or countries. The study describes networking dynamics but does not evaluate whether networks actually reduce violence against children or measure outcomes for affected children.
Abstract
This article is based on a study conducted to understand the functionality and connectivity of existing networks and their impact on the prevention and response to violence against children (VAC) in East Africa. We adopted an exploratory qualitative approach in which a bottom-up purposive selection of study participants was used. Data were collected using focus group discussions with grassroots actors, interviews with network leads at the grassroots district and national levels, and VAC network funders. The study was carried out in Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam region in three districts (Kigamboni, Temeke, and Ilala) and eight wards. Our findings show that because the nature of VAC is complex and multidimensional, efforts to respond to it also exhibit these qualities. Depending on the goal, networking takes various forms, and VAC networks can have unspecified lifespans. VAC networking results from strategic decision-making that yields many benefits, including a stronger voice and visibility, enhanced impact, and potential efficiency. However, networks also encounter bottlenecks that negatively impact their goals. This is an indication that VAC network actors ought to be more reflexive regarding the space they occupy in the network and intentionally pursue strong relationships among actors and networks.