CSWD- Chole Society for Women’s Development-Tanzania

Background

The Chole Society for Women's Development is a grassroots organization in coastal Tanzania which has received financial support since 1997 from Kvinnefronten/
Women's Front of Norway through FOKUS, Norway. The funding from the Women's Front has been used to help build and run a health clinic, market and nursery school. It has also been used to sponsor various activities including adult education programs, savings and loan groups, HIV prevention programs, educational scholarships for girls, and outreach programmes to women's groups on the neighbouring islands of Juani and Jibondo.

Purpose/objective

The main objective of the planned assessment is to provide qualitative information on the reflections, lessons learned, and visions for the future and lived experiences of different actors who have been involved in varying capacities with the Chole Society for Women's Development.

Methodology

The emphasis was on the collection of in-depth, qualitative information obtained using the following methods:
• Open-ended, interactive group interviews and meetings.
• Individual interviews with key participants in the organisation and other relevant actors on Chole.
• Observation of key activities of the organisation.
• Review of key documents, including annual and half-yearly reports.

Key findings

The CSWD has achieved a great deal during its relatively short existence, including building and running a health centre, market, kindergarten, and learning centre.
It has also set up groups for savings and loans, scholarships for girls going to secondary school, adult education classes in a wide range of subjects, and AIDS awareness programmes. It has been somewhat less successful in its attempts at outreach to neighbouring communities.

Recommendations

a) Different suggestions regarding how to better the governance
b) A new Project Manager/Technical Adviser for the CSWD should be appointed
c) Improvement of communication, co-operation and transparency
d) Sharing of benefits and sharing of responsibilities should be promoted
e) Develop a way of dealing with quarrels in the Chole Societies
f) A continuation of donor funding