Tanzania

Tanganyika became independent of British colonial rule in 1961 and united with Zanzibar in 1964 to become Tanzania. It is the twelfth largest country in Africa covering an area of some 945,000 square kilometres including approximately 60,000 square kilometres of inland water. It is located on the East African coast just South of the equator and is home to Mount Kilimanjaro.

Tanzania remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with half the population living on less than $1 a day and life expectancy is just 44 years old. The country experienced economic development and then decline from the late 60s to mid 80s due to failed government initiatives to nationalise all factories, plantations, banks and private companies. Recovery from this period has been slow and economic development has been further hampered by Tanzania’s intervention in Idi Amin’s Ugandan invasion and a huge influx of refugees from Rwanda in the 1990s.

However, the past decade has seen steady economic growth largely due to successful reforms. Malaria continues to be the leading killer of children and other future challenges include control of the spread of HIV/AIDS and improving living conditions for the rural poor.

Some of the reasons why Plan works in Tanzania

• Nearly 1 in 7 children die before reaching the age of five
• 38% of children under five years of age suffer from stunted growth due to poor nutrition
• Nearly half of children do not attend primary school
• Over half the population do not have access to adequate sanitation