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Changing the Conversation: How Tanzanian CSOs Are Turning Legal Knowledge into Advocacy Power

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2 min. read

When Sophy first heard the term “strategic litigation,” it felt like something reserved for large, well-resourced organizations. As a Programs Officer at Peace Life for Persons with Disability Foundation, she had long viewed legal action as out of reach.

I used to think litigation meant going against the government—and that scared us. It felt like something we shouldn’t even dare to try.

Sophy, workshop participant

Sophy was one of twenty civil society leaders from across Tanzania who took part in a three-day workshop, hosted by the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) Africa, in partnership with the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), under the Changing the Law, Changing Lives project, funded by Global Affairs Canada. The training focused on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), with a strong emphasis on abortion rights and Tanzania’s school re-entry policy for pregnant learners and adolescent mothers. This technical training empowered Tanzanian leaders with legal information to better serve their communities.

The training helped me realize how SRHR and education are deeply connected. It pushed me to revise our advocacy strategy so that SRHR is now a central pillar of our work on school re-entry. That shift is going to transform our impact.

Sophy, workshop participant

For years, many of the organizations represented at the training had worked in silos. They raised awareness at the community level but struggled to influence national policy. Invitations to decision makers often went unanswered, and legal strategies felt out of reach. However, by the end of the workshop, three joint advocacy plans were developed, and a policy brief on school re-entry was drafted. More importantly, a sense of shared purpose and confidence took root.

Many times [in the past], we invited local leaders or policy makers to our forums, and no one came, not even a representative. It was disheartening. But this workshop gave us the tools to be more strategic and persistent in pushing for better SRHR policies.

Sophia, workshop participant

A session on strategic litigation, facilitated by the Coalition to Address Maternal Mortality and Morbidity due to Abortion and its Complications (CAMMAC) Legal Support System sought to demystify the courtroom. CAMMAC educators reframed law as a powerful tool for protection, visibility, and justice, instead of a battleground. The impact was immediate. Organizations that once feared engagement with the legal system are now actively planning to use it. Previously isolated CSOs are forming coalitions, and grassroots leaders–especially women and adolescents–are stepping up as central voices in shaping the policies that govern their lives.

We’ve started something powerful, but we need continued support to keep going.

Helen, workshop participant

To sustain this momentum, WGNRR Africa and partners have called for continued mentorship, financial support for advocacy efforts, and platforms for ongoing collaboration. What began as a capacity-building workshop has sparked a new chapter for SRHR advocacy in Tanzania. Advocates’ voices are becoming stronger, bolder, and unified. And for leaders like Sophy, Hellen, and Sophia, this is only the beginning.