Behaviour change communications in Tanzania: strengthening consumer voices in a changing food environment

 

Within the context of the nutrition transition in Africa, Tanzania is facing complex challenges, including stunting, wasting, micronutrient insufficiencies, overweight and obesity. These challenges are related to the physical, economic, political and socio-cultural contexts in which people decide about acquiring, preparing and consuming food, and include a low level of consumer advocacy for nutritious dietary interventions.

This project will undertake a nationally representative quantitative audience survey in sampled regions across Tanzania’s administrative zones as well as qualitative research to better understand food choice behaviours of consumer groups, targeting sampled regions that have specific nutritional concerns. The project results will be disseminated broadly to relevant stakeholders and provide decision-makers with credible evidence regarding which communication outputs are most effective at influencing specific social and behavioural changes. They will also support consumer voices for effective and accountable public policies to improve the Tanzanian food environment.

This project will be funded through the Catalyzing Change for Health and Sustainable Food Systems (CCHeFS) initiative, a co-funding partnership between IDRC and the Rockefeller Foundation.