8.5 million Tanzanian children at risk of impaired development, government warns

Approximately 8.5 million children are at risk of failing to reach full development due to challenges related to parenting, nurturing, and early childhood development. This information was released in Dodoma on Friday, September 25, 2026, by the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), Prof Tumaini Nagu. She represented the Minister of State in the PMP-RALG, Prof Riziki Shemdoe, in the closing of the mid-year review meeting on the implementation of the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Programme (NIECDP). Prof Nagu stated that 53 percent of children aged two to four are at risk of failing to reach full development, a condition that could affect their future lives, including earning potential as adults. “Tanzania is estimated to have approximately 16 million children, equal to 27 percent of all Tanzanians. The 2022 TDHS-MIS survey shows that 53 percent of children aged between two and four are at risk of failing to reach their full development,” she said. The Deputy Permanent Secretary noted that this challenge is driven by poverty, low levels of education, inadequate housing for children's needs, and poor availability of care, nurturing, and early development services. According to her, the impacts of failing to meet a child's needs in early stages can persist into adulthood, including reducing average income and increasing the likelihood of perpetuating the cycle of poverty. She stated that investment in early care, nurturing, and development should be prioritised and involve families, communities, the government, and various institutions, using an example from a 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) study showing that every $1 invested in integrated early care and development interventions can yield up to $17. She emphasised that the foundation of good parenting starts within the family, urging parents to cooperate to ensure children get safe environments and services enabling them to reach their potential. On her part, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Ms Felister Mdemu, said the implementation of the National Development Vision 2050 requires robust investment in early childhood care, nurturing, and development. “Our cooperation should be measured not by the number of meetings we hold, but by the number of children reached, the quality of services they receive, the safety of their environment, and the development they achieve,” said Ms Mdemu. The representative of the Director of the Tanzania Early Childhood Development Network (TECDEN), Mr Lazaro Ernest, stated that no single sector can raise a child alone, as a child involves health, education, nutrition, protection, and social welfare. Mr Lazaro noted that it is vital to have a joint framework enabling various institutions to provide services from a broad perspective. The meeting discussed milestones achieved, existing challenges, and areas requiring strengthening so children receive essential services in early life stages.