Viva Impact Study: Network Collaboration and Growth in Tanzania

Coming together for at-risk children

Tanzania’s Mwanza region, on the southern shore of Lake Victoria, has a population of almost 3.7 million, of whom a significant 45%, or around 1.66 million, are children. In 2017, a new Network was born in Mwanza city when a group of local church leaders decided to form a coalition for joint work on children’s issues – the Mwanza Children Action Network (MCAN) - and chose to affiliate with Viva. Shortly after, Iman Zadock joined as Network coordinator; having experience with a large Network working with children, he felt he could help extend their important work. At the time, MCAN was not yet legally registered and was only coordinating a few actions for children at risk.

Network action

With support from a Viva Coach, Paul, based in Uganda, Iman brought together MCAN members, reviewed operations, and began the legal registration process. As Iman says, “It’s been a very big deal engaging with Viva – I came to understand Viva’s vision for the Network, and this has helped to reach more children”. Iman recalls how his Coach advised on child wellbeing and how to encourage people to work together on coordination and collaboration for children's betterment.

In 2022, MCAN registered with the government and now reports quarterly online at local and national levels. However, it wasn’t always an easy journey – at the start there were many differences among leaders about the Network vision and mission. Others saw the Network as a chance to receive funds to pay for their own activities, until Iman explained Viva’s model of pooling resources and raising funds locally to better support children. Despite these and other challenges, his Coach gave Iman the courage to persist and stick to Viva’s principles, helping him remember that this is God’s ministry, with the goal of children’s wellbeing. As a result, a wide diversity of Christian churches from seven different denominations (from Anglican to Pentecostal) have come together in a spirit of Networking, coordination, and connectivity, made possible by focusing on children at the centre. As Iman says, “It amazed people to see how this was possible!”

Network development

One way Viva supports networks is through organisational development support, delivered through training, resources, and workshops, particularly Viva’s ‘Quality Improvement System’ (QIS). This modular training is currently helping 20 Network members (10 of them churches) to increase their capacity to deliver high-quality services for children in communities. Iman appreciates that translating the resources into Swahili and using a faith-based lens with the churches greatly improved uptake of the training. Impact is being seen: before the training, many churches had no policies for child protection, governance, or finance, but through QIS support, churches are developing policies, are much stronger, and can grow. One pastor, Peter Shibuta, notes, “These sessions are incredibly helpful. I honestly didn’t expect to receive this level of teaching, but what I’ve gained is deeply relevant to our ministry.”

Inter-Network engagement

MCAN has valued being part of Viva’s community of six African Networks participating in the QIS programme, challenging each other and sharing materials to meet children’s needs. Meeting bi-monthly in an online forum, participants have encouraged and supported each other, and shared knowledge and expertise. For example, the Ugandan CRANE Network shared useful approaches that MCAN have adapted and used in their own context.

Regional joint programmes have also been made possible by funding secured by Viva. For instance, MCAN has used Viva’s materials and resources, including ‘Child-friendly Church ’, alongside Networks in Kenya and Uganda so that children feel safe and welcome in church. MCAN has also participated in Viva’s global ‘Good Treatment Campaign’ that enables children to speak up about their right to good treatment. In mid 2026, with Viva’s support, MCAN met with other East African Networks to learn how to tackle a growing issue for local children: addressing the root causes and symptoms of children working on the streets of Mwanza.

And, like many new and emerging Networks, MCAN has embraced Viva’s ‘World Weekend of Prayer’ as a low-cost, ‘quick win’ opportunity for churches to come together in a familiar activity of prayer, purposively focused on the needs of children and with their active participation. Over the years, more local churches have embraced this vision, with over 2,400 children and 91 non-member organisations participating in the latest event. Inspired by this, the ‘Africa Inland Church’ have now instigated an annual day of prayer for children at the national level.

Network Impact

Iman appreciates the support he has received from his Coach Paul in many ways: “One of the things we always talking when we meet together, we most of the time talking about the programmes. How can we run a very successful programme? How can we make our projects so sustainable? He always provides very close support to me. And for me, with that nature, we are reaching a point now that it’s like he’s my brother.”

MCAN has now grown to 78 members, reaching over 30,000 children across Mwanza, and implements four programmes for collective action and citywide advocacy. The Network includes 61 churches, with the rest from non-government organisations. MCAN also partners with 30 local primary schools and community health workers across 10 different communities. As a Network, all members are involved in creating a joint collective plan, together identifying and prioritising the most common needs and problems hindering child wellbeing in local communities. MCAN has identified fundraising opportunities and secured funding for a school-based life skills programme and an early marriage prevention campaign. MCAN is now moving forward to develop a new 10-year long-term strategy aligned with government goals. Viva is privileged to walk alongside MCAN in their development, and looks forward to many more years of fruitful impact on the lives of children.