Church and Community Mobilisation Programme (CCMP) in the Diocese of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Tanzania is an east African country which is fairly peaceful and stable. However, poor access to basic services, particularly in rural areas, poor infrastructure and epidemics have stalled development so millions of people live in poverty.

The church’s work in Tanzania is widely respected and utilised to provide basic services - particularly health, education and development initiatives. Bishop Stanley in the Diocese of Kilimanjaro in particular is well respected and has an extensive presence and well established networks at both a national and local level.

The partnership was initially between Tearfund, All Saints and the Diocese of Kilimanjaro but Tearfund withdrew in 2023 to focus on more strategic work in the country. Our partnership is now with the diocese and is renewed every three years.

The focus is on transforming communities through the CCMP. This involves the diocese working with local churches to empower the community to lift themselves out of poverty. They run workshops to equip community members to form self help groups, small scale community savings schemes, small businesses and offer broader mutual support to members. These groups increase people’s resilience to hardship and disaster, particularly for the poorest and most marginalised.

Church and community leaders speak out on issues of injustice and promote better practices, policies and structures at a national and local level.

The CCMP, funded by All Saints Ecclesall and under Bishop Stanley’s leadership has been transformative to poor communities.