Why does VSO need to work in Tanzania?
These are just some of the factors which form the basis for VSO’s presence in Tanzania: • Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world with 50% of the population living in households officially classified as poor. • The Tanzanian economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, mostly in subsistence and small-scale cash cropping. This means the economy is highly vulnerable to climate conditions and environmental factors (e.g. declining soil fertility) and constrained by a lack of access to markets • The quality of health and education services is poor and access is biased to urban centres • Infant mortality rates are amongst the highest in the world. • Rates of HIV infection continue to pose enormous problems, with an estimated 20% of women who give birth already infected with the virus • Young people, who make up around 65% of the population, have limited access to education and training resulting in an increase in social problems such as unemployment, drug abuse and drunkenness.
