CARE International began operations in Tanzania in 1994, prompted by the humanitarian crisis triggered by the Rwandan Genocide. The genocide resulted in a massive influx of refugees into north‑western Tanzania, particularly in Kagera Region. Tanzania’s open asylum policy and the scale of displacement created urgent needs for food, shelter, water, sanitation, and health services that exceeded national response capacity.
CARE International entered Tanzania to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to refugee populations and affected host communities. Initial operations focused on life‑saving relief and coordination with government authorities, UN agencies, and other international humanitarian actors including CARE. This emergency response marked CARE’s first operational footprint in the country and laid the foundation for a longer‑term presence.
CARE Tanzania’s initial programming evolved through two phases:
Humanitarian Response (1994–1995)
- CARE focused on emergency relief interventions typical of large‑scale displacement contexts, including food assistance, shelter support, water and sanitation services, and basic health support, working alongside UNHCR, WFP, and government institutions.
Transition to Development (late 2000s)
CARE progressively expanded into development programming aimed at addressing the root causes of poverty. Early thematic areas included:
- Early economic empowerment and community savings initiatives including VSLA model that first pioneered in Zanzibar
- Food security and smallholder agriculture
- Natural resource management
- Health and nutrition
As the immediate crisis stabilized, CARE recognized that host communities faced chronic poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation, and limited access to services. This prompted a strategic shift from short‑term relief to longer‑term development programming that’s ongoing up to now.
