A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment for the requirements for the award of the
Degree of masters of Public Administration (MPA) of Mzumbe University
The participation of juveniles in committing of crimes in society has not only affected
the juveniles’ social and economic development but has also posed a threat on
governmental activities or programs for enhancing the social development of the youths
in particular. This being the case, many social actors who have interest in the general
welfare of the youths have raised concern on the protection of juveniles and this social
platform has seen an increase in the civil society organizations being engaged in the
control of juvenile delinquency in Tanzania. The main objective of the study was to
examine the role of civil society organizations in controlling juvenile delinquency in
Tanzania with a case study of Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam. The study involved an
investigation on the role of civil society organization in controlling juvenile delinquency
in terms of the examining the mechanism used by CSO’s in controlling juvenile
delinquency, the nature of services provided by CSO’s to the juvenile delinquents, the
policy initiatives undertaken by the CSO’s in controlling juvenile delinquency and the
challenges faced by the CSO’s in the process of controlling juvenile delinquency and at
the end of the study, recommendations have been made on what should be done by
CSO’s in improving the way they participate in the control of juvenile delinquency in
Tanzania.
Additionally, the study involved a sample size of 65 respondents composed of the
national civil society organization; the faith based civil society organizations and the
international based civil society organizations. The findings of the study indicate that the
CSO’s use various mechanisms in controlling juvenile delinquency CSO’s use
mechanism in controlling juvenile delinquency at almost 75.4%, they network through
the Tanzania child forum at 64.4%, they provide services to juvenile delinquents at
60.0%, they participate in policy initiatives at 29.2% and they are faced with challenges
including political oppression, competition from the public sector and inadequate
funding and this equivalent to 67.2%. Therefore, civil societies and especially those
dealing in children welfare should objectively and strategically strengthen their
networking forums especially through the Tanzania child forum and seek political
empowerment from the Government.