Date of publication:
01/09/2026
United Republic of Tanzania (the)
Do domestic laws and policies provide access to social protection for forcibly displaced and stateless persons?
Assessment by population
Analysis
In Tanzania, domestic laws and policies offer only limited entitlements to social assistance for forcibly displaced and stateless persons. The Refugee Act of 1998 and the National Refugee Policy of 2003 provide a framework that ensures refugees receive basic assistance such as shelter, food, healthcare, and education, primarily within designated camps. However, restrictive policies, notably limitations on freedom of movement and employment, severely constrain refugees' access to broader social assistance and integration opportunities. Stateless persons face even greater difficulties, as Tanzania lacks specific legal provisions for their protection, and is not a signatory to key international conventions addressing statelessness. Consequently, stateless individuals often remain without formal recognition, making access to essential social services—including healthcare, education, and employment—significantly challenging or practically unattainable.
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
Draft National Social Protection Policy
- Year: 2022
- Type: Domestic policy
- Rights Category: Social protection
- Link to external source: https://www.unicef.org/esa/documents/unicef-tanzania-mainland-social-protection-brief-2022#:~:text=The%20vision%20of%20the%20draft,of%20living%20to%20the%20population.
Legal provision
Draft National Social Protection Policy - Generic
Draft National Social Protection Policy - Generic
National Social Protection Framework (NSPF)
- Year: 2008
- Type: Other
- Rights Category: Social protection
- Link to external source: https://www.social-protection.org/gimi/RessourcePDF.action;jsessionid=wDfAGRuff8Z26ttpQQv9JgnhSvGtxmrJ5ezTLxpbtnaMkiYH2RWT!2012212631?id=55789#:~:text=Guiding%20Principles%20of%20the%20NSPF%20(contd.)&text=Gender%20responsiveness%3B%20%E2%80%A2%20Coordinated%20and,and%20%E2%80%A2%20Revisioning%20to%20avoid.
Legal provision
National Social Protection Framework (NSPF) - Generic
National Social Protection Framework (NSPF) - Generic