TCAR’S CONSUMER’S ADVOCACY

For over 16 years, TCAS then TCAR had fought for the rights and responsibilities of Tanzanian consumers. Today we continue our work by campaigning for fairer market, consumer protection, for ethical and sustainable markets.  

On our advocacy works including; to protect and promote the welfare and rights of consumers, for example by giving advice, assist on market surveillance, trying to improve laws relating to the sale of good such as policies aimed at regulating the products, services, methods, and standards of manufacturers, sellers, and advertisers in the interests of consumers.

TCAR’s advocacy tactics include providing consumer education, information sharing, boycotts, letter-writing campaigns, and lawsuits to raise awareness of issues affecting consumers. Our advocacy initiatives allows individuals consumer to have their voices heard in the public sphere, attracting attention from policy makers, the media and high-profile individuals in Tanzania and around the world.

These five steps will help TCAR drive social change forward

 1). Know consumer’s facts.

After we have identified an issue that consumers are passionate about, we do our research. Look at both sides of the argument and make sure that we have concrete facts and figures.

 2). We listen to consumers.

Our TCAR team is an attentive listener and talk to consumers who have been personally impacted by the issue to which TCAR is advocating. We bring their stories to light in a way that other people will become aware and understand the problem and come with solutions.

 3). Engage with the community for consumer agenda.

Besides being informed with facts and figures, we always look for like-minded partners to create mass consumer movement for consumer’s agenda. TCAR form a group of professional and non-professional who support our movements known as, ‘’Voluntary Observers and Influencers for Consumer Empowerment’’; in short known as the VOICE[1]. ….. The VOICE comprise of  individual consumers from non-professional and professional including scientists, engineers, lobbyists, researchers, lawyers, academicians, policy makers, journalists, media houses, social media platforms[2], CSOs, so to advocate for consumer advocacy agenda at hand. Join online to the VOICE

TCAR leverage our advocates and empower consumers to tell their own stories. We give our supporters ways to educate lawmakers and community at large, with testimonials about how some market irregularity affect consumers throughout the year.

[a] Voluntary Observers and Influencers for Consumer Empowerment (VOICE)

[b] It’s almost impossible to do a successful advocacy campaign without a digital solution nowadays

 4). Build relationships.

TCAR develops national and grassroots strategy to provide a platform for consumers to express and air their views regarding the business environment with a view to advocating for change and bring about a competitive win-win business environment in Tanzania. In achieving so, TCAR nurture strong relationships within our community by giving feedback from the demand side.

TCAR lobbies to our local leadership, policymakers, business decision makers and sectorial regulators for them to understand consumer’s agenda for easy and smooth policy adoption or change.  TCAR ensures that our policy makers become aware of consumer’s need or problem or interest

 5). TCAR never give up.

Advocacy isn’t an easy task, for one to see remarkable changes; TCAR understand that it’s going to take some time to see some changes; there will be reluctance and negative criticism… TCAR never takes ‘’NO’’ as an answer in our advocacy initiatives. TCAR can’t just show up once or twice, thrice and expect for a change. We’re always campaigning for stronger consumer’s rights and laws with patience and consistent. We can even go to the court of law just to champion consumer’s agenda