Tanzanian Adoption

This week I visited Folkward Mapunda, the director of Msamaria Center for Street Children. I met with him to talk to him about the adoption processes and policies in Tanzania. In Tanzania, adoption is defined as “a permanent legal method of building families. When a child is adopted, the rights of the birth parents and biologic family members of the child are permanently terminated and a permanent and legal bond is established between the child and the adoptive parents.”

People who are eligible to adopt in Tanzania are:

·        Prospective adoptive parents must be resident in Tanzania.

·        The prospective adoptive parent (or at least one of the prospective adoptive parents, if adopting as a married couple) must be 25 years old or older.

·        Prospective adoptive parents must be at least 21 years older than the child.

·        Single male prospective adoptive parents may not adopt a female child except in special circumstances. The child should be eligible for adoption and all consents from guardians and family members should be obtained.

The adoption process:

Step One:

The prospective adoptive parents must apply to the Department of Social Welfare to foster the child for a period of no less than three months. After the foster care period has been successfully completed, and adoption petition can begin.

Step Two:

Complete the application form and provide your District Social Welfare Officer with the names and contact details of at least three references who have known you for at least three years and one family member. References will be interviewed by the District Social Welfare Officer.

Step Three:

Arrangements will be made with the District Social Welfare Officer to begin the home study process. The home study will usually consist of at least four interviews with the family including at least one visit to the family’s home. The home study may also include evidence of the prospective adoptive parents’ good physical, mental, and emotional health as well as financial and marital stability.

Step Four:

Once all of the paperwork is completed it will be sent to the District Social Welfare Officer to the Commissioner for Social Welfare for approval.

Step Five:

When the Foster Care Application has been approved, the District Social Welfare Officer will identify children who are eligible for adoption and who meet the criteria of the prospective adoptive parents. Prospective adoptive parents and the District Social Welfare Officer will work together to identify a child who is eligible and is best suited for the prospective adoptive family.

Step Six:

The District Social Welfare Officer will liaise with the Police Department in order to confirm whether the child has any living relatives. In circumstances where no living relatives can be located, the Police Department will issue a Certificate of Abandonment. In circumstances where family members are located and consent to the adoption of the child, formal written consents must be obtained.

Step Seven:

Once a child has been identified and accepted by the prospective adoptive parents, the District Social Welfare Officer will place the identified child with the prospective adoptive parents for a foster care period of no less than three months. During the Foster Care period, the District Social Welfare Officer will continue to visit the child and prospective adoptive parents on a regular basis.

Step Eight:

After the Foster Care period, the prospective adoptive parents will meet with the District Social Welfare Officer to discuss whether they wish to adopt the child and also whether the District Social Welfare Officer intends to approve an application by the prospective parents, provided that the District Social Welfare Officer approves, then the they will submit a recommendation and a report to the Commissioner of Social Welfare.

Step Nine:

For the commencement of legal processes, an advocate who is experienced in adoption procedures must be contacted.

Step Ten:

Your advocate will assist you in lodging a petition to legally adopt your foster child and obtain a court order from the High Court. Close contact should be kept with the Social Welfare Department during this period as the Social Welfare Department will submit a report to the Court in it’s capacity as the court-appointed Guardian a d Litem of the child.

Step Eleven:

In addition to the High Court Adoption Order, your advocate should also assist you in obtaining an Adoption Certificate for your adopted child. Tanzanian citizens must apply for a passport for their adopted child.

Estimated Costs of Tanzanian Adoption:

All services offered by the Department of Social Welfare are free of charge. Legal expenses (to be paid to the Advocate) range from $500 USD to $2,000 USD, depending on the advocate you hire and the range of services you require.