Last updated: 08 September 2026
Gender Desk Information System
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how the Gender Desk app, part of the Gender Desk Information System (GDIS) ("the App"), operated by the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups United Republic of Tanzania ("we", "us"), collects, uses, and protects information when you use the App to report incidents of gender-based violence (GBV) or seek related support.
We built this App so that survivors and witnesses can report safely — including anonymously if they choose. This policy is written to be as plain as possible; if anything is unclear, contact us using the details at the end.
1. Information you choose to give us
Reporting is designed so that most fields are optional. Depending on what you fill in, we may collect:
• Report content: a written description or a voice recording of what happened, and any photos/videos you attach as evidence.
• Institution: which university/institution the report relates to.
• Suspect details (optional): name, sex, age, National ID (NIDA) number — only if you choose to provide them.
• Victim or reporter details (optional): name, sex, age, nationality, disability status, education/program, work, address, phone number, email, National ID (NIDA) number, and — if reporting on someone else's behalf — your relationship to the victim.
• Follow-up chat: if the gender desk coordinator responds to your report, you can chat with them anonymously inside the App. This is protected by a PIN (and optionally your device's fingerprint/Face ID) that is stored securely on your device — not sent to us.
You are never required to provide your name or contact details to submit a report. Reports are identified only by a tracking number unless you choose to share who you are.
2. Information collected automatically
• Push notification token: a device identifier (Firebase Cloud Messaging token) so the App can notify you when the gender desk responds. This token is not linked to your name unless you separately provide one.
• Basic device/app diagnostics via Google Firebase (e.g. app installation identifiers), used only to keep notifications and app services working — not for advertising.
We do not collect location data, and we do not use the App for advertising or ad tracking.
3. Why we collect this information
• To allow the relevant gender desk to review, verify, and act on a report.
• To let you track the status of a report you submitted, and to notify you of updates.
• Optional identifying details (like a National ID number) help the gender desk confirm identity where formal follow-up, protection measures, or disciplinary/legal action is needed — they are never required just to submit a report.
4. Who can see your information
• Reports and any details you provide are sent securely to the gender desk coordinator(s) at the relevant institution, under the oversight of the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, who access them through a restricted dashboard.
• We do not sell, rent, or share your information with advertisers or unrelated third parties.
• We may disclose information where required by Tanzanian law or to protect someone from serious harm.
• Infrastructure providers (e.g. Google Firebase, for notifications) process limited technical data (like the notification token) on our behalf, under their own security safeguards.
5. How your information is protected
• Data is transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS).
• Chat access on your device is protected by a PIN and, optionally, biometric authentication, stored using your device's secure keystore — not in plain text.
6. How long we keep your information
We will retain your information for as long as required by law. Where there is no legal requirement, we will retain it for as long as necessary for our purposes.
7. Your choices and rights
• You can submit a report without providing any identifying information at all.
• If you provided contact details and want them corrected or deleted, contact us using the details below with your tracking number.
• You can uninstall the App at any time, which removes locally stored data (draft reports, chat PIN) from your device.
8. Children and young people
The App is intended for use by students and members of affiliated Learning institutions and public areas. If you are under 18 and reporting on your own behalf.
9. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the "Last updated" date above.
10. Contact us
If you have questions about this policy or want to exercise your rights over your data, contact:
Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups
Government City Mtumba, Afya Street, S.L.P 573, 40478 Dodoma, Tanzania
Email: ps@jamii.go.tz
Phone: +255 26 2963341 / +255 26 2963342 / +255 26 2963346
Our Call Center: 0734 986 503 / 0766 400 168