1. Introduction

The Shirikisho la Vyama vya Watu wenye Ulemavu Tanzania (SHIVYAWATA) is committed to protecting the privacy, dignity and personal information of everyone who interacts with our organisation and website.

This Privacy Policy explains how SHIVYAWATA collects, uses, stores, protects and, where necessary, shares personal information when you:

Visit our website;
Contact us;
Participate in our programmes or activities;
Subscribe to our communications;
Apply for opportunities, programmes or employment;
Make a donation or support our work;
Participate in events, meetings, training or advocacy activities; or
Otherwise interact with SHIVYAWATA.

We are committed to handling personal information responsibly, lawfully, fairly and transparently.

2. Who We Are

SHIVYAWATA is a national federation representing and bringing together organisations of persons with disabilities in Tanzania.

Our work focuses on promoting:

Disability rights and advocacy;
Inclusion and equal participation;
Accessibility;
Capacity strengthening;
Social justice and dignity for persons with disabilities; and
An inclusive society where persons with disabilities can fully participate and thrive.

For the purposes of applicable data protection laws, SHIVYAWATA may act as the organisation responsible for determining how and why personal information is processed.

3. Information We May Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following categories of information.

A. Personal Information

This may include:

Full name;
Email address;
Telephone number;
Postal or physical address;
Organisation or institution;
Job title or position; and
Other information you voluntarily provide to us.

B. Programme and Participation Information

Where relevant to our activities, we may collect information relating to:

Participation in programmes or projects;
Training and event attendance;
Organisational affiliation;
Areas of interest or expertise;
Feedback and survey responses; and
Information necessary to support programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

C. Sensitive or Special Category Information

Because SHIVYAWATA works in the disability rights and inclusion sector, some activities may involve information relating to disability.

We recognise that disability-related information may be sensitive and will take particular care when collecting and processing such information.

We will only collect sensitive information where:

It is necessary for a legitimate and clearly identified purpose;
Appropriate safeguards are in place;
We have a lawful basis to process it; and
Where required, appropriate consent has been obtained.

We will always seek to respect the dignity, privacy and rights of persons with disabilities.

D. Website and Technical Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, such as:

IP address;
Browser type;
Device information;
Pages visited;
Date and time of access;
Website interactions; and
Other technical information generated through the use of our website.

4. How We Collect Information

We may collect personal information:

Directly from you

For example, when you:

Complete a contact form;
Send us an email;
Register for an event;
Subscribe to our newsletter;
Apply for an opportunity;
Participate in our programmes; or
Provide information during meetings, workshops or other activities.

Through our programmes and activities

Information may be collected during project implementation, training, research, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation activities.

Automatically through our website

Certain technical information may be collected through cookies and similar technologies.

From authorised third parties

In some circumstances, information may be provided to us by partners, member organisations, donors, service providers or other organisations where this is lawful and appropriate.

5. Why We Use Your Information

We may use personal information for the following purposes:

To respond to enquiries and requests;
To communicate with you;
To provide information about SHIVYAWATA and its activities;
To organise meetings, events and training;
To implement programmes and projects;
To monitor and evaluate programme activities;
To conduct research and advocacy;
To strengthen disability inclusion and participation;
To manage relationships with member organisations and partners;
To process donations or other forms of support;
To improve our website and services;
To maintain organisational records;
To comply with legal, regulatory and reporting obligations;
To protect the security of our systems and website; and
For other purposes that are clearly communicated to you.

We will not use your personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the reason it was originally collected unless we have a lawful basis to do so.

6. Our Legal Basis for Processing Information

Where applicable, SHIVYAWATA processes personal information based on one or more lawful grounds, including:

Your consent;
The performance of a contract or agreement;
Compliance with a legal obligation;
The protection of vital interests where permitted by law;
The legitimate and lawful activities of SHIVYAWATA; or
Another lawful basis permitted under applicable data protection legislation.

Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time, subject to applicable legal and operational requirements.

7. How We Protect Your Information

SHIVYAWATA takes reasonable and appropriate technical, organisational and administrative measures to protect personal information against:

Unauthorised access;
Unauthorised disclosure;
Loss;
Misuse;
Alteration;
Destruction; and
Other unlawful processing.

Our safeguards may include:

Restricted access to personal information;
Secure storage systems;
Password and authentication controls;
Staff confidentiality obligations;
Appropriate information security procedures;
Data minimisation practices; and
Regular review of our data management practices.

However, no internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. While we take appropriate measures to protect information, absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

8. Sharing Your Information

SHIVYAWATA does not sell personal information.

We may share information only where necessary and appropriate, including with:

Member organisations;
Implementing partners;
Donors and funding partners;
Professional service providers;
Technology and website service providers;
Government or regulatory authorities where legally required; and
Other authorised organisations involved in implementing our activities.

When personal information is shared, we seek to ensure that appropriate safeguards and confidentiality obligations are in place.

We will only share the minimum information necessary for the relevant purpose.

9. International Data Transfers

Some of the service providers, partners or digital platforms used by SHIVYAWATA may process or store information outside Tanzania.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, SHIVYAWATA will take appropriate steps to ensure that the transfer is carried out lawfully and that appropriate safeguards are applied to protect the information.

Tanzania’s Personal Data Protection Commission regulates and oversees cross-border transfers of personal data under the country’s data protection framework.

10. How Long We Keep Your Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

Fulfil the purpose for which it was collected;
Implement and manage our programmes;
Meet donor and reporting requirements;
Comply with legal and regulatory obligations;
Resolve disputes; or
Maintain appropriate organisational records.

When information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely delete, destroy or anonymise it, where appropriate.

11. Your Privacy Rights

Subject to applicable laws, you may have the right to:

Request access to your personal information;
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
Request deletion of personal information in appropriate circumstances;
Object to certain processing activities;
Request restriction of certain processing;
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
Request information about how your data is being used;
Object to certain direct marketing communications; and
Lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority.

International privacy standards also emphasise clear information about an individual’s rights, processing purposes, retention and recipients of personal data.

To exercise your rights, please contact us using the contact information provided below.

12. Children and Young People

SHIVYAWATA recognises the importance of protecting the privacy and rights of children and young people.

Where our activities involve children, we will take appropriate measures to protect their personal information and dignity in accordance with applicable laws and safeguarding requirements.

Where required, appropriate consent or authorisation will be obtained from a parent, guardian or other legally authorised person.

We are especially careful when collecting or publishing photographs, stories, videos or other information involving children.

13. Photos, Videos and Personal Stories

SHIVYAWATA may use photographs, videos, testimonials and personal stories to communicate the impact of our work and promote disability rights and inclusion.

Where appropriate, we will seek the necessary permission or consent before using identifiable images, videos or personal stories.

We aim to ensure that all communications:

Respect the dignity of individuals;
Avoid exploitation or harmful representation;
Promote respectful and accurate representation of persons with disabilities; and
Protect the privacy and rights of the individuals involved.

Where permission has been granted, it may be withdrawn where legally and practically possible.

14. Cookies and Website Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

Ensure the website functions properly;
Understand how visitors use our website;
Improve user experience;
Improve website performance; and
Support security and functionality.

Cookies are small files stored on your device.

You may control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of parts of our website.

Where additional cookie consent is required by applicable law, we will provide appropriate options to manage your preferences.

15. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to external websites, including websites operated by partners, donors, member organisations or other third parties.

SHIVYAWATA is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of external websites.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party website you visit.

16. Automated Decision-Making

SHIVYAWATA does not currently make decisions about individuals solely through automated processing where those decisions would produce significant legal or similarly significant effects.

If this changes, we will provide appropriate information and safeguards in accordance with applicable law.

17. Data Breaches and Security Incidents

If SHIVYAWATA becomes aware of a personal data breach or significant security incident, we will take appropriate steps to:

Investigate the incident;
Contain and address the problem;
Reduce potential harm;
Take corrective measures; and
Notify relevant authorities and affected individuals where required by applicable law.

18. Accessibility of This Privacy Policy

As an organisation working to advance disability rights and inclusion, SHIVYAWATA is committed to making information accessible.

We will make reasonable efforts to provide this Privacy Policy in accessible formats upon request.

If you experience difficulty accessing or understanding this Privacy Policy, please contact us and let us know how we can assist you.

19. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

Changes in our activities;
Changes in technology;
Changes in legal or regulatory requirements; or
Improvements in our privacy practices.

Any updated version will be published on this page together with a revised Last Updated date.

We encourage visitors to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

20. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how SHIVYAWATA handles personal information, please contact us through:

SHIRIKISHO LA VYAMA VYA WATU WENYE ULEMAVU TANZANIA (SHIVYAWATA)

Contacts

Privacy Policy