GABP Congress 2026

Background: Alcohol and substance use among young people is a significant public-health concern that intersects with mental well-being, peer pressure and socioeconomic vulnerability. ICCAO Tanzania implemented Ulevi Sio Dili (‘Alcohol is Not a Deal’) from 2023 to 2025 to reduce alcohol-related harm among young people aged 15-35 in Tanzania’s Mara and Coastal regions, particularly vulnerable out-of-school youth. Methods: The intervention combined peer-led education, life-skills and self-awareness sessions, sports, entrepreneurship support, community engagement, media and policy advocacy. Sixty-eight peer educators led 26 youth groups and 23 sports teams. Progress was assessed through baseline and endline surveys, focus-group discussions, reflection meetings and routine monitoring. Results: Baseline and endline assessments included 615 and 368 respondents, respectively. The proportion of respondents who perceived youth alcohol addiction/use as high or very high decreased from 90.3% in 2023 to 81.5% in 2025. Fifty-one young people were documented moving away from alcohol use toward small businesses, sports, peer education and community initiatives. Implementation highlighted the importance of addressing peer pressure, decision-making, idleness and economic uncertainty alongside alcohol prevention. Conclusion: Youth alcohol and substance-use prevention should move beyond awareness alone toward integrated approaches that strengthen life skills, meaningful youth participation, economic agency and mental well-being. Linking community prevention with youth-responsive mental-health information, early identification and referral pathways is an important next step for Tanzania.

Zahra Khalaf Salehe is the Founder and Executive Director of ICCAO Tanzania, a youth-led organization advancing education, health, civic leadership and economic justice. With ten years of experience leading community-based youth programmes, she has developed partnerships with government, civil society and international organizations and contributed to national and global policy spaces, including the UN Commission on the Status of Women, High-Level Political Forum and UN General Assembly. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance, a master’s degree in Project Planning and Management, and a postgraduate diploma in Mass Communication.