CSSC - Christian Social Services Commission

Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC) is an ecumenical body jointly established by Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) and Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) in 1992 to facilitate social services with the main focus on education and health services provided by member churches. It is the largest ecumenical organization in Tanzania working under more than 87 dioceses and provinces which own and manage about 42 percent of health services at hospital level and 56 percent in the rural areas and more than 10 per cent of education services in Tanzania

In February 1991, a consultation was held in Moshi town, Kilimanjaro Region with approximately 100 participants from churches, agencies, government institutions and international organizations. The consultation was a culmination point of a dialogue process that had been going on for some time between leaders of the German Churches, the Government of Tanzania and German Churches respectively their agencies.

The dialogue was about the grave setbacks in the quality of social services in Tanzania, caused by the economic difficulties, which had stuck Tanzania during the 1980s. As a result, Tanzanian Government had reduced its support to the social sector and the Tanzania Churches were no longer in the position to maintain a reasonable standard for their social services. The church owned hospitals, health centers, dispensaries, schools and other social institutions which were suffered the adverse economic conditions. Thus, the church leaders approached their friends overseas to discuss the issue.