How Do Non-Governmental Organizations Influence Socio-Economic Well-Being of Domestic Workers? Empirical Evidence from Community of Volunteers for the World Organization in Tanzania

Abstract

Domestic work remains one of the most informal, precarious, and underregulated sectors globally, disproportionately employing women and girls from low-income households who face limited social protection, low wages, and systemic barriers to exercising their labor rights. In response, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have increasingly intervened to fill institutional gaps, yet empirical evidence on their measurable influence on workers’ socio-economic outcomes remains scarce. This study addresses that gap by investigating how NGO-led interventions shape the working conditions and economic well-being of domestic workers, using the Community of Volunteers for the World Organization (CVM) in Morogoro Municipal, Tanzania, as a case study. A cross-sectional research design was employed, collecting data from 134 domestic workers (97 CVM members and 37 non-members) through structured surveys and interviews. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to compare group characteristics, while a multiple linear regression model assessed the causal effect of specific CVM training programs on monthly wages. The results reveal stark disparities between members and non-members: 44.3% of CVM members held written employment contracts compared to none among non-members; 21.6% of members earned above TZS 50,000 monthly versus only 2.7% of non-members; and 81.4% of members demonstrated awareness of their rights, compared to just 8.1% of non-members. Critically, regression analysis showed that training in childcare (β = 3,839.690, p < 0.01) and house management (β = 5,819.638, p < 0.05) were significant positive predictors of monthly wages, translating into tangible economic gains for trained workers. These findings provide robust empirical evidence that NGO-led training programs and organizational membership significantly enhance formalization, rights awareness, and wage outcomes. The study contributes to labor and development literature by empirically isolating the causal mechanisms through which civil society organizations improve informal sector livelihoods. It concludes that NGOs like CVM play a transformative role in empowering domestic workers through skills development and advocacy. It is recommended that the government and development partners institutionalize support for such NGO-led training initiatives and promote written employment contracts to formalize and protect the domestic work sector.