EU funded Bahari Yetu marine project to boost blue economy in Tanzania
From left; Head of Development Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Tanzania and the East African Community, Mr Marc Stalmans; Representative from the ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries Zanzibar, Mr Zahor El Kharousy; Representative from Tanzania’s ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Semvua Mzighani; and Mtwara District Commissioner, Abdallah Mwaipaya, pictured during the official launch of the Pamoja Tuhifadhi Bahari Yetu project. PHOTO | PAUL OWERE
What you need to know:
- The project will be implemented in Mtwara, Lindi, Coast and Dar es Salaam regions in the mainland Tanzania, as well as North and South Unguja in Zanzibar.
Unguja. A transformative €11 million (Sh33 billion) project aimed at strengthening marine conservation and building a climate-resilient blue economy across Tanzania has been launched in Zanzibar, bringing together international partners, government leaders, and environmental organisations.
The initiative, Pamoja Tuhifadhi Bahari Yetu (Let’s Conserve Our Ocean Together), is spearheaded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and funded by the European Union under its broader ‘Blue Economy for Job Creation and Climate Change Adaptation programme’.
The project will be implemented in Mtwara, Lindi, Coast and Dar es Salaam regions in the mainland Tanzania, as well as North and South Unguja in Zanzibar.
It targets over 500,000 people through a mix of conservation, entrepreneurship, and policy support initiatives.
Speaking at the launch event in Mjini Magharibi, Mr Charles Oluchina, IUCN’s country representative in Tanzania, emphasised the urgency of ocean protection and the role of the new initiative.
“Despite the invaluable benefits the ocean provides to the planet, it is being faced by significant threats that, if not controlled, will result in the loss of biodiversity and other values we receive from the ocean,” said Oluchina.
The EU is the principal donor of the project and a leading global supporter of biodiversity efforts. Mr Marc Stalmans, Head of Development Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Tanzania and the East African Community, reiterated the EU's strategic commitment.
“We, as the European Union in general, are pledging €20 billion per year on conservation and biodiversity. This project aligns perfectly with our Biodiversity Strategy 2030, and supports Tanzania’s Vision 2050 toward becoming a middle-income country while preserving its rich biodiversity.
The Pamoja Tuhifadhi Bahari Yetu project is designed to achieve several measurable outcomes by the year 2028.
Among its key targets is the creation of at least 360 blue and green entrepreneurs, aimed at driving sustainable economic activity along Tanzania’s coastline.
In addition, the project will support 15 innovation ventures focused on plastic waste management, encouraging creative solutions to one of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The initiative also seeks to expand conservation efforts, with a goal of achieving a 10 percent increase in marine and coastal areas under formal protection or sustainable management.
Complementing these efforts, the project aims to stimulate a 10 percent rise in investments in the circular economy, promoting resource efficiency and long-term environmental resilience across targeted regions.
These interventions are designed to not only protect marine ecosystems but also support livelihoods and inclusive local development in coastal communities.
Zanzibar’s ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, represented by Mr Zahor El Kharousy, welcomed the project’s alignment with national priorities.
“Projects like Bahari Yetu align perfectly with our national agenda... spearheading marine and coastal resource management, embracing community-based conservation and co-management, promoting environmental education, and supporting sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
From the mainland, Dr Semvua Mzighani, representing the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment Affairs), stressed the importance of community ownership.
“We particularly appreciate the project’s focus on community-led approaches, capacity building, and ecosystem-based management. These are key principles that guide our work in fisheries development,” said Dr Mzighani.
The project is being implemented by a coalition of conservation organisations including The Nature Conservancy (TNC), WWF Tanzania, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Forum CC, with close collaboration from ZAFIRI, TAFIRI, and district-level authorities from Mtwara, Kilwa, Mafia, and Unguja.
As implementation begins, stakeholders are optimistic that Pamoja Tuhifadhi Bahari Yetu will leave a lasting impact—not only by protecting Tanzania’s iconic marine biodiversity but also by generating economic opportunities in some of the country’s most vulnerable coastal areas.
