Tanzania's environment body gets Sh4 billion boost

Dar es Salaam. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has allocated Sh4.04 billion to 44 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across Tanzania Mainland.

A signing ceremony under the auspices of UNDP Resident Representative Mr Shigeki Komatsubara marked the formalisation of this financial allocation. Representatives from the Vice President’s Office, participating CSOs, and the national steering committee for the GEF Small Grants Programme attended the ceremony.

Over the next 20 months, these grants will enable communities to carry out a range of biodiversity conservation initiatives, promoting community-led environmental management, creating alternative income sources, and addressing local environmental challenges.

The projects include various activities such as tree planting, beekeeping, forest conservation, water source preservation, livestock management, beach management, sea turtle conservation, wetland management, ecotourism, and agroforestry activities.

The primary aim is to enhance the capacity of local communities to tackle environmental issues through grassroots-driven solutions.

At the agreement signing ceremony, UNDP Resident Representative Mr Komatsubara emphasized the crucial role of community involvement in natural resource management.

“Tanzania’s vast  natural resources require active community involvement for conservation and sustainable utilization, essential for local and national development.” He highlighted the  small grants programme’s role as a catalyst for change, attracting partners to invest strategically in community-led initiatives.

He said the 44 projects will benefit approximately 5,000 Tanzanians residing in rural areas, with a targeted emphasis on key landscapes including the Serengeti ecosystem, West Kilimanjaro and Lake Natron.

For her part, director Environment  and Social Impact Assessment from National Environment Management Council (Nemc) Ms Lilian Lukambuzi said the grant is going to help the government improve the environment and fight climate change. 

"We continue to thank UNDP for continuing to support these organizations that are doing projects with our community to take care of the environment, especially water sources," she said.

On his part the executive director for Media Aid for Indigenous and Pastoralist Communityb (MAIPAC) Mr Musa Juma said they are implementing projects of respect and preserving indigenous traditional knowledge in conservation.  In two districts of Arusha region, Monduli and Karatu.

He said "We also implement the project of protect the water sources that have been destroyed by wildlife but we are also going to collect natural knowledge in environmental care and deal with the effects of climate change in the communities of Wahadzabe and Datoga and we will release a book."

"This is the second time we are benefiting from this grant, in the first project we found out that many communities have knowledge that if used will help bring about changes in environmental care we thank the development stakeholders for enabling us to continue to take care of the environment for future generations," he said.