By Business Insider Correspondent, Dodoma
The government has committed TSh 2.6 billion toward a climate resilience project aimed at strengthening communities and ecosystems across the country’s vast miombo woodlands and semi-arid zones of Zanzibar.
The funding, earmarked for implementation during the 2025/26–2026/27 fiscal period, underscores growing national efforts to address the economic and environmental risks posed by climate change.
Speaking at the launch of the project’s executive committee meeting in Dodoma on March 27, 2026, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Environment in the Vice President’s Office, Ambassador Baraka Luvanda, said the initiative targets climate adaptation in priority sectors by promoting the adoption of resilient technologies. The project will be implemented through a multi-institutional framework involving the Vice President’s Office, the First Vice President’s Office in Zanzibar, sectoral ministries responsible for agriculture, irrigation, natural resources and livestock, as well as the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS).
“This project is designed to improve enabling conditions for the uptake of climate-resilient technologies across key sectors of the economy,” Luvanda noted, adding that it also seeks to strengthen value chains for non-timber forest products, horticulture, and livestock feed systems in miombo ecosystems.
These interventions are expected to enhance both environmental sustainability and rural incomes, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions.
Project Coordinator James Chuyi confirmed that implementation will cover seven regions across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, including Tabora, Rukwa, Katavi, and parts of Unguja and Pemba.
Districts such as Sikonge, Nkasi, Mpanda, Micheweni and Chake Chake have been identified as priority intervention areas due to their ecological sensitivity and exposure to climate shocks.
Strategic importance for agriculture and rural economies
The initiative comes at a critical time for Tanzania’s agriculture-dependent economy, where climate variability – manifested through prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and land degradation – continues to threaten productivity.
Miombo woodlands, which cover a significant portion of southern and western Tanzania, play a crucial role in supporting rural livelihoods through agriculture, livestock, and forest-based products.
However, these ecosystems are increasingly under pressure from deforestation and unsustainable land use practices.
By integrating climate adaptation with value chain development, the project aims to shift communities from subsistence vulnerability to more resilient and market-oriented production systems. This aligns with broader government priorities to modernise agriculture while safeguarding natural resources.
International financing and policy alignment
The five-year programme (2025–2029) is financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented under the technical supervision of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The partnership reflects increasing global support for climate adaptation initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly those that combine environmental conservation with economic development.
Tanzania has in recent years intensified its climate policy framework, positioning resilience and green growth as central pillars of its long-term development agenda. The Vice President’s Office, which oversees environmental management, has been expanding access to climate financing mechanisms while promoting community-level adaptation strategies.
Expanding access and building capacity
Officials emphasised that beyond infrastructure and ecosystem restoration, the project will focus on building technical capacity among communities that face financial and knowledge constraints.
This includes training in climate-smart agriculture, improved livestock management, and sustainable land use practices.
The government views such interventions as essential for unlocking productivity in rural areas while reducing vulnerability to climate shocks. By targeting both mainland and Zanzibar, the initiative also reinforces efforts to ensure inclusive development across the Union.
As Tanzania scales up its climate resilience agenda, projects of this nature are expected to play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between environmental sustainability and economic growth.
With agriculture employing the majority of the population, the success of such programmes could have far-reaching implications – not only for food security but also for poverty reduction and long-term economic stability. The TSh 2.6 billion allocation, while modest in absolute terms, signals a strategic shift toward integrated climate and development planning, positioning Tanzania to better navigate the growing risks associated with climate change while unlocking new opportunities in green and sustainable value chains.
