United Nations Development Programme funds Tanzanian conservation projects

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) awarded 5.2bn/- (2 million US dollars) to 49 civil society organisations in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar to support community-led environmental projects.

These grants come from the eighth operational phase of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme. The projects aim to benefit about 6,000 people in rural areas by focusing on biodiversity conservation, restoring ecosystems, and mitigating climate change.

Over a 20 month period, the organisations will work in three priority areas: the Serengeti ecosystem, Central Tanzania, specifically Dodoma, and the islands of Unguja and Pemba in Zanzibar. The funding also supports projects outside these areas to ensure inclusive development. The initiatives include activities such as reforestation, climate-smart agriculture, and coastal resource management. Shigeki Komatsubara, the UNDP Resident Representative, stated that the grants aim to mobilise communities and attract more development partners.

Dr Richard Muyungi, the Permanent Secretary in the Vice-President’s Office, noted that the government supports these community-led efforts to improve livelihoods and protect the environment. The Small Grants Programme has operated in Tanzania since 1997. It has committed more than 13 million US dollars across over 440 projects to date. These investments align with the Tanzania Development Vision 2050, which seeks to strengthen local capacity and promote sustainable livelihoods.