DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 17 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — The Tanzanian government and the European Union (EU) have signed five grants contract worth 9.92 million Euros equivalent to 26.1bn/- for Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) as part of their commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action in Tanzania.
The grants are allocated under the EU-funded Integrated Approach to Sustainable Cooking Solutions Programme.
The beneficiaries of each of the five grants are World Wide Fund for Nature, World Vision Tanzania, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, TaTEDO – Sustainable Energy Services Organisation and Tanzania Forest Conservation Group.
Speaking after the signing of the contract, Ministry of Finance Deputy Permanent Secretary, Amina Shabaan said the NGOs will implement various projects across Tanzania focusing on sustainable forest management and wood-fuel production in rural areas.
“The three-year project aims to enhance environmental sustainability, in particular the sustainability of the wood-fuel value chain.
“It is expected to address challenges in the fuel wood value chain, promoting reforestation and enhancing sustainable charcoal production and biomass energy solutions,” said Shabaan.
She said the activities will cover six regions namely Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Tabora, Tanga, Morogoro and Coast.
Shabaan said the selected NGOs have significant experience in the forestry sector and engagement with rural communities, interventions on sustainable forest management are their core businesses.
Awarded NGOs and their project title in the bracket is World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in partnership with Mpingo Conservation and Development Initiative (MCDI) and Lawyer’s Environmental Action Team (LEAT) who have been awarded 6.29bn/- (Integrated Approach for Transformation of Tanzania Fuel Wood Value Chain). The project is designed to enhance implementation of forest regulatory frameworks and enforcement by legal frameworks through the responsible sector ministries and the TFS.
World Vision Tanzania received 5.26 bn/- for Accelerating Reforestation for the Development of Households in Tanga. It will be implemented in Handeni, Kilindi, Mkinga and Pangani districts Tanga Region.
Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation got 5.26 bn/- (Sustainable Forest management and renewable energy through inclusive community empowerment) to be implemented in Morogoro region specifically in Mvuha, Kilombero, Malinyi and Ulanga districts.
Others are TaTEDO -Sustainable Energy Services Organisation in partnership with Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF) which have been awarded 4.01bn/- (Integrated Sustainable Charcoal Value Chain Promotion Project) to be implemented in Coast Region in the districts of Bagamoyo, Kisarawe, Mkuranga, Kibiti and Rufiji; and Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG) which acquired 5.26 bn/- (Integrated Forest and Biomass Energy Solutions for Tanzania (IFBEST) to be implemented in Tanga Region specifically in Handeni, Kilindi, Mkinga and Pangani districts.
Shabaan said the EU has been among the key supporters of Tanzania’s development journey.
“This grant not only signifies financial support the EU has extended to Tanzania, but also fosters a sense of partnership, collaboration and shared values between the two parties,” she said.
For his part the EU Head of Cooperation, Cedric Merel urged all beneficiaries to implement the contracts in accordance with the agreed terms and conditions.
He said beneficiaries should make the best use of the locally available human resources in the projects’ areas to enhance ownership and sustainability of the projects.
“We expect their implementation will bring positive impact to Tanzania’s development agenda,” said Merel.
He said the projects were also part of the broad agenda of the Sixth Phase Government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan that seek to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from deforestation and forest degradation which is a major contribution to the Government of Tanzania in meeting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments.
He said the EU is committed to help Tanzania tackle the challenges of unsustainable and inefficient production and use of charcoal for cooking which has significant environmental, economic and social impacts.
“Partnerships with government, development partners, private sector and non-government organisations are crucial in addressing challenges facing forest and cooking sectors,” said Merel. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
