By our reporter,
The World Bank has expressed satisfaction with Tanzania’s environmental management progress and pledged closer cooperation with the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) to strengthen institutional capacity and environmental governance systems.
The commitment emerged during talks between NEMC officials and a World Bank delegation led by Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Director Anna Wellenstein and environmental specialist Muhammad Kandeel.
Discussions focused on strengthening environmental impact assessment systems, improving technical capacity for environmental experts and government officials, and enhancing stakeholders’ understanding of World Bank environmental and social safeguard procedures in development projects.
The NEMC delegation was led by Director General Dr. Immaculata Semesi, who thanked the World Bank for its continued support in implementing the Environmental Health Pollution Management Project (EHPMP), a programme aimed at reducing mercury use and improving chemical management among Tanzania’s small-scale gold miners.
According to NEMC, the project has contributed significantly to reducing environmental and health risks associated with mercury exposure in artisanal mining communities while improving national systems for chemical management and environmental monitoring.
The World Bank delegation commended the progress recorded under the project and signaled readiness to continue supporting Tanzania in consolidating the gains achieved, particularly in strengthening environmental compliance systems and institutional effectiveness.
The meeting comes as NEMC approaches its 40th anniversary, with the government increasingly positioning the institution as a central pillar in Tanzania’s broader environmental protection and climate resilience agenda.
