The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), in partnership with the Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB), has launched a special scholarship programme aimed at increasing access to higher education for students from communities living within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The initiative, known as the Ngorongoro Scholarship Fund, seeks to support eligible students pursuing higher education while helping to build a new generation of professionals in conservation, tourism and other fields critical to the sustainable development of the area.
Speaking during a press briefing in Dar es Salaam, Senior Assistant Conservation Commissioner for Community Development, Ms Gloria Bideberi, said the programme reflects the government's commitment to improving educational opportunities and livelihoods for communities residing inside the conservation area.
She said the partnership with HESLB would ensure a transparent and merit-based selection process, allowing qualified students to access higher education funding without concerns over favouritism.
“Through HESLB, all scholarship procedures will follow clearly defined criteria and transparent processes. Education remains one of the most important tools for empowering communities to participate in economic, social and environmental development,” she said on behalf of the Conservation Commissioner.
The scholarship programme is guided by the theme ‘Sustainable Education for Community Development and Conservation’ and will initially support Tanzanian students admitted to accredited higher learning institutions within the country.
Priority will be given to courses related to wildlife conservation, forestry, archaeology and tourism, although the scope of the programme is expected to expand in future years.
HESLB Executive Director Dr Bill Kiwia said the fund will begin operating in the 2026/27 academic year, targeting students from Ngorongoro pursuing studies in conservation-related disciplines and other fields to be specified in the scholarship guidelines.
According to Dr Kiwia, NCAA has allocated TZS 99 million for the programme’s first phase, which will provide scholarships to 15 students.
“The objective is to enable young people from Ngorongoro to access higher education, develop specialised skills and contribute to the conservation of national resources and sustainable community development,” he said.
He noted that HESLB and NCAA have already finalised a dedicated scholarship framework outlining eligibility requirements, application procedures and areas of study to be prioritised.
The framework places particular emphasis on programmes linked to natural resource conservation, wildlife management and other disciplines considered essential for the long-term development of the Ngorongoro ecosystem and surrounding communities.
Dr Kiwia said preparations for a digital application system have also been completed, with applications set to open on August 15, 2026.
He added that NCAA and HESLB are currently conducting awareness campaigns to ensure prospective applicants understand the eligibility requirements and application process.
Before the establishment of the new fund, NCAA provided educational support through the Pastoral Council.
During the 2025/26 financial year alone, more than 15,000 people from communities living within the conservation area benefited from educational assistance in fields such as teaching, medicine, engineering, accounting and conservation.
Officials said the new scholarship fund is expected to strengthen local capacity in conservation and other strategic sectors while expanding educational opportunities for young people from one of Tanzania’s most important conservation landscapes.
