The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) has allocated TZS 99 million to support higher education studies for 15 students from communities living within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area during the 2026/27 academic year.
The initiative is aimed at expanding access to higher education for young people from the conservation area while nurturing professionals who will contribute to the protection of Tanzania’s natural heritage and support sustainable development.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on August 4, 2026, during the launch of implementation guidelines for the scholarship programme, Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB) Executive Director Dr Bill Kiwia said preparations for the initiative had been completed following the signing of a partnership agreement between HESLB and NCAA in January this year.
Dr Kiwia said the selected students will receive financial support to pursue higher education programmes linked to conservation and related fields.
“Our goal is to empower young people from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area through higher education so that they can become professionals who will help safeguard the country’s natural resources and promote sustainable development in surrounding communities,” he said.
He added that all arrangements for disbursing the scholarships had been finalised and that the programme would benefit students pursuing studies in natural resource conservation, wildlife management, archaeology, heritage management and other conservation-related disciplines during the 2026/27 academic year.
Dr Kiwia noted that investment in education remains a cornerstone of national development and urged other institutions to emulate NCAA by establishing similar programmes to support access to higher education.
“We encourage parents, guardians, community leaders and young people living within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to take advantage of this opportunity. Education is the foundation of national development, and through this partnership we expect to produce professionals who will serve the country effectively,” he said.
NCAA Senior Assistant Conservation Commissioner and Community Development Officer Gloria Bideberi said more than 15,000 residents from the conservation area have already benefited from educational support in various fields, including medicine, engineering, accounting and conservation studies.
She said the establishment of the new scholarship fund would create a strong foundation for ensuring sustainable access to educational opportunities for current and future generations.
“This fund will support students admitted to higher learning institutions across the United Republic of Tanzania. Priority will be given to those studying wildlife conservation, forestry, cultural heritage and tourism, while the programme will continue to expand as demand grows,” Ms Bideberi said.
The scholarship scheme forms part of broader efforts by NCAA to improve education outcomes and strengthen local participation in conservation and sustainable development initiatives.