By Our Reporter
Tanzania is seeking to mobilise more climate finance and strengthen international partnerships to protect vulnerable communities, restore ecosystems and address the growing effects of climate change.
The National Environment Management Council (NEMC) held a series of meetings with international development partners on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, in November 2026.
The discussions focused on expanding access to financing, technology and technical expertise needed to support climate adaptation and environmental protection projects.
NEMC Director General Immaculate Sware Semesi said international cooperation was important in helping Tanzania translate its climate commitments into practical interventions.
“Access to climate finance remains critical if Tanzania is to turn its climate commitments into practical interventions that benefit communities,” she said.
She said stronger partnerships would help the country access the resources and expertise required to address climate-related challenges.
“We need strong international partnerships to access the financing, technology and expertise required to address the growing effects of climate change,” she said.
Among the institutions involved in the discussions were the Adaptation Fund, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
During its engagement with the Adaptation Fund, NEMC welcomed the renewal of its accreditation for another five years, alongside the approval of projects covering the restoration of Lake Babati and the SWAHAT learning and knowledge exchange initiative.
The council also called for faster reviews of proposed projects worth about $30 million, targeting the water sector, ecosystems and climate-resilient economic activities.
“These projects target critical sectors, including water, ecosystems and economic activities. Speeding up their approval will help us address climate risks affecting people's livelihoods,” she said.
The proposed investments are significant because climate-related pressures on water resources, natural ecosystems and economic activities can undermine livelihoods and development gains.
In its engagement with AfDB, NEMC followed up on preparations for the proposed Coastal Resilience Programme, whose concept note was approved in June 2024.
The programme aims to protect coastal communities and marine ecosystems in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar from the effects of climate change.
“Coastal communities face increasing climate-related risks. We want to ensure that the proposed programme moves forward so that vulnerable communities and ecosystems in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar are better protected,” she said.
The discussions focused on accelerating project preparations, mobilising resources and strengthening cooperation between the two institutions to move the initiative towards implementation.
For Tanzania, protecting coastal areas is also important for the Blue Economy, which depends on healthy marine ecosystems and supports livelihoods through fishing and other economic activities.
NEMC also held discussions with the GCF on strengthening cooperation following the renewal of its accreditation, particularly in project preparation and institutional capacity-building to improve access to climate finance.
The engagement is expected to support the development of proposals that can attract funding for national climate priorities.
Beyond financing and coastal protection, NEMC discussed climate-related displacement with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), through the Global Centre for Climate Mobility (GCCM).
The two institutions are nearing completion of an agreement aimed at addressing challenges facing people forced to move from their homes because of climate-related impacts.
NEMC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that projects implemented under the proposed cooperation are professionally managed.
“Climate change is increasingly affecting where and how people live. We must strengthen our capacity to address displacement and ensure that affected communities receive appropriate support,” she said.
The council also met iFOREST to discuss clean transport, renewable energy and measures to address rising temperatures in urban areas.
The two sides agreed to begin research in parts of Dar es Salaam most affected by extreme heat to identify vulnerable areas and recommend appropriate interventions.
The findings are expected to guide land-use planning, the development of green infrastructure and the adoption of cooling technologies that protect public health and improve urban living conditions.
“We need reliable research to identify areas most affected by rising temperatures. This will help us develop practical solutions, including green infrastructure and better urban planning,” she said.
The research could help authorities identify areas requiring priority interventions as urban temperatures continue to pose challenges to public health and the wellbeing of residents.
In another engagement, NEMC met the Zero Waste Forum to discuss ways of strengthening the council's waste management programme.
The discussions focused on reducing waste generation, promoting the reuse of products and improving recycling to turn discarded materials into useful resources.
The approach is intended to reduce environmental pollution while encouraging more sustainable use of available resources.
The meetings took place alongside the participation of the Minister of State in the Vice-President's Office (Union and Environment), Hamad Yusuph Masauni.
NEMC said the engagements demonstrated Tanzania's commitment to strengthening international cooperation and linking available financial, technological and technical resources with national priorities.
However, the impact of the partnerships will ultimately depend on how quickly proposed projects secure funding and move from preparation to implementation.
“Our priority is to ensure that resources mobilised through these partnerships are translated into well-managed projects with measurable benefits for the people,” she said.
For communities facing climate-related displacement, pressure on water resources, rising urban temperatures and threats to coastal livelihoods, the priority is to ensure that international commitments deliver practical results.