Govt validates baseline findings for climate resilience project in Kigoma

KIGOMA: THE government has begun validating baseline assessment findings for the Climate Resilience Project in Kigoma Region, marking a key milestone in preparations for the implementation of interventions aimed at strengthening community resilience to climate change.

The project is being implemented through the Vice-President’s Office, with funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI).

The validation exercise is being carried out during a stakeholders’ workshop held on Friday in Kibondo District to verify socio-economic and environmental conditions in the project areas ahead of implementation.

Speaking while officiating the workshop, Project Manager from the Vice-President’s Office, Engineer Onesphory Kamukuru, said the project is being implemented in Kasulu, Kibondo and Kakonko districts, which have been severely affected by environmental degradation, soil erosion and other impacts of climate change.

He said the districts’ history of hosting large numbers of refugees has increased pressure on forest resources, particularly through the harvesting of trees for firewood and charcoal, contributing to environmental degradation.

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“The project is communitycentred and focuses on three key intervention areas: agroforestry, participatory management of village and Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) forest reserves and restoration of land degraded by soil erosion,” said Eng Kamukuru.

He said the project covers 22 villages in the three districts, particularly those located near former refugee settlements, which have been most affected by environmental degradation and climate change impacts. Under the project, TAFORI is responsible for collecting and analysing baseline data that will form the basis for monitoring and evaluating project performance.

The institute is also overseeing technical implementation in three key areas: Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM), agroforestry and afforestation. Speaking on behalf of the TAFORI technical team, Senior Researcher and Technical Advisory Lead, Dr Numan Amanzi, said the baseline findings presented to stakeholders accurately reflect conditions in the participating villages.

He said the data will provide a benchmark for measuring the project’s impact upon completion, particularly in improving livelihoods, social welfare and environmental sustainability. Dr Amanzi said the validation exercise marks the third phase of project implementation.

The first phase involved introducing the project to regional and district authorities, while the second focused on validating criteria for selecting participating villages, implementation sites and suitable tree species for community forestry, agroforestry and afforestation activities.