Climate project to boost resilience in Kigoma

KIGOMA: A NEW project aimed at strengthening community resilience to climate change through the use of weather information has been launched in Kigoma Region, with 30,000 people expected to benefit from training and public awareness programmes.

The GreenAlert Project—Strengthening Community Resilience to the Impacts of Climate Change through Community Education is being implemented by the Tanzania Wote Equality Alliance (TAWEA) in collaboration with the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA).

Speaking during the launch, Kigoma Meteorological Training Institute tutor Mr Justus Mbawala said the project will help communities better understand and use daily weather information to plan their activities and minimise the impacts of climate change.

“When weather information is fully utilised, it enables people to plan their development activities based on expected weather conditions while taking measures to reduce the impacts of climate change,” he said.

Mr Mbawala said weather information issued by TMA plays a vital role in supporting sectors such as agriculture, livestock keeping, fishing and business, helping communities improve productivity and protect their livelihoods.

Despite its importance, he noted that the use of official weather information remains low, with many people failing to follow weather forecasts or dismissing them as no different from traditional fortunetelling.

“As a result, weather variability and climate change continue to disrupt social and economic activities,” he said.

He added that various initiatives have been undertaken to encourage wider use of weather information, saying the GreenAlert Project will further strengthen public awareness and understanding of official weather forecasts to support informed planning and decision-making.

Earlier, TAWEA Executive Director Mr Festo Mrina said the project is expected to benefit 30,000 people from five villages in four wards of Kasulu District Council through training on the use of weather information.

“The training will enable communities to better plan their economic activities while strengthening their resilience to the effects of climate change,” he said.

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Mr Mrina explained that the project is being implemented in villages and wards surrounding forest reserves and hunting blocks, areas that have been significantly affected by climate change due to environmental degradation caused by human activities.

Funded by the Clarities Aid Foundation America (CAF America) at a cost of 127m/-, the project will also use community meetings and radio programmes to raise awareness and encourage the public to use official weather information issued by TMA.

Mr Mrina said TAWEA is implementing the project in partnership with TMA, the Kasulu District Council Director’s Office, village government leaders, environmental stakeholders and local communities.

“Through this partnership, we want communities to understand, trust and use official weather information in planning their daily activities and building resilience to climate change,” he said.