COSTECH gets 9bn/- to research climate change
THE Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) has received 9bn/- through National Fund for Advancement of Science and Technology (NFAST) to be used in research on climate change.
The funds have been provided by the government of Norway through Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) project.
Minister of State, Vice-President’s Office, Union and Environment, Dr Selemani Jafo expressed gratitude to Norwegian government for its great support in various projects being implemented in the country.
“The funds will help in research that will help in agricultural sector, following information that will be released relating to climate change … it will also help in construction activities,” Dr Jafo said.
The minister said that the research must focus on areas that will provide solution to the impact of climate change.
“The studies must respond to the challenges facing the country and focus on climate mitigation and adaptation for great results,” he said.
Dr Jafo noted that because his ministry is dealing with environment, he expects to receive great outcome from the researches that are going to be done in the country so as to prepare communities on what to do when there are climate changes.
Dr Amos Nungu, the Director General of COSTECH said that they are the coordinators of all the research funds from the government and donors on science, technology and innovation and they will focus more on climate change as requested.
“Climate change is everything in our societies so the fund will be used effectively in planned projects, so researchers who want to conduct different climate change research are welcomed so as to help the country to face climate change,” said Dr Nungu.
He added that climate change has brought huge impacts including floods, draught and hunger to humans, plants and animals thus the coming studies on climate change will be useful to the country.
The event was also attended by Sweden and Norway ambassadors as well as different researchers from Tanzania, Norway and Sweden who made presentations on climate change.
