USAID to dish out 20bn/- for ocean biodiversity

UNITED States through its agency for development (USAID) has extended 8.4 million US dollars (about 20bn/-) as initial financing to help Tanzania conserve coastal marine biodiversity, which is facing a greater climate change.

US Second Gentlemen, Mr Doug Emhoff revealed while launching the USAID Heshimu Bahari Project in Dar es Salaam, yesterday as part of his spouse the US Vice President Kamala Harris’s three-day working tour in Tanzania.

Mr Emhoff indicated that the project literally translated as Respect the Ocean represents the climate crisis that the Biden-Harris administration faces in addressing the challenge around the world.

Based on this, he said the risk for five year-project  funding hopes to strengthen fisheries biodiversity in both Mainland and Zanzibar as part of the US government’s efforts to build upon the commitment made during the US-African leadership Summit hosted in Washington DC late last year by President Joe Biden of which President Samia Suluhu was among attendees.

Among such goals included working with global partners to advance shared climate adaptation and resilience goals made.

“We are experiencing a severe climate crisis in this world…extreme climate change is an extra essential to the US as well as the rest of the world,” said the Second Gentlemen.

He highlighted that the programme will support Tanzania’s capacity to sustainably manage marine resources and protect coral reefs and helps to mitigate the impacts of extreme climate change that has disrupted ecosystems and impacted the tourism potential of the country.

The experienced lawyer and a champion of gender equity also noted that the project will prioritize gender equity to address the persistent inequality that exists in the fisheries sector as well as alleviate women’s voices in decision-making and strengthen their economic livelihood opportunities.

Advancing women’s economic opportunities were critical to ensuring all countries can meet their full economic potential and that women can meaningfully and equally contribute to and benefit from global prospects.

“If women are economically secure they invest in their families, communities, economic growth, and creating more prosperous and stable societies for everyone.

“It is also important for men to uplift women…if we lift up women we lift up the economy, society. When women succeed we are all lifted for the better and this is all the Heshimu Bahari Project will address in Tanzania,” he asserted.

He added that “the VP and I are optimistic about the future of Tanzania; we look forward to a continuing partnership between the two countries and creating a future that is fair and prosperous, equitable for everyone.”

For his part, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Daniel Mushi who was speaking on behalf of the Minister Mr Abdallah Ulega observed that Tanzania is facing challenges such as overfishing and climate change that are affecting the ability to conserve marine and coastal biodiversity and sustainably manage fisheries.

He said the government has designated a variety of marine protected areas throughout coastal waters from the northern border with Kenya to the southern border with Mozambique.

“The network comprises marine conservation areas, collaborative fishery management areas, and marine parks and reserves. This network covers approximately 80 percent of the mainland coastline and approximately 70 percent in Zanzibar” stated Dr Mushi

The Deputy PS expressed confidence that these efforts will gradually enhance biodiversity; conserve endangered, threatened, and protected species; and sustain fisheries, stressing that the ministry was committed to the success of the USAID Heshimu Bahari project.

USAID Tanzania Mission Director Veeraya Somvongsiri maintained that for a long time, they have been supporting the country in environmental conservation and now turn to a blue economy.

Chief of Party for the USAID Tanzania Heshimu Bahari Activity, Mr Sadiki Laiser said Tanzania ecosystems were experiencing pressure from overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate change. These challenges, among others, threaten biodiversity, marine-based livelihoods, and food security throughout coastal Tanzania.

Additionally, women and youth in Tanzania face a variety of barriers to participating in seascape management, benefiting from more lucrative marine-based livelihoods, and adapting to the impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change.

He said it was against this backdrop USAID came up with the Heshimu Bahari project to protect marine biodiversity and improve livelihoods.

Before the event, the first gentleman met with female fishing community, local leaders, and government representatives at Coco Beach, wherey he got a hand on the various challenges facing the sector.