IUCN Min of Agriculture GCF project

The Government of Tanzania through Ministry of Agriculture recently received a formal approval from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) secretariat to advance the 5-year “Enhancing Adaptive Capacity and Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Smallholder Farming Communities and Agro-pastoral Systems in Semi-Arid Areas of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar - ECCRA” concept note to full proposal. Sida will provide a small amount of funding (1 M SEK) to allow the IUCN and the Ministry of Agriculture to develop a full project proposal to be submitted to the GCF. The 5-year project will aim to enhance the adaptive capacity and climate resilience of vulnerable smallholder farming communities in agro-pastoral farming systems of semi-arid regions of Tanzania mainland (Manyara and Singida) and Zanzibar (Pemba Kaskazini). Additional funding is available from UNWomen and Belgian Enabel. First stage approval of the proposal has been obtained from the GCF. The project includes the following main components: Component 1; focuses on climate resilient landscape management planning that aims to address drivers of poor land use, land degradation and deforestation in the agricultural landscapes that contribute to the deteriorating integrity and health of the rangelands and as source of GHG emissions. Component 2: focuses on climate proofing selected agricultural value chains while harnessing synergies between adaptation and mitigation. This component also integrates the private sector through innovative business models. Climate services will provide essential information that will inform planning (Component 1), investments and decision-making (Component 2) thus helping minimize the adverse effects of climate change on the investments. Component 3: focuses on climate infrastructure and services; Component 4: focuses on strengthening institutional capacities and interagency collaboration necessary for mainstreaming climate change considerations into planning and budgets thus ensuring sustainability of the interventions beyond a project life cycle. The proposal development will allow the Government of Tanzania and also the Embassy to develop its thinking on climate resilience. A contribution of additional funding for the actual project implementation is a possibility. It should be noted that Sida contribution of SEK 1 000 000.00 (aprox USD 105,000.00) will attract 60 000 000 USD from GCF which will contribute in bringing big impact to the biodiversity conservation, agriculture resilience to climate change impact to Tanzania, as well as improvement of the livelohood to the communities in the project areas. Although the Ministry of Agriculture is a government agent, public agencies need to step up regarding climate change. Supporting Ministry of Agriculture in this regard could be seen as worthwhile regardless of the cautions expressed in the strategy about cooperation with the Government. It should be noted however that the fund will be managed by the IUCN, in this regard the interaction on financial disbursement and management will be between the Sida and IUCN.