Issue
The quantity and quality of water resources in Tanzania is significantly affected by experiences of extreme temperatures, heavy rainfall and prolonged dry spells. Water-intensive sectors lack the capacity to integrate climate-resilient actions to protect water resources.
How we are helping
This project will contribute to the promotion of inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient water resource management systems through community empowerment and encouraging water-intensive sectors to mainstream climate adaptation and gender-responsive water security actions.
About the project
The impacts of climate change have disrupted agricultural activities and other water-intensive sectors in Tanzania. Stakeholders including government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), donors and communities have initiated numerous actions to mitigate these risks, including compliance with global initiatives. However, despite these efforts, the plans and budgets of local government authorities have not adequately addressed the impact of climate change on water resources and the effective implementation of adaptation strategies remain a significant challenge.
This project will work with local communities, representatives from water-intensive sectors, gender experts, local government officials and parliamentarians to improve the integration of climate-resilient actions in water-intensive sectors (with a focus on the water, agriculture, and industry sectors) and to strengthen gender responsiveness in the management of water resources in these sectors.
This will be achieved by:
- Conducting a review of water-intensive sectors, focusing on gaps that hinder integration of climate change and gender responsive actions, including lack of adequate funding
- Producing a research report on gaps and opportunities to mainstreaming climate change actions in water-intensive sectors’ plans and budgets, and a second report on gender-responsive climate resilience
- Developing policy briefs for advocacy and engagement with sector stakeholders including government bodies
- Facilitating meetings and engaging through existing dialogue forums with sector stakeholders to identify ways to promote better water resources management practices, including through the provision of increased financing
- Training 30 community change agents from two villages on advocacy skills and supporting them to directly engage with duty bearers
- Producing two radio programmes, stories of change and a 3D animation cartoon to raise awareness of climate impacts facing communities and highlighting their advocacy asks on water resources management
- Working closely with local communities to develop and implement two pilot plans at village level on climate-resilience in water resources management
- Profiling community voices, especially women, to advocate for increased sector financing for climate actions.
As a result of the project, it is hoped that voices of communities, with a particular emphasis on women, will have been amplified to ensure that the perspectives and needs of these communities are better recognised and addressed; and water-intensive sectors will have strengthened capacity to integrate climate-resilient initiatives with improved allocation of funding for the management of water resources.
Project Partners
Shahidi wa Maji is a Tanzanian civil society organisation dedicated to sustainability, equity and accountability in water resource management. It was formed in 2008 by a group of Tanzanians working in business, academia, the water sector, NGOs and the media, driven by concerns over their experiences on the ground. The organisation has a skilled and experienced team with a proven track record in improving water security, particularly for vulnerable communities. It fulfils a unique role in Tanzania’s institutional landscape, advocating and taking action for fair, efficient and sustainable water management.
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