Issue
Coastal communities in Tanzania are acutely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which present a serious threat to lives and livelihoods. Lack of access to adequate climate resilience strategies and resources leaves these communities exposed to climate-related disasters.
How we are helping
This project aims to contribute to accelerating climate action by strengthening the capacity of rural women and young people to engage in the development and implementation of climate policies and adaptation strategies at both local and national levels.
About the project
Tanzania’s coastal communities are highly vulnerable to climate change. Rising sea levels, stronger storms, and unpredictable rainfall patterns threaten homes, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Rural women and youth often bear the brunt of these impacts due to systemic inequalities and limited access to climate adaptation resources. Despite existing national climate policies, women and youth often lack representation in decision-making processes, which reduces the effectiveness of these policies in addressing local needs.
Project partners, Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania, will seek to empower women and youth with advocacy skills and climate knowledge, enabling them to contribute to inclusive and sustainable climate solutions. By fostering leadership and collective action, the project will promote climate resilience through community-driven initiatives.
This will be achieved by:
- Establishing advocacy groups for women and youth to advance climate justice.
- Training women and youth who have joined the advocacy groups in climate change and adaptation strategies, leadership, and community engagement.
- Hosting two conferences to develop and propose solutions to climate challenges.
- Supporting the new advocacy groups in conducting two national and local advocacy campaigns using radio, television, and documentaries to raise awareness of climate justice.
- Facilitating dialogues with policy-makers to ensure representation of women and youth in decision-making bodies.
- Documenting and sharing best practices and lessons learned to inform policy and public discourse.
As a result of the project, it is hoped that rural women and youth will be empowered to contribute meaningfully to climate decision-making processes. By increasing their representation in local government climate bodies, the project will promote gender equity and influence equitable climate policies. Documented best practices will inform policy-makers and drive systemic changes, contributing to long-term climate resilience and sustainable governance in coastal areas of Tanzania.
Project Partners
The Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania, locally known as Mtandao wa Jamii wa Usimamizi wa Misitu Tanzania (MJUMITA), is a network of 134 community groups involved in participatory forest management in Tanzania. The network provides a forum for capacity building, advocacy and communication for communities to sustainably utilise over 1,800,000 hectares of village land forest and improve their livelihoods.
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