TANZANIA is set to receive $13 million to expand social projects across 15 additional districts funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

Cyprian Luhemeja, Permanent Secretary in the Vice President’s Office unveiled this yesterday when speaking during a bilateral meeting between him and UNCDF representatives at the ongoing COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration on climate-related initiatives with the funds allocated to programmes under the Local Climate Adaptation Living Facility (LoCAL) and Capacity Building for Climate Finance Tracking.

Luhemeja highlighted that the funding would further support critical sectors such as water, livestock, fisheries and infrastructure, aligning with Tanzania’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.

In addition, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the NDC Partnership committed to providing further financial assistance for Tanzania’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The country requires an estimated $19.2 billion to fully implement its climate goals.

Three districts in Dodoma region Chamwino, Kondoa and Mpwapwa have already benefited from the programme.

The meeting also included prominent officials such as Amina Khamis Shabaan, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance; Farhat Mbarouk, Director of Environment in the Office of the First Vice President Zanzibar, Dr Kanizio Manyika, Acting Assistant Director of Environment Department and other experts from government institutions.

The funding aims to bolster Tanzania’s resilience against climate change impacts while fostering sustainable development at grassroots level.