Tanzania launches policy action to contain climate change adversities on the economy

By Prosper Makene

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

Climate change stakeholders met in Dar es Salaam last week to form a learning alliance for sharing information, knowledge and experiences as well as carrying out joint policy engagement action on climate change and its adversity to the economy.

 

This is under an initiative titled Policy Action for Climate Change Adaptation (PACCA) being implemented in Uganda and Tanzania and led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

 

In Tanzania, the project is coordinated by the Environmental Management Unit (EMU) of the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives as well as the Vice President’s Office.

 

Speaking at the sidelines of the meeting, National Coordinator, Climate Change Adaptation Project at UNDP-Vice President's Office, Stephen Mariki said that they have decided to form a climate change policy so as to help the nation whenever disasters such as floods and droughts occur.

 

“Up to the moment, we are dealing with natural disasters such floods and droughts. We are drawing new plans of overcoming such disasters, and these will be included our climate change polices,” he said.

 

“During the meeting climate change stakeholders are deliberating climate change policy interventions, challenges and gaps. They are also agreed on areas and mechanism for collective learning under a learning alliance,” Shakwaanande Natai, Head of Environment at the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives.

 

One of the main challenges identified during the PACCA inception workshop held in September was lack of coordination of actors in climate change and lack of knowledge sharing and management.

 

The learning alliances will therefore work as a platform where different stakeholders will exchange climate change knowledge and engage in actions that seek to influence police and actions.

 

The climate change workshop was attended by national and international research agencies, government technocrats from central and local government, private sector, NGOs, media and communications as well as civil society organisations.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN