DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Tanzanian government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have committed 2 million U.S. dollars to support 49 community-led environmental projects, which are expected to benefit 6,000 people across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Speaking at a grant agreement signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam on Friday, Richard Muyungi, permanent secretary in the Office of the Vice President, said the government has maintained its financial contribution despite declining international funding.
He said the decision to retain the funding aimed to ensure communities continued benefiting from locally driven environmental initiatives.
Muyungi emphasized that community ownership was key to the sustainability of development projects, urging beneficiaries to ensure transparency, accountability and proper use of funds.
UNDP Resident Representative in Tanzania Shigeki Komatsubara said the 49 organizations were selected from more than 800 applicants because of their strong grassroots connections and ability to translate local knowledge into practical environmental solutions.
The current country strategy, which runs through 2028, prioritizes the Serengeti ecosystem, central Tanzania, particularly Dodoma, and Zanzibar's Jozani ecosystem, while reserving 30 percent of resources for projects outside these areas, he added.
