Climate change governance in Tanzania: challenges and opportunities
This policy brief is aimed at policymakers and development partners. Based on in-depth interviews with policymakers, civil society experts, academics and development partners in Tanzania, it outlines the key governance challenges that the country faces in implementing its climate policies, describes the drivers of and barriers to climate-relevant policy processes, and concludes with policy recommendations.
Key messages
- Since 2015 climate change policy has taken a back seat in Tanzania’s political agenda. Instead, the Government has prioritised rapid industrialisation and infrastructure development.
- Governance challenges impede Tanzania’s ability to integrate its responses to climate-related issues into national and sectoral policies, and to design, implement and enforce policies.
- There is weak coordination between peers and levels of government, limited scientific and policy information, and insufficient capacity and resources.
- Tanzania needs to take further action in order to address climate change adequately.
- Adopting a narrative of ‘green growth’ may be a more effective way to advance resilience, and eventually support a transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, while increasing access to electricity.
- Tanzania would also benefit from: creating regular, topical, cross-ministerial forums; strengthening formal and informal ‘low cost’ channels of communication; strengthening flows of information upwards, potentially facilitated by civil society organisations; and creating an open database of available research and experts, mapping responsibilities and expertise.