National Level Political Economy Analysis Report USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili

The country has an extensive diversity of species with at least 14,500 known and confirmed species. Fifty-five percent of Mainland Tanzania is covered by 41.8 million hectares of forest resources, including woodlands, montane, plantations, and mangroves. Tanzania also has diverse coastal and marine ecosystems, occupying an area of 241,500 square kilometers, with a wide range of important species. However, Tanzania has lost about one-third of its important ecosystems over the past few decades and is losing 38% of its forest cover at an annual rate of about 373,000 hectares. The number of threatened species in the country has almost tripled over the last decade, with 914 threatened species recorded, accounting for about 4% of threatened species globally. The country is among the 15 countries globally with the highest number of threatened species. To manage these threats, both the Government of Tanzania (GOT) and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (RGoZ) have signalled strong support for the restoration and management of wildlife habitats and wildlife movement corridors. The GOT enacted Tanzania's Wildlife Conservation (Wildlife Corridors, Dispersal Areas, Buffer Zones, and Migratory Routes) Regulations in 2018, and the Tanzania Wildlife Corridors Assessment Prioritization and Action Plan was developed in 2021. Other important legislation includes the Mainland and Marine Conservation Unit Regulations of 2014, the Zanzibar Fisheries Act of 2010, and the National Forestry Policy 1998, which is currently under review. The Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Activity awarded to RTI International to address dynamics that hinder habitat connectivity and the long-term growth of biodiversity in Tanzania. This Activity was designed to incorporate a series of interventions that support and strengthen government, private sector, and civil society capacity for biodiversity conservation. The Activity aims to build the capacity of the public sector and civil society in natural resource management, increase private sector engagement in conservation and natural resource management, and strengthen the policy and regulatory framework for conservation and natural resource management. As part of the start-up activities, the GOT through the Director of Wildlife, USAID Tanzania, and RTI agreed on the five areas of connectivity in which Tuhifadhi Maliasili will work: Kwakuchinja, Tarangire Simanjiro, Kigosi Moyowosi–Uvinza, Nyerere Selous–Udzungwa, and Amani Nilo. In addition, RTI and USAID agreed to work on the sixth area of connectivity: Pemba Channel Conservation Area (PeCCA). To inform interventions, the Tuhifadhi Maliasili team has undertaken a political economy analysis to identify the key stakeholders, their interests, and the dynamics that influence their behavior. The political economy analysis has identified several key stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector companies, civil society organizations, and local communities. These stakeholders have varying levels of influence and interest in the restoration and protection of wildlife corridors. The analysis has also identified several factors that influence the behavior of these stakeholders, including demographic and economic pressures, policy and regulatory frameworks, and social and cultural norms. The Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity aims to strengthen the capacity of these stakeholders to work together to achieve the goal of restoring and protecting wildlife corridors. The Activity will provide technical assistance and training to government agencies, private sector companies, and civil society organizations to enhance their capacity to manage natural resources sustainably. The Activity will also support the development of policies and regulations that promote the restoration and protection of wildlife corridors. The Activity will focus on the five areas of connectivity agreed upon by the GOT, USAID Tanzania, and RTI: Kwakuchinja, Tarangire Simanjiro, Kigosi Moyowosi–Uvinza, Nyerere Selous–Udzungwa, and Amani Nilo. In addition, the Activity will work on the sixth area of connectivity: Pemba Channel Conservation Area (PeCCA). The Activity will engage with local communities, government agencies, private sector companies, and civil society organizations to develop and implement interventions that promote the restoration and protection of wildlife corridors. The Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity will also support the development of a national policy and regulatory framework for the restoration and protection of wildlife corridors. The Activity will work with government agencies, private sector companies, and civil society organizations to develop policies and regulations that promote the restoration and protection of wildlife corridors. The Activity will also support the development of a national plan for the restoration and protection of wildlife corridors. The Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity aims to contribute to the long-term growth of biodiversity in Tanzania by promoting the restoration and protection of wildlife corridors. The Activity will work with