Quarterly Report: FY2023 Quarter 2 – January 01 to March 31, 2023

The activity began on August 17, 2022, and is set to conclude on August 16, 2027. Chemonics International Inc. serves as the prime implementing partner, with The Nature Conservancy and Wildlife Conservation Society as subcontractors. Major counterpart organizations include the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, Ministry for Livestock and Fisheries, President Office Regional Administration and Local Government, and Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. The activity's geographic coverage spans Tanzania, with a focus on Unguja, Pemba, Tanga, and Pwani regions. The reporting period for this quarterly report spans January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2023. During this period, the activity led initiatives that laid the groundwork for upcoming activities under the FY23 workplan, including consultation with relevant Government of Tanzania ministries. Key highlights during the second quarter of FY23 include the official launch of the Heshimu Bahari Activity, which was held on March 30, 2023, at the Sea Cliff hotel in Dar es Salaam. The event was attended by stakeholders from the Government of Tanzania, including representatives from the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, Ministry for Livestock and Fisheries, President's Office-Regional Administration and Local Government, and Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. The event was also officiated by the Second Gentleman of the United States, Douglas Emhoff. In addition to the launch event, the activity convened a workshop that brought together 24 participants working in the marine sector. The workshop aimed to foster collaboration and partnership among stakeholders and define areas of collaboration. The activity also conducted foundational activities, policy engagement, and advocacy, establishing protocols for data collection, collation, and analysis to inform policy establishment and support decision-making. The activity's policy engagement efforts included consultation with government entities and other partners and stakeholders. This engagement resulted in productive discussions towards signing two memoranda of understanding (MoU) in the third quarter. The activity furthered its advocacy goals through the formal launch, which effectively fostered visibility both locally and globally. The Heshimu Bahari Activity's objectives include expanding the collaborative network of resilient Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Fisheries Replenishment Zones (FRZs), strengthening community co-management of MPAs and wild-caught fisheries, expanding private sector investment in MPAs and wild-caught fisheries, and integrating relevant science to MPA and fisheries management. The activity's implementation progress is being closely monitored, with a focus on achieving these objectives and ensuring the effective use of resources. The activity's management and administrative issues are being addressed through regular monitoring and evaluation. The activity's financial summary is provided in the report, with details on funding status and expenditures by contract line-item number. The report also includes annexes, including a success story, list of documents submitted to DEC, and list of upcoming events.