USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity Monthly Report May 2023

The strategies aim to address wildlife poaching and habitat loss in Tanzania. The USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity also completed the development and testing of the system modules and Application Programmable Interfaces of the National Land Use Information System (NLUIS) in May 2023. This system is designed to provide accurate and up-to-date information on land use and management in Tanzania. In addition, the Activity organized an inter-ministerial dialogue on Public-Private Partnership (PPP)-led efforts in biodiversity conservation and natural resources management. The dialogue brought together public and private sector representatives to discuss sustainable investment opportunities, combatting wildlife trafficking, and addressing climate change impacts in areas of connectivity. The Activity also supported the Chem Chem Association (CCA) to finalize its five-year strategic plan (2023 – 2028) and facilitated a breakfast debate between trained journalists, biodiversity conservation experts, and government representatives. The debate resulted in the publication of 15 conservation stories in print, electronic, and online media. Capacity-building interventions were designed and agreed upon with three Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that successfully responded to the Activity's Request for Application (RFA) #03. The CSOs include Third Man Limited (Upendo Honey), Association for the Development of Protected Areas (ADAP), and Tanzania Development Foundation Trust (TDFT). Additionally, the Activity administered the Organization Performance Index (OPI) tool to six small selected CSOs that will receive capacity-building support to achieve self-reliance. The USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity also supported its grantee, Mtandao wa Jamii wa Usimamizi wa Misitu Tanzania (MJUMITA), to conduct a 3-day resource mobilization training for six of its staff to effectively implement their newly supported resource mobilization strategy. Furthermore, the Activity supported its grantee CCA to finalize its strategic plan that lays a foundation and provides strategic organization direction and actions for the next five years (2023 – 2028). A youth mentorship program was finalized by the Activity in May 2023, with the aim of creating a generation of committed, skilled, and knowledgeable future conservators and boosting their chances of employment in the conservation sector. The implementation of the program will start in the coming months by recruiting mentees and mentors to start piloting this program. The Activity also facilitated a meeting between STEP, Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), and Kilombero Sugar Company Limited (KSCL) through Kilombero Community Charitable Trust (KCCT) to strategize how to support joint spatial planning and promote the green growth agenda in the Nyerere Selous – Udzungwa landscape. The Activity team visited Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) – Kilombero Cluster office in Morogoro to learn how SAGCOT defines indicators to guide the green growth agenda in Kilombero Valley. A one-day training was organized by the Activity targeting Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA) leaders from nine groups in the Nyerere Selous – Udzungwa corridor. The training aimed at strengthening the capacity of VSLA leaders on proper recordkeeping of savings and loans issued to members. The training helped to harmonize ways of recording and reporting VSLA information across the VSLA groups, and therefore, avoid mismatch between data recorded and reported by different VSLA groups in the Nyerere Selous – Udzungwa corridor. The Activity also facilitated a wet season animal census in Kwakuchinja corridor in May 2023. The census aimed to gather data on animal populations and habitats in the corridor. The data collected will be used to inform conservation and management decisions in the corridor. The USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity is working with various stakeholders to implement projects and programs aimed at conserving biodiversity and natural resources in Tanzania. The Activity is supporting the development of a recruitment and training plan for Village Game Scouts (VGS) to work in the Nyerere Selous – Udzungwa corridor. The plan aims to recruit and train 29 VGS in the coming months. The Activity is also supporting the development of a youth mentorship program to create a generation of committed, skilled, and knowledgeable future conservators and boost their chances of employment in the conservation sector. The implementation of the program will start in the coming months by recruiting mentees and mentors to start piloting this program. The USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity is working with various stakeholders to promote the green growth agenda in Kilombero Valley. The Activity facilitated a meeting between STEP, TANAPA, and KSCL through KCCT