USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili October 2023 Report

The program's main purpose is to build institutional capacities of both public and private stakeholders, increase private sector engagement in biodiversity conservation, and improve the policy, regulatory, and enabling environment for biodiversity conservation and natural resources management. Capacity building support was provided to Asilia Giving, a local organization, to enhance its sustainability and effectiveness. The Organization Performance Index (OPI) tool was administered to assess the organization's capacity, and the findings showed that Asilia Giving's capacity has improved, particularly in the sustainability domain. The organization successfully secured funding commitment of approximately USD 1.5 million from NAWIRI Group to support conservation activities for the period between 2024 and 2026. The USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity also conducted a consultative meeting with 25 editors from different media houses in Tanzania, corridor experts, and officials from the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA). The meeting aimed to raise public awareness on natural resources and biodiversity conservation-related issues, and the outcome was the production of 22 news articles and stories. In addition, the program conducted a training on entrepreneurship and business management for 144 members from six VSLA groups in the Kwakuchinja Corridor. The training aimed to equip VSLA members with knowledge and skills on entrepreneurship and business management, enabling them to establish and manage conservation-friendly income-generating activities. The program also facilitated a meeting between CRDB Bank PLC and selected leaders of VSLAs from the Kwakuchinja Corridor, where VSLA members learned about the CRDB – IMBEJU program that enables women and youth groups to access interest-free loans at affordable processing fees. The USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity also coordinated the preparations to host the first annual corridor stakeholders' forum in Tanzania, which will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share and gather knowledge, influence policy change, and support the development of village land use plans in critical corridor areas. The proposed three-day event is tentatively scheduled between August 23 and 25, 2023, and will bring together over 100 participants from government, academia, CSOs, the private sector, media, and development partners. The program's geographic focus is on the Kwakuchinja Corridor, where it is working with local communities, CSOs, and private sector partners to promote biodiversity conservation and natural resources management. The program's timeframes are from 2023 to 2026, during which it aims to achieve its objectives and make a positive impact on the environment and local communities. The USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity has made significant progress in building institutional capacities, increasing private sector engagement, and improving the policy, regulatory, and enabling environment for biodiversity conservation and natural resources management. The program's efforts are expected to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources in Tanzania, and ultimately benefit local communities and the environment.