Abstract:
Tanzania National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) preparation has been a timely
opportunity to look at the country’s climate change related vulnerabilities in various sectors which
are important for the economy. Tanzania NAPA document is informed by the aspirations of
National Development Vision 2025 for high and shared growth, quality livelihood, peace, stability
and unity, good governance, high quality education and global competitiveness. Since Tanzania’s
economy is largely dependent on agriculture, it is deemed that sustainable development can be
achieved when strategic actions, both short term and long term are put in place to address climate
change impacts on agriculture and other key economic sectors. The process of NAPA preparation
involved looking at the effects of climate change as a threat mainly to the agrarian population that
still depends on subsistence agriculture for their daily livelihood. The past trend on droughts and
floods; and recent poor harvest in 2005 which caused hunger in most parts of the country and
disappearance of the ice cap at Mount Kilimanjaro is now more than ever imminent evidence of
climate change due to evident temperature increases caused by global warming. The frequency of
extreme weather events such as El Nino floods in 1997/98 and the recent drought are few but
important reminders of the deadly effects of climate change to Tanzania. In this context, the
Tanzania NAPA identifies priority areas in various sectors, and further prioritizes project activities in
those sectors. These activities need immediate and urgent actions for the country to adapt to such
climate change effects on a short term basis as well as putting in place mechanisms for addressing
long-term adaptation initiatives.
