The African Development Fund (ADF) has approved a $9.38 million grant to Tanzania to enhance climate resilience in the Mkondoa Catchment, a critical water resource area vulnerable to floods and droughts exacerbated by climate change. The Enhancing Climate Resilience on Water Resources in Mkondoa Catchment project, approved on 12 December 2025, will be financed through the ADF’s Climate Action Window and aims to protect communities and key infrastructure while improving water security and livelihoods.
The project will directly benefit approximately 774,000 people in the Gairo, Kilosa, and Mvomero districts. Key interventions include strengthening early warning systems, constructing climate-resilient infrastructure such as dikes and check dams, and restoring 1,200 hectares of degraded watersheds. Implementation is expected to generate around 3,500 temporary jobs and 1,000 long-term positions, with a focus on opportunities for women and youth.
The Wami/Ruvu Basin Water Board, under Tanzania’s Ministry of Water, will implement the project, with works scheduled to begin in January 2026. Expected outcomes include reduced impacts of floods and droughts, improved water availability for households and agriculture, and strengthened institutional capacity for climate adaptation. The initiative also aims to improve nutrition, reduce poverty, and support sustainable economic growth in vulnerable communities, while safeguarding the strategic Morogoro-Dodoma Road (B-127), an important regional trade corridor.
Assefaw Mecuria, Manager for the Water Security and Sanitation Division in East and Southern Africa at the African Development Bank, highlighted that the project represents a strategic investment in Tanzania’s sustainable future. By building resilience in the Mkondoa Catchment, the initiative seeks to protect livelihoods, enhance food security, and foster inclusive economic growth in the face of climate change.
