FOUR REGIONS TARGETED IN CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECT BY UDSM-CCCS

VARIOUS semi-arid areas across the country are expected to undergo policy research under a multination five-year project known as Pathways to Resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE).

The areas include Dodoma, Shinyanga, Singida and Manyara regions targeting climate risk management, governance, institutions and finance, markets and supply chains, natural capital and human capital.

To be coordinated by the University of Dar es Salaam's Centre for Climate Change Studies, the project will today convene researchers from the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA), Vice-President's Office, Division of Environment, Prime Minister's Office, Disaster Management Department, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and Commission for Science and Technology.

Others to meet in Dar es Salaam today to discuss ways to combat climate change are Research for Poverty Alleviation (REPOA), President's Office - Planning Commission, Uongozi Institute, Prime Minister's Office - Regional Administration and Local Government and Ministry of Constitutional Affairs Yet others are the Ministry of Finance, Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), Prime Minister's Office - Investment and Empowerment and Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF).

Information from the centre at UDSM noted that the project would be implemented in arid and semi-arid areas (ASALs) of Tanzania.

"The aim of the project is to strengthen the commitment of decision-makers in local and national governments, businesses and trade bodies to rapid, inclusive and resilient development in these regions in the context of climate change by deepening their understanding of the threats and opportunities that arid and semi-arid economies face in relation to climate change," it pointed out.

It noted the project would understand the different challenges facing economies in semi-arid areas in the context of climate change and identify and make use of the opportunities and investment potential of semi-arid areas.

"It will inform policy and decision makers through policy recommendations on projects, programmes and general planning of economies in the semiarid lands in the context of climate change," further said.

The University of Dar es Salaam's Centre for Climate Change Studies in collaboration with the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), UK; London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), UK; Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan and Innovation, Environnement et DéveloppementAfrique (IED), Senegal, is implementing the five-year (2014-2019) multicountry research project called the Pathways to Resilience in Semi-Arid Economies (PRISE) project.

The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has been at the forefront of efforts to promote education, research and outreach aimed at understanding and addressing climate change issues.