The catchment is a critical water resource area increasingly affected by floods and drought linked to climate change.
The grant was approved on December 12 and will finance the Enhancing Climate Resilience on Water Resources in Mkondoa Catchment project through the ADF’s Climate Action Window. The initiative aims to protect communities and key infrastructure from recurring climate shocks while improving water security and livelihoods.
An estimated 774 000 people in the districts of Gairo, Kilosa and Mvomero are expected to benefit directly from the project. Planned interventions include the strengthening of early warning systems, construction of climate-resilient infrastructure such as dikes and check dams, and the restoration of 1 200 hectares of degraded watersheds.
The project is also expected to generate employment, with around 3 500 temporary jobs and 1 000 long-term jobs anticipated during implementation and operation. Women and young people are expected to be key beneficiaries of these employment opportunities.
Implementation will be led by the Wami/Ruvu Basin Water Board under Tanzania’s Ministry of Water, with construction work scheduled to begin in January 2026.
Beyond protecting lives and property, the project is designed to deliver longer-term development benefits. Expected outcomes include reduced flood and drought impacts, improved water availability for domestic use and agriculture, and stronger institutional capacity for climate adaptation and water resource management.
The initiative will also safeguard the Morogoro–Dodoma Road (B-127), a strategic transport corridor that plays a key role in regional trade and economic activity.
Assefaw Mecuria, Manager for the Water Security and Sanitation Division in East and Southern Africa at the African Development Bank, described the project as a strategic investment in Tanzania’s future. He noted that building resilience in the Mkondoa Catchment would help protect livelihoods, strengthen food security and support inclusive economic growth in the face of a changing climate.
–AfDB/ChannelAfrica–
