Tanzania suffers from decades of recurring droughts and floods that have caused devastating impacts to the agriculture, water, and energy sectors. Smallholder farmers are most vulnerable to climate change, which jeopardizes their income, food, and nutritional security. Women and girls are particularly susceptible to adverse climate impacts. They comprise the majority of Tanzania’s agricultural workforce and are responsible for securing food, water, and energy for household needs. However, patriarchal norms and traditions often dispossess women of rights, access, and control of land and agricultural resources, and exclude them from resource management and planning conversations.

Over a period of more than 20 years, CARE Tanzania has developed a solid track record of innovative programing, focusing on natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and women’s empowerment. CARE Tanzania’s Sustainable Agriculture and Land Management (SALAMA) sub-strategy provides goals and actions to reduce smallholder farmers’ vulnerabilities to climate change impacts.

Partnerships are also at the heart of CARE Tanzania’s natural resource and climate change programing. CARE Tanzania works with medium and large Tanzanian NGOs to build the capacity of community-based organizations, and groups such as natural resources conservation groups, water user associations, smallholder farmer groups, and Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs).