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About the Project

Charcoal is the main source of income for communities in Pwani Region and the main source of energy for cooking in Dar es Salaam. Most of the charcoal is sourced from natural forests, unreserved village lands and farmlands. Sustainable forest management practices are limited and the charcoal business is mostly conducted informally, contributing to deforestation and forest degradation.

The Integrated Sustainable Charcoal Value Chain Promotion Project (ISU-CHAVPRO) intends to demonstrate integrated approaches for improving forest management and charcoal value chain sustainability while promoting socioeconomic development. It is co-funded by the European Union and contracted by the National Authorizing Officer for the European Development Fund (EDF) at the Ministry of Finance of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The project is implemented in the Rufiji, Kibiti, Mkuranga, Kisarawe and Bagamoyo districts of Pwani Region by TaTEDO-Sustainable Energy Services Organization (TaTEDO-SESO), in collaboration with the Tanzania Natural Resources Forum (TNRF) and the respective District Councils.

Objective

To improve the capacities and commitments of local communities in five districts in the Pwani Region to improve productivity along the charcoal value chain, sustainably manage forests, and improve their socio-economic well-being.

Key Activities

How the project delivers change on the ground

Cost-efficient land use plans

Institute cost-efficient land use plans across project districts.

Stronger forest management

Strengthen management of natural forests through compliance with forest management and harvesting plans.

Reduce forest dependence

Establish and manage woodlots, agroforestry interventions and alternative charcoal production sources.

Improved production technology

Introduce and promote Improved Basic Earth Mound Kilns for cleaner, more efficient charcoal production.

Formalization & capacity

Facilitate formalization, registration and capacity building of charcoal producers, traders and transporters.

Local marketing centres

Establish and institute local charcoal marketing centres.

Alternative livelihoods

Introduce alternative livelihoods that support sustainable forest management.

Gender & inclusion

Mainstream gender and protect the interests of vulnerable groups.

Policy advocacy

Advocate for supportive sustainable charcoal value chain policies, legal frameworks and institutions.

Expected Impacts

The project interventions will contribute to reduced deforestation, forest degradation, loss of biodiversity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. They will also contribute to employment, sustainable production and supply of biomass energy, and enhanced partnership between government, the private sector and civil society.

The project contributes to the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Change Agreement, primarily through the following Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 7 Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work
SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 15 Life on Land

Reports & Publications

Documents and findings produced by the project

Project reports and publications will be published here as they become available.

Implementing Organizations

A partnership between civil society, government and development partners

TaTEDO-SESO

Sustainable Energy Services Organization — lead implementer, with 30+ years developing sustainable energy systems in Tanzania.

Tanzania Natural Resources Forum (TNRF)

Works to improve governance and accountability in Tanzania's natural resource sector for sustainable rural livelihoods.

District Councils

Rufiji, Kibiti, Mkuranga, Kisarawe and Bagamoyo councils co-implement the project in their areas.

European Union

Co-funds the project, contracted through the National Authorizing Officer for the EDF at the Ministry of Finance.