Publications & Resources

The importance of the charcoal sub-sector to the national economy and community livelihoods in Tanzania and beyond cannot be overemphasized. Charcoal is the largest source of household energy in urban areas for cooking and heating in Tanzania.

In 2020, charcoal production in Tanzania was estimated at 1.9 million tonnes per year with a Gross Value Added of TZS 2.1 trillion contributing about 44% of the forest sector GDP. Charcoal generates revenues of about USD 1 billion per annum and supports the livelihoods of people along the value chain. Charcoal is the largest source of household energy for cooking in urban areas in Tanzania, as it is considered relatively available, affordable, and easy to transport, distribute, and store.

Charcoal is the largest source of household energy in urban areas for cooking and heating in Tanzania, as it is considered relatively available, affordable, and easy to transport, distribute, and store1. Sustainable charcoal value chains in the country are guided by policy and legal framework instruments that work together in a triangulation manner. However, the low pace to sustainable charcoal value chain development could be due to either outdated or contradicting policy and legal framework instruments. In the country, we have noticed this situation as the charcoal value chains is governed by several police instruments including legal frameworks, each in most cases operating independently. For effective, development of charcoal value chains in the country, there are some policies and legal frameworks that conflict with each other, thus there is a need for revision and harmonization.