East
African region, where rapid population growth coincides with the escalating
impacts of climate change, an important question is beginning to shape the
narrative of the region’s development. “Whose voices are truly heard and
prioritized when major decisions about the future of climate change are being
discussed?” This question becomes even more significant when examining the
demographic reality of the region. Countries such as Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya,
and Uganda together account for hundreds of millions of people, with Tanzania
ranking second in the region with a population of more than 70 million people
in 2026, according to the Worldometer website an indication of the rapid
population growth across East Africa. Yet behind these statistics lie the real
lives of communities that stand on the frontlines of climate change. In
Tanzania, a farmer watches the sky with uncertainty as rainfall patterns become
increasingly unpredictable; a pastoralist travels longer distances in search of
pasture; and coastal communities witness the slow but steady encroachment of
the sea toward their homes. Despite carrying the daily reality of climate
change, the voices of these communities rarely reach national decision-making
tables or global platforms such as those of the United Nations.
As
these challenges continue to intensify, the need for a bridge that connects
grassroots citizens with policymakers becomes increasingly urgent. In Tanzania,
that bridge has been built through a network of civil society organizations
known as CAN Tanzania. More than just a conventional advocacy platform, this
network brings together the voices of citizens and policy leaders to ensure
that national climate strategies do not remain technical documents prepared
only in offices in Dar es Salaam or Dodoma, but instead become inclusive
frameworks that reflect the lived realities of farmers, pastoralists, and
coastal communities. Through research, policy analysis, and national dialogues,
CAN Tanzania has become an important partner to the government in shaping key
documents such as the Nationally Determined Contributions and other national
plans designed to address the impacts of climate change.
Inclusivity: The Approach of Dr.
Sixbert Mwanga
A leading
figure in CAN Tanzania is its Executive Director, Dr. Sixbert Mwanga, who
embodies the network's commitment to inclusivity and evidence-based policy
advocacy. Under his leadership, CAN Tanzania has broadened its scope, ensuring
that the national climate agenda is not driven by a single voice but is a
convergence of diverse perspectives from government ministries, the private
sector, and marginalized groups. Dr. Mwanga has been instrumental in creating
platforms where youth, women, and people with disabilities can articulate their
challenges and propose solutions. His philosophy of full inclusion is not just
a matter of fairness; it is a strategy for building resilience from the ground
up. By empowering communities and connecting them with experts, he fosters
ownership of national policies, transforming theoretical strategies into
actionable steps for building a sustainable future for all Tanzanians.
The National Pre-COP30 Preparatory
Meeting, 2025
As the
world turned its attention to Belém, Brazil, for the pivotal COP30 summit in
2025, another crucial precursor meeting was taking place in Tanzania. Here,
representatives from the Vice President's Office, various government
ministries, the civil society network led by CAN Tanzania, and advocacy groups
for youth and people with disabilities gathered at the King Jada Hotel in Dar
es Salaam with a single agenda: to forge a unified Tanzanian position. The goal
was to ensure Tanzania would not go to Belém as a mere observer, but as an
active participant with a strong and influential voice. This meeting was more
than a routine procedure; it was a democratic exercise in shaping the nation's
future. Stakeholders presented challenges facing their communities from
unpredictable rains affecting farmers to coastal erosion swallowing small
islands and villages and translated these into firm demands for the global
agenda.
Amidst
in-depth discussions on climate finance, adaptation, and loss and damage, it
was Dr. Sixbert Mwanga who underscored the meeting's significance. He stood to
address the participants, his voice calm yet powerful, commanding the attention
of all. He didn't just reiterate COP's goals; he framed the gathering as a
matter of national pride and collective responsibility. He explained that the
strength of Tanzania's delegation in Brazil would directly stem from the unity
forged in that conference room in Dar es Salaam. He stressed the need to build
consensus and harmonize different priorities into a single agenda, a message
that excluded no group or sector. He concluded with these words: "These
national preparatory meetings help us build consensus and align our agenda with
the COP30 agenda... I will show you the outcomes of this meeting after COP30."
His words lingered in the air, a promise and a call that transformed the
meeting into the start of a hopeful national journey.
Dr.
Mwanga's words remained with the participants long after the meeting ended,
sparking hope and anticipation. As weeks passed and Tanzania's delegation
prepared for Belém, a question surely lingered in the minds of all who
attended: Would the carefully crafted positions hold up in the complex
negotiating environment of COP30? Could a developing nation's voice rise above
those of major powers? Would the meticulously prepared documents and hard-won
consensus among diverse groups bear fruit? His pledge, "I will show
you the outcomes and my contribution to what was accomplished,"
was a significant promise, and stakeholders back home perhaps grape farmers in
Dodoma or fishers in Pangani, Tanga eagerly awaited to see if their efforts
would lead to success.
COP30: Tanzania Leads Africa's
Negotiations
In Belém,
the stakes were as high as the humidity in a crowded, warm room. The 30th Conference of the Parties
(COP30), held in Belém, Brazil, marked ten years since the Paris Agreement and
was rightly framed as a COP for implementation. Tanzania did not merely attend; demonstrating its
diplomatic maturity, it assumed the chairmanship of the African Group of
Negotiators (AGN). This position placed Tanzania at the heart of the entire
continent's strategy. It was no longer advocating for Tanzania alone but was
responsible for coordinating a common African position, harmonizing the voices
of 54 nations into one powerful voice. The weight of a continent's hopes from
the drought-stricken Sahel to the rising sea levels threatening islands rested
on its delegates' shoulders. It was a monumental task, requiring diplomatic
skill and a deep understanding of Africa's diverse needs.
As COP30
negotiations progressed, Tanzania's leadership was evident. The summit yielded
the Belém Political Pact, anchored in the spirit of "Mutirão" a term
signifying joint effort or mutual collaboration. Crucially, the conference
achieved several key goals for Africa's agenda. The Global Goal on Adaptation
gained measurable indicators, moving from aspiration to trackable commitment.
Developed nations reaffirmed the 1.5°C target and pledged to triple adaptation
finance by 2035. But most importantly for Tanzania, the summit formally
recognized Clean Cooking Energy and energy access as integral components of a
Just Transition. This was a diplomatic victory, validating years of advocacy by
Tanzania and its partners, including Dr. Mwanga and CAN Tanzania.
The Loss and Damage Fund: A
Tangible Reality
Beyond
policy frameworks, COP30 delivered a concrete mechanism for climate justice:
the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund. For years, this had been a
rallying cry for developing nations, demanding financial support to cope with
the unavoidable impacts of climate change the reality of storms, floods, and
slow-onset disasters. In Belém, the fund moved from concept to reality, with an
initial US$250 million and a clear access framework. For Tanzania, a country
facing severe climate impacts, this was a pivotal moment. It meant that
communities hit by coastal cyclones or prolonged inland droughts could access
between US$5 million and US$20 million per project. This achievement resulted
from leaders who championed Tanzania's agenda on behalf of its people, marking
a diplomatic path that began to yield tangible ways to rescue the most
vulnerable.
Reporting to African Leaders
As Chair of the AGN, Tanzania was responsible for reporting back to Africa's highest political authorities, providing a comprehensive briefing on the consensus reached on the agenda it had been entrusted to manage on behalf of the entire continent. Immediately after COP30, key delegates, including Dr. Richard Muyungi, traveled to Addis Ababa. There, before the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), they delivered a full report on the outcomes. This moment was crucial, bridging the diplomatic negotiations in Brazil with political leadership at home. It was time to translate COP's technical achievements into concrete directives for the continent. The report detailed victories on adaptation finance, the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, and the recognition of Clean Cooking Energy, presented not just as diplomatic wins but as opportunities for every African nation.
Months
later, in a conference hall at Aura Suites in Dar es Salaam, the time for
reckoning and reflection arrived. It was the Post-COP30 platform, bringing
together various stakeholders, including many who had filled the preparatory
meeting the previous year. The atmosphere was different this time filled not
with anxious anticipation, but with a sense of achievement and a new, hoped-for
direction for the participants. And there, once again, stood Dr. Sixbert
Mwanga. The room fell completely silent. At the high table were the
Ambassador of Ireland to Tanzania and the representative of the guest of honor
from the Vice President's Office, Dr. Manyika. As Dr. Mwanga approached the
podium, many recalled his promise from the previous year. He didn't need to
remind them; his task was to demonstrate what had been accomplished in Belém
and fulfill that pledge. When he spoke, his focus shifted from the negotiating
table to the Tanzanian countryside. "It's about ensuring the
agreements reached in Belém are adapted to the real-world contexts and needs of
Tanzanian communities," he stated.
Government Endorsement: A Unified
Position
The
government's perspective and its firm commitment to the path chosen in Belém
were powerfully articulated by Dr. Fred Manyika. Speaking on behalf of Amb.
Baraka Luvanda, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Vice President's Office
(Environment), Dr. Manyika took the stage. He stood not only as a government
official but as testament to the collaborative spirit championed by CAN
Tanzania. His speech affirmed the government's steadfast commitment to
inclusive climate action and commended the joint efforts that enabled Tanzania
to chair the AGN. He validated the process that Dr. Mwanga and the civil
society network had championed, acknowledging that the unified national
position, built through inclusive preparatory meetings, was crucial in securing
diplomatic victories.
Outcomes of Belém Affirmed:
Strengthening National Strategy
Dr.
Manyika's speech solidified the link between international agreements and
national strategy. He detailed how COP30's outcomes the indicators for the
Global Goal on Adaptation, the tripling of adaptation finance, and the Loss and
Damage Fund perfectly aligned with Tanzania's Development Vision 2050 and the
National Adaptation Plan (NAP 2025). He framed COP not as an external
imposition but as international validation of the direction Tanzania had
already chosen for itself. The emphasis on building resilience in agriculture,
water resources, and coastal infrastructure, the commitment to green industrial
development, and universal energy access were all supported and reinforced by
the decisions made in Belém. Dr. Manyika issued a clear and urgent call to
every segment of Tanzanian society. To his fellow government officials, he gave
a direct instruction: integrate climate change considerations into all
ministry’s plans and budgets, starting now. To development partners, his
message was one of accountability, urging them to increase grant-based and
concessional financing to translate the pledge to triple funds into visible
action. He challenged the private sector to view the green transition as an
opportunity for economic growth and innovation. Finally, he entrusted the youth
and civil society the constituency represented by CAN Tanzania with the role of
driving accountability and innovation.
The Spirit of Mutirão: Collective
Effort as the Foundation
Dr.
Manyika powerfully reinforced his call by invoking the spirit of Mutirão, which
had been the cornerstone of the Belém Political Pact. This Portuguese word,
meaning joint effort or working together, became the foundation of his message.
He urged this spirit to guide the national response, uniting government,
private sector, civil society, and citizens in a collective endeavor. The task,
he emphasized, was no longer just international negotiation; it was translating
global goals into local reality. It was about ensuring the resilience promised
in COP halls reached rural villages, farmlands, and coastal communities. The
spirit of Mutirão was a call for deliberate unity, a recognition that the
challenge of climate change could only be overcome through shared effort.
The Significance of the Preparatory
Meeting
Looking
back, the Pre-COP30 preparatory meeting in 2025, where Dr. Mwanga quietly made
his promise, proved to be an indispensable foundation for all that followed. It
was there that Tanzania's diverse voices were harmonized into one. It was there
that trust was built between the government and civil society, fostering the
collaboration that proved so effective in Belém. It was there that the
expertise of organizations like CAN Tanzania was woven into the nation's
official position. That meeting was no mere formality; it was the engine room
of Tanzania's diplomatic success. It demonstrated that when Tanzania spoke for
Africa, it did so on a foundation of national consensus, its arguments grounded
in the realities of its people. And his promise, "I will show you
the outcomes," stood as testament to the power of that
foundational work.
Turning Global Commitments into
Community Action
The story of Tanzania's journey to COP30 and beyond is a powerful narrative of how inclusive, evidence-based preparation can translate into international success and, more importantly, into a renewed national commitment to action. It is a story that begins and ends with the people. The diplomatic triumph in Belém was not an end, but a beginning. The operationalized Loss and Damage Fund, the pledges for adaptation finance, and the global recognition of Clean Cooking Energy are now tools and responsibilities to be implemented at home. The ultimate measure of success will not be the number of agreements signed, but the number of communities strengthened, the hectares of farmland protected, and the lives improved. The stage is set for a new chapter, where the spirit of Mutirão will guide Tanzania in turning global promises into a resilient and prosperous future for every Tanzanian, from the shores of the Indian Ocean to the banks of Lake Victoria.
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