Tanzania: Technical Assistance to support the implementation of the Blue Economy programme

Project Background

Tanzania's coastal regions are essential to the national economy, with more than 10 million residents depending on marine and coastal resources for livelihoods. Key sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, and marine transport are the backbone of local economies. Coastal ecosystems provide critical services, including habitat for marine biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and shoreline stabilisation, which are vital for sustaining industries and protecting coastal communities from environmental threats.

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on developing the Blue Economy (BE) in Tanzania, aligning with global trends toward sustainable use of ocean resources. This approach seeks to balance economic growth with environmental protection, promoting activities that contribute to conserving marine ecosystems while supporting local economies. The European Union (EU) has identified this sector as a strategic priority, emphasising the need for improved governance, capacity building, and sustainable management practices.

The EU Blue Economy (BE) Programme aims to contribute to a climate-resilient Blue Economy in Tanzanian coastal cities and ecosystems. The programme focuses on environmental protection, sustainable job creation, and transformative governance and policy reforms. The current project is dedicated to the latter component.

Objectives

The project aims to support the Blue Economy in Tanzania through policy reform, capacity building, and effective monitoring and evaluation. It is part of the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) for job creation and climate change adaptation. Key BE sectors and activities in the project are the management of coastal and marine resources, fisheries and mariculture as well as sustainable tourism, among others.

Specific Objectives (SO)

SO1 Policy Reform and Budget Support: Focuses on assisting the Government of Tanzania (GoT) and key mainland administrations in policy dialogue and budget support activities.

SO2 Institutional Capacity Strengthening: Aims to enhance the capabilities of both mainland and Zanzibar administrations involved in the BE.

SO3 Programme Monitoring, Evaluation, Coordination & Communication: Provides support to the EU Delegation in Tanzania for programme-level monitoring and evaluation as well as for outreach activities.

Activities

SO1: Policy Reform and Budget Support

• Conduct day-to-day monitoring and follow-up of budget support operations.
• Assist in preparing policy dialogues and other relevant meetings.
• Support the implementation of policy reforms and achievement targets.
• Prepare disbursement requests and gather data.
• Facilitate stakeholders' meetings and consultations.

SO2: Institutional Capacity Strengthening

• Advise the government on best practices, methodologies, and approaches in the area of Blue Economy.
• Assess institutional capacities and specific expertise of relevant ministries and authorities.
• Design and implement capacity-building activities tailored to the needs of identified institutions.
• Provide technical assistance and hands-on training sessions, workshops, and/or mentoring.
• Conduct relevant sector studies to improve performance.

SO3: EU BE Programme M&E, Coordination & Communication

• Develop a robust monitoring and evaluation framework for the BE Programme to track progress.
• Conduct periodic evaluations to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of programme interventions.
• Facilitate regular coordination meetings among stakeholders to review progress, address challenges, and identify opportunities for optimisation and synergy.
• Ensure optimal alignment and coherence between different components, contracts, and stakeholders of the BE Programme.
• Organise Steering Committees and other relevant meetings related to the governance of the BE programme.
• Develop advocacy strategies and communication plans to create awareness of the BE Programme and sectors.

Expected Results

SO1

• Active participation of pertinent Ministries in policy dialogues and meetings.
• Development of sector policy proposals and reforms reflecting best practices and local priorities.
• Timely preparation and delivery of disbursement requests.
• Full alignment with eligibility criteria and attainment of indicators and targets set by the budget support component.
• Development of a comprehensive policy framework for sustainable development in the Blue Economy sectors.

SO2

• Delivery of comprehensive advisory reports and recommendations on best practices.
• Enhanced capacity of Ministries and pertinent services to deliver on their core functions.
• Streamlined internal processes and improved performance of ministries and entities involved in the Blue Economy programme.
• Strengthened coordination and information exchange mechanisms among relevant Ministries and governmental bodies.

SO3

• Support to the EU Delegation in monitoring the implementation and overall coordination of the Blue Economy Programme.
• Development of an M&E plan for the Blue Economy programme.
• Implementation of a Communication and Visibility plan for the Blue Economy programme.
• Ensured synergy and alignment of activities through coordination with other contractors and stakeholders.
• Organisation of coordination meetings and workshops to foster collaboration and exchange of experiences.