The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has been supporting the Government of Tanzania, through the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), to promote climate change resilient communities and local economies by establishing a standard and internationally recognized country-based mechanism to channel climate finance to local government authorities (LGAs) and to increase local resilience.

UNCDF’s Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) is also supporting the Government of Tanzania to increase awareness and capacities to respond to climate change at the local level, integrate climate change adaptation into local governments' planning and budgeting systems, in a participatory and gender-sensitive manner, and introduce the Performance-based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRGs).

LoCAL, with support from the European Union, will be introduced in Tanzania from 2019 and will pilot the grant delivery mechanism with 3 LGAs in Dodoma Region, i.e. Chamwino, Mpwapwa and Kondoa, potentially benefiting more than 800,000 people, particularly women. Following the pilot phase, LoCAL is expected to be scaled-up to other districts from 2020 onwards. Investments may range from climate smart agriculture activities, sustainable livestock production, improved irrigation and water systems, flood control systems, to climate-proof infrastructure, sustainable land management, forestry, DRR, climate information technologies, health, education, energy, and so forth.

As part of the PBCRG mechanism, performance of participating LGAs will be assessed on an annual basis according to pre-established minimum conditions and performance measures, and funding allocations will be adjusted according to their performance score, providing a positive incentive to progress from year to year. LGAs will also receive technical assistance and capacity building on climate change mainstreaming into public planning, budgeting and execution, as well as on local climate risk assessments.

Below are examples of some climate-related issues identified by UNCDF in Dodoma Region that LoCAL aims to address:

Bridge without sufficient river bank protection damaged. Dodoma City Council, Tanzania ©UNCDF/LoCAL