AFRINEWSSWAHILI-Morogoro, Tanzania
A total of USD 1.94 million (approximately TZS 4.339 billion) has been earmarked for a major environmental restoration initiative aimed at improving water availability in the Ngerengere catchment within the Ruvu Basin.
The project, dubbed NbS4Water–Ruvu, focuses on deploying nature-based solutions (NbS) to restore degraded ecosystems and enhance water replenishment. It is being implemented by IUCN Tanzania in partnership with the Wami-Ruvu Basin Water Board (WRBWB), with funding support from The Coca-Cola Company through the Global Water Challenge (GWC).
Launched in Morogoro on March 25, 2026, the project is expected to run until 2028, targeting critical water source areas in the Ngerengere sub-basin.
STRENGTHENING WATER MANAGEMENT AND ECOSYSTEMS
Speaking at the launch, IUCN Tanzania Country Representative, Charles Oluchina, said the initiative aims to strengthen institutional capacity for participatory water resource management at both catchment and basin levels.
“The project will also restore degraded landscapes and promote sustainable water management through nature-based approaches, while supporting alternative livelihoods that encourage conservation,” he noted.
Key interventions include restoring vital ecosystems, improving water conservation practices through appropriate technologies, and enhancing monitoring and learning systems to ensure long-term sustainability.
TANGIBLE BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITIES
The project is expected to deliver measurable outcomes, including the restoration of 3,000 hectares of degraded land and an increase of water availability by 584.77 million litters.
At least seven Water User Associations (WUAs) will be strengthened to improve water governance, while 2,000 farmers will be supported to adopt alternative income-generating activities such as climate-resilient agriculture, beekeeping, and aquaculture.
In total, about 5,000 people—60 percent men and 40 percent women—are expected to directly benefit from the initiative, alongside local government authorities, NGOs, and private sector stakeholders.
ADDRESSING CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
According to Engineer Elbariki Mmasi, Director of the Wami-Ruvu Basin Water Board, the basin continues to face mounting pressures, including unsustainable water use, encroachment into water sources, deforestation, soil erosion, and pollution.
To tackle these challenges, the project will focus on strengthening community-based water management structures, protecting water sources, scaling up tree planting, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and improving water quality monitoring systems.
SYMBOLIC START WITH TREE PLANTING
The launch event, officiated by Rosemary Rwebugisa, Director of Water Resources at the Ministry of Water on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, was preceded by a tree-planting exercise in Mindu.
The activity, which involved the distribution of tree seedlings to local farmers, marked the beginning of restoration efforts across Morogoro Municipality (Ngerengere), Morogoro District Council, and Mvomero District.
BUILDING PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Beyond its environmental goals, the project seeks to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders at national, regional, and community levels, while mobilising political support and aligning development priorities.
With IUCN leading implementation over the next three years, stakeholders are optimistic that the initiative will serve as a model for sustainable water resource management through nature-based solutions in Tanzania.
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