The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (ADF) has approved a $9.38 million grant to Tanzania to enhance climate resilience in the Mkondoa Catchment, a vital water resource area affected by floods and drought linked to climate change.

Approved on 12 December 2025, the Enhancing Climate Resilience on Water Resources in Mkondoa Catchment project will be financed through the ADF's Climate Action Window. It aims to protect communities and critical infrastructure from recurrent climate shocks while improving water security and livelihoods.

The project will directly benefit an estimated 774,000 people in the districts of Gairo, Kilosa, and Mvomero. Key interventions include strengthening early warning systems, constructing climate-resilient infrastructure such as dikes and check dams, and restoring 1,200 hectares of degraded watersheds. Implementation is expected to create around 3,500 temporary jobs and 1,000 long-term jobs, with a strong emphasis on opportunities for women and youth.

The project will be implemented by the Wami/Ruvu Basin Water Board, under Tanzania's Ministry of Water, with works scheduled to begin in January 2026.

Expected outcomes include reduced flood and drought impacts, improved water availability for households and agriculture, and enhanced institutional capacity for climate adaptation. The project seeks to improve nutrition, reduce poverty, and foster sustainable economic growth within vulnerable communities. It will also safeguard the strategic Morogoro-Dodoma Road (B-127), a key regional trade corridor.

"This project is a strategic investment in Tanzania's sustainable future," said Assefaw Mecuria, Manager for the Water Security and Sanitation Division in East and Southern Africa at the African Development Bank. "By building resilience in the Mkondoa Catchment, we are protecting livelihoods, boosting food security, and fostering inclusive economic growth in the face of a changing climate."