FY07 AMBASSADOR'S FUND FOR REFUGEES REQUEST FROM

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000781 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT PRM/AFR FOR WHENNING AND LBARTLETT; AF/E FOR BYODER KAMPALA FOR GFREDERICK ADDIS ABABA FOR LBRODEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF SENV PGOV EAID ECON TZ SUBJECT: FY07 AMBASSADOR'S FUND FOR REFUGEES REQUEST FROM TANZANIA REF: A. STATE 027884 ¶B. DAR ES SALAAM 0742 ¶C. 2006 DAR ES SALAAM 0888 ¶1. SUMMARY: Per reftel's invitation, post proposes a USD 20,000 award from the Ambassador's Fund for Refugees for FY07 to continue and expand the activities addressing environmental degradation in refugee camps and their host communities in western Tanzania. Post has consulted with the UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR),NGOs and the Government of Tanzania (GOT) and identified this critical gap in refugee assistance/protection. Both refugees and members of host communities will benefit. ¶2. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: Improve agroforestry practices, promote participatory land use planning and conflict resolution, and increase environmental awareness through training and tree seedling raising, planting and management activities; and rehabilitate degraded land and gullies in erosion-prone areas in and around refugee camps by mobilizing refugee and host communities and using locally- available materials. ¶3. JUSTIFICATION: Tanzania continues to host over 275,000 refugees, most of whom are concentrated in the western region of Kigoma. The presence of the refugee population strains the already-fragile and erosion-prone environment, resulting in Tanzania experiencing one of the highest rates of deforestation in Africa. Refugees and host communities alike rely on firewood and over 90 per cent of the population of Tanzania depends on forests for their livelihood. Deforestation effects the refugee population most directly by diminishing their source of firewood on which they depend heavily. Most areas within a four- kilometer radius of a refugee camp, the area permissible for collection of firewood by refugees, are devoid of trees altogether. The host community and the larger environment are also affected as deforestation causes soil erosion, reduction of water tables, and reduced crop yields. ¶4. The environmental impact of hosting refugees exacerbates the tension-riddled relationship between refugees, host communities and GOT officials. Therefore, addressing the environmental issues will lead to improved social conditions in the region. GOT officials at the national, regional and district levels consistently cite the environment as the number one problem with the refugee camps. However, the GOT lacks the resources to develop and implement comprehensive resource management plans. Effective planning will involve local government officials and community leaders, and include a public awareness component. ¶5. The activities undertaken through use of FY06 funds have had a positive impact on the environment and the communities in western Tanzania (Ref B). Lessons learned from FY06 activities will increase the effectiveness of the activities undertaken with FY07 funds. ¶6. IMPLEMENTING PARTNER: CARE International has experience in environmental work in and around refugee camps, is currently performing such work and has a code of conduct consistent with the requirements in Ref A. Post certifies that it has the authority at post and the capacity to award a grant to CARE International prior to the end of the fiscal year. MUSHINGI