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