REPOA steers research-based evidence on climate change, policy, Dr Mwinyi hails it

It feels like the world has yet to find a solution to climate change as it is reported to steadily aggravate woes on each aspect of life of human beings on this planet.

So, should the insurmountable-looking crisis still keep us in a deep sleep?

It is a question that has been well responded by REPOA, a country’s largest think-tank, through its 26th Annual Research Workshop convened in Zanzibar in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development of Zanzibar and CRDB Bank.

The workshop with a compelling theme of “Adapting trade to climate change for competitive green growth in Tanzania” was a two-day event (from November 2 to 3).

The coveted event brought together a pool of researchers, policymakers, and other fields’ experts to dissect over presented setbacks and how to navigate through.

The President of Zanzibar, Dr. Hussein Mwinyi was the guest of honour at the workshop.

President Mwinyi commended such a milestone reached by REPOA and CRDB Bank, along with their shared goals, to drive up sustainable trade, private sector development and economic growth.

“As the Government, we really need research-based evidence to inform our policy making processes. Our ambition is to promote the generation and use of knowledge that contributes to improving people’s lives and promoting the economic growth of our nation,” said the president.

Dr. Mwinyi is pleased with the theme and admits that it connects well with both the Union and Zanzibar governments’ development agendas, such that promoting trade and investment are at the top of their pecking orders.

Since REPOA’s inception in 1995, REPOA has been organising and conducting the Annual Research Workshops which engage a multi-stakeholder cohort of policymakers and researchers, hence providing a networking forum for debate and dialogue among stakeholders.

All of that has been possible owing to quality and integrity of the policy research and various efforts of disseminating findings in different Government’s functions which have altogether borne positive results overtime, technically driven by teams and committees to review and develop policies and strategies.

“We will continue working with the Government and other development partners in pursuit of the national development targets, and to supporting efforts to steer the economy back to its positive and growth path, towards inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” noted REPOA’s Executive Director, Dr. Donald Mmari.

For the past 27 years, he added, REPOA has built capacities and benefitted a thousand Tanzanian researchers and data analysts from the Government, higher education institutions, CSOs and media outlets.

REPOA also provided research users with policy analysis and evidence-based policymaking skills.

Stakeholders are on discussion

The workshop brought together various stakeholders who were providing solutions to dealing with the impact of climate change, promote trade, and competitiveness through sectoral discussions.

In the thematic discussion dubbed “Financing Trade: Enablers, Obstacles and Solutions” Mr. Antony Mveyange from the Partnership for African Social & Governance Research (PASGR) asked the CRDB Bank to give priority to Tanzanians living in rural areas in the strategy of building a green economy.

He also added that the time has come for Tanzanians to open up and learn various issues from other countries, “We are doing a lot of research and holding international conferences, this is an opportunity for stakeholders and Tanzanians in general who are interested in research to learn about the new knowledge that’s being disseminated.”

On the part of Dr. Idil Ires, a political economist, said that transactional costs related to information, bargaining and enforcement make it difficult for rice, the food-cum-cash crop to contribute to rapid growth in trade and trade diversification in Tanzania.

In the thematic discussion on “Leveraging jobs: Opportunities, Informality and Resources for the Growth of the Green Economy”, a researcher and trainer on climate change issues, Dr. Lucy Ssendi said building of a green economy will help create more jobs.

“When we decide to move towards a green economy, it means creating millions of jobs for our people, it is an opportunity.”

On the way forward and emerging areas for further research, REPOA’s Member, Professor Samwel Wangwe said, “We need institutional framework where all players take part in climate change issues - i.e., the Government, Private Sector, and the community.”

As for the Group CEO and Managing Director of CRDB, Abdulmajid Nsekela, said CRDB being the only accredited bank in the country managing projects related to climate change, it has in the pipeline an agricultural project that will benefit more than six million farmers in the country in the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

He says the five-year project that is expected to be launched soon has a total of 200 million US Dollars equivalent to an average of Sh466 billion as part of the response to climate change.

“This project will directly impact 1.2 million farmers and 4.9 million indirect beneficiaries, upon its closure it will have impacted 6.9 million Tanzanians,” says Mr. Nsekela.

Besides, he says the bank is also managing US$250 million (Sh583 billion) projects in agriculture.

Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment Director, Mr. Ally Gugu when closing the workshop said that they will use all the workshop recommendations to improve on the relevant country’s policies and strategies.

The counsellor and country economist at the Norwegian Embassy, Olav Lundstol says Tanzania as a developing country, still needs a lot of energy to increase production that will help it grow and sustain its economy.

REPOA’s research associate Dr. Fadhila Hemed Ali, says the understanding, knowledge and awareness about climate change in the country is still very low, such that as the nation, there is a need to invest more energy to help the ordinary citizens and community digest the issue.

The Danish Ambassador to Tanzania, Mette Nørgaard Dissing-Spandet, and the Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Tanzania, Manfredo Fanti, say they are committed to support Tanzania in its efforts to combat the effects of climate change.

Mr. Manfredo insists on the continued ties to enable doubling of agricultural and food production.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development – Zanzibar, Amour Hamil Bakar said there are 300 beneficiaries including farmers, processors, marketers and importers who have directly benefited from REPOA’s work in the Isles. Also, said 15 employees of the ministry have been trained on research, policy analysis and technical report writing, and are making the difference on the ground.

President Mwinyi hails REPOA

President Mwinyi has said that his Government wishes to see more research-based evidence that will inform policymaking processes in the governments, Union and Zanzibar.

“I congratulate REPOA for supporting my government with continued policy research engagements towards an ambition to fast-track modernized economy - through transforming the key drivers, such as on the blue economy, tourism, industries and agriculture.”

President Mwinyi also spoke highly on REPOA teaming up with the local financial sector giant, CRDB Bank in co-hosting the workshop - hence called for similar productive synergies and ties to avail more crucial interventions for the country’s socio-economic development.

The workshop also witnessed the signing of a strategic agreement between REPOA and the PASGR aimed at increasing research and policy capacity to stimulate development in Africa.