European Commission Excludes Tanzania From Conservation Grant

June 8, 2024

The European Commission (EC) changed the requirements for getting a conservation grant through the NaturAfrica program on June 5, 2024. This was a big change that affected Tanzania in particular. This choice was written down in “CORRIGENDUM NO. 4” on the “EU Funding & Tenders Portal.” The update clearly leaves out activities in Tanzania, focusing instead on parts of Kenya for the Eastern Rift Savannahs and Watersheds (ERiSaWa) part of the program.

Background: NaturAfrica and Its Objectives

The goal of the NaturAfrica project is to protect biodiversity by promoting sustainable development in Africa’s most important landscapes. The goal of the project is to protect the environment while also helping local communities financially and socially. It also wants to make sure that there is good governance so that important ecosystem services are maintained. Key Landscapes for Conservation and Development (KLCDs) are the main areas of the program.

Tanzania’s Removal from Funding Eligibility

On World Environment Day, Tanzania was taken off of this list of countries that could get this funding. This comes at the same time that the Tanzanian government is being criticized for how it manages its protected areas. The Tanzanian government has notably been involved in forcing the Maasai people to leave the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the nearby Loliondo, both of which are very important for culture and the environment.

Reasons for the EC’s Decision

Human rights violations caused by these evictions have been brought to light by international pressure and lobbying by groups such as the Maasai International Solidarity Alliance (MISA) and Survival International. These groups say that the Tanzanian government has ignored the rights and ways of making a living of the native Maasai people while claiming to be concerned with protecting the environment and promoting tourism.

Broader International Response

Recently, other foreign groups, like the World Bank and the German Development Cooperation, have also stopped funding projects in the region out of similar concerns, which is what the European Commission did. Withdrawing funds in this way makes it clear that conservation projects that don’t value human rights and environmentally friendly methods should not be carried out.

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