GIZ, Helvetas and Laudes Foundation join forces to develop a Regenerative Production Landscape Collaborative in Tanzania
25 October 2023, Singida, Tanzania – Laudes Foundation, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Helvetas Tanzania have today announced a Regenerative Production Landscape programme, with the aim of creating a resilient agricultural production system that safeguards natural resources and biodiversity in Tanzania’s Singida and Simiyu regions.
The programme is a multi-stakeholder collaborative that will jointly work with farming communities, public and private sector players to achieve landscape-level goals focused on the complex and interconnected issues of climate, nature and people.
“Today, as these regions face serious challenges due to climate change and ecosystem degradation, severely impacting both livelihoods and the local economy, the answer lies in a holistic, place-based approach that goes beyond the farm-level and a single commodity focus, to one that tackles all issues impacting agricultural value chains including deforestation, overgrazing, misuse of water (re)sources, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity.” says Hendrik Buermann, Project Director of the Regenerative Production Landscape Collaborative.
Designed around an integrated landscape and ecosystem restoration strategy, this landscape programme aims to enable the transition from a model that degrades, depletes and pollutes, towards an innovative sustainable agri-business model that conserves, restores and regenerates.
Anita Chester, Head of Fashion at Laudes Foundation adds, “We are building on a strong foundation of work that has supported the region to become the largest producer of organic cotton in Africa with over 60,000 smallholder farmers benefiting both ecologically and economically. This latest investment is towards an innovative multi-stakeholder governance model to empower producers, engage communities, and enlist public and private sector players to create sustainable business opportunities for the region.”
The programme will foster collaboration between all stakeholders in the landscape, where:
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Smallholder farmers will practice regenerative agriculture, are part of inclusive business models, play their part to conserve biodiversity, and become more resilient to climate change;
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Village committees identify solutions for the restoration of their land and water sources, and are integrated into local spatial planning processes;
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District Spatial and Environmental Action Plans incorporate farm and community-level interventions;
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The private sector actively engages with farmers and communities on farming models that regenerate the land and invests in their prosperity;
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Civil Society Organizations support and facilitate field-level interventions, such as large-scale tree and landscape restoration activities; and
Investors and funders see opportunities for investments into a thriving landscape.
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NOTES TO EDITOR
Challenges and opportunities for the Singida and Simiyu regions
While both regions are marked by large-scale landscape and ecosystem degradation owing to deforestation, erosion and unsustainable use of the landscape, a solution to the problem is being recognized by way of a holistic landscapes approach.
In the past six years, the work of these three organisations has contributed to establishing Tanzania as Africa’s largest producer of organic cotton and globally the fifth largest (up from seventh) producer of organic cotton, representing more than 15% of the world’s organic cotton farmers. Characterised by its low input, predominantly smallholder farming system and the growing significance of Africa in the fashion industry, especially for ethical and sustainable production, the region presents a strong opportunity to showcase proof-points on business models that speak to the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and inequality.
About Laudes Foundation
Laudes Foundation is an independent foundation joining the growing movement to accelerate the transition to a climate-positive and inclusive global economy. Responding to the dual crises of climate breakdown and inequality, Laudes supports brave action that inspires and challenges industry to harness its power for good. Founded by the Brenninkmeijer family business owners, it builds on six generations of entrepreneurship and philanthropy and works collaboratively alongside a wider network of philanthropic organisations, to both influence finance and capital markets and transform industry with a focus on the built environment and fashion. For more information visit LaudesFoundation.org.
About GIZ
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a German government-owned development agency that works to shape a future worth living around the world, by providing tailor-made, cost-efficient and effective services for sustainable development. GIZ offers a wide range of services, methodologies and approaches, including trade, climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable urban mobility, vocational training adapted to labour market needs, fund management, development partnerships with the private sector, stakeholder dialogues, etc. GIZ works in more than 130 countries worldwide with its tried-and-tested management expertise and long-standing international experience. In the interests of our clients, we are committed to meeting standards for transparency and accountability, thereby demonstrating our effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and credibility.
About Helvetas Tanzania
Helvetas Tanzania is part of a network of independent development organizations. With head offices in Switzerland, Germany and the USA, Helvetas is working in 29 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. We bring about real change in the lives of over three million disadvantaged people every year. We implement development projects in the areas of water and sanitation, agriculture and nutrition, education, economic development, democracy and peace, and climate and the environment. Helvetas also provides emergency response after disasters.
Since the 1970 Helvetas in Tanzania has been promoting improvement of basic education and skills development, access to quality services and inclusive economic development and good governance to promote local development. Using a systemic approach, we collaborate with actors from government, civil society and private sector.
In case of additional queries, please contact:
Hendrik Buermann
Project Director, Regenerative Production Landscape Collaborative, Tanzania
