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JOINT SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
The United Republic of Tanzania comprises the mainland and the islands of Zanzibar. Extending from Lake Tanganyika in the west to the Indian Ocean in the east, Lake Victoria in the north, and Lake Nyasa and River Ruvuma in the south, the country shares its borders with Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. Tanzania has a population of more than 65 million, with 44.8 per cent of the population below the age of 15, 52 per cent between the age of 15 and 64, and 3.1 per cent over the age of 64. More than 70 per cent of the population live in rural areas and depend mainly on agriculture for their sustenance. The country has an incredibly diverse population with more than 120 ethnic groups.
Tanzania faces challenges on multiple fronts, compounded by human-induced climate change and armed conflicts. Over the last few years, poverty in Tanzania has intensified, driven largely by the economic impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While agriculture is the economic mainstay of the Tanzanian people, poor harvests have resulted in limited food availability and a reduction of casual on-farm labour opportunities. Between October 2022 and February 2023, the IPC Country Analysis estimated that more than 1.1 million people were experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) in 28 analyzed district councils of Tanzania Mainland and the five regions of Zanzibar. It projected an increase in the number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity. This was attributed largely to inadequate rainfall, which contributed to low production of food crops and livestock, leading to rise in prices and negative impact on food access.
Both natural and human-induced hazards have increased in frequency and scale in Tanzania in recent years. Droughts frequently wreak devastation on the economy, agricultural output, food security and the generation of hydropower.
Floods are a regularly occurring natural hazard that can have widespread impacts. These are worsened by heavy rainfall and rising sea levels, causing devastating impacts on people’s health and the economy. They also affect agriculture, food security, groundwater supplies, and hydropower generation.
Rising sea levels also threaten coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, as well as affecting groundwater resources and coastal infrastructure. Tanzania’s vulnerability to extreme weather events is compounded by its growing population, and its assets are increasingly exposed to adverse natural events. Rapid urbanization and environmental degradation are expected to increase, and climate change is likely to cause a higher frequency and intensity of hydrometeorological disasters. The changing environment has also contributed to the spread of malaria into regions that have historically been unaffected, including Tanga, Kilimanjaro and Arusha Highlands.
The burden of preventable diseases also remains high in Tanzania. Malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis are the major causes of death among adults. Among children under five years of age, malaria, pneumonia and anaemia are the leading causes of death. About 100,000 people die of malaria every year, of whom 65–80 per cent constitute people under the age of five. Malaria is the cause of 40 per cent of outpatient visits to medical centres.
Refugee influx is the largest humanitarian crisis that Tanzania currently faces. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Tanzania hosts about 265,000 refugees from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The refugees are largely accommodated in the Nduta and Nyarugusu camps in the Kigoma region, in the northwest of Tanzania, and some are hosted in urban centres (mainly Dar es Salaam). Refugees in Tanzania remain highly dependent on humanitarian assistance due to restrictive policies and chronic under funding. Gender-based sexual violence is increasingly becoming a common phenomenon in camps and some tribal settings.