The International Organization for Migration (IOM) aids countries in developing and updating national and local Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation policies, integrating human mobility considerations. It supports hazard and vulnerability analysis, community-based disaster risk management, livelihood diversification strategies, early warning systems, and planned relocation of communities from high-risk areas.

IOM Tanzania has been a key partner in Tanzania's efforts in Disaster Risk Reduction DRR and addressing the climate change impacts on human mobility. The Country Office supports the government and communities in enhancing their preparedness and response systems to disasters and climate hazards. IOM Tanzania leads in DRR programming for shelter and camp coordination, serves as a co-chair of the United Nations Emergence Coordination Group, and leads the Capacity for Disaster Reduction Initiative. It also leads the Planet Pillar and DRR theme of the Kigoma Joint Programme, aiming to improve development and human security in the region.

Programmes Of The IOM Tanzania On Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) And Migration, Environment And Climate Change Nexus (MECC)

A total of two projects have been implemented successfully and completed, One on MECC and the other on DRR.

  • The IOM Tanzania project, Migration, Environment and Climate Change MECC in Tanzania: Examining the Causes and Consequences of Climate Change-Induced Internal Migration was a two-year initiative from February 2020 to January 2022, aimed at strengthening Tanzania's capacity on the migration, environment, and climate change nexus and producing evidence-based data on climate change-induced internal migration.
  • The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tanzania launched a two-year project titled Capacity Building in Disaster Risk Reduction DRR in the United Republic of Tanzania in collaboration with the Prime Minister's Office's Disaster Management Department from December 2020-May 2023. The project aimed to enhance disaster risk reduction capacity among government ministries, agencies, local authorities, and communities.

In collaboration with the IOM mission in Burundi, IOM Tanzania is implementing a two-year regional project, Strengthening Climate-Related Disaster Preparedness, Response and Community Resilience in the Lake Tanganyika Basin, from September 2023 to August 2025, in collaboration with the Disaster Management Department under the Prime Minister's Office. The project, financed by the IOM Development Fund, aims to enhance the resilience of Lake Tanganyika Basin communities to climate change effects. Tanzania and Burundi's government stakeholders prepare to address climate change challenges in the Lake Tanganyika basin, including disaster-induced migration, while communities in affected regions are actively participating in risk reduction and mitigation activities to address climate related hazards and subsequent displacement.

The activities implemented and key achievements:

  • The Joint Action Plan aims to minimize the adverse effects of rising water levels in Lake Tanganyika, developed by Burundi and Tanzanian government officers and stakeholders. 197 vulnerable and disaster-prone communities were sensitized to flood hazards through awareness-raising sessions in Uvinza and Kigoma Districts. A workshop empowered them to assess nature-based mitigation initiatives.
  • In October 2024, community-based hazard and vulnerability risk-mapping was conducted in Kigoma districts to improve disaster risk reduction decision-making.
  • The country office supports Tanzania's involvement in implementing the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change through the technical Expert Working Group, consisting of four technical officers from the Vice President’s Office-Environment Division and Ministry of Home Affairs-Immigration Services Departments serve as members of the EWG.

The results of the IOM DRR initiatives in the country contributes to the implementation of the National Disaster Management Strategy 2022-2027, National Climate Change Strategy 2021-2026 and the recommendations of the CADRI report in the United Republic of Tanzania.