In 2015, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were unanimously adopted by all 193 UN member states providing a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The SDGs build on decades of multilateral cooperation and are a universal call to action for Governments and people around the world to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere by 2030.
Seven years since they were launched, the truth is that the world is not on track to deliver on the promise of the SDGs, and I believe this is a reality we must acknowledge and look to correct together.
Unfortunately, people all over the world are still feeling the impacts of Covid 19 pandemic. Also; supply chain issues, price inflation of oil, wheat and other commodities have been disrupted due to the war in Ukraine. This is not even to mention the impacts of Climate Change – an existential threat that we can all admit are not responding to at the required scale.
It is very concerning that according to the 2022 SDGs report, these interlinked crises have reversed years of progress in eradicating poverty and hunger, improving health and education, providing basic services, and much more. Tanzania’s economy has remained relatively stable in line with projections but still facing global challenges of high commodity prices, high inflation, tight financial conditions and recurrence of Covid-19.
The poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized are the ones who are most affected by these negative impacts, especially in developing countries whose economies are more fragile. As we mark this UN Day, I believe we should all be thinking about the actions that we can take to ensure that the development and economic growth are felt more by the ordinary woman, man, girl or boy at the grassroots level. I think these challenging times should make us re-focus our collective efforts to work towards more inclusive development that truly prioritizes those left furthest behind.
As the UN in Tanzania, we understand that the Government, development community, partners and general public look to us to lead by example. I am proud to say that our recently launched Cooperation Framework (2022-27) which will guide our work for the next five years, strives for inclusive development. The Cooperation Framework provides a blueprint for how the UN in Tanzania supports the country to achieve its development priorities and the SDGs. Before we had started thinking about what activities to include, we first looked at the development areas that, if invested in, could best accelerate the SDGs and improve the lives of those left furthest behind.
The UN family in Tanzania may not have the resources to invest in all of these areas, but we have identified and prioritised parts that we do have the capacity to invest in and since this development analysis was conducted with partners, we hope that it will be a useful resource that allows others to cover those areas we may have missed. This process of identifying SDGs accelerators is a good example of how the Cooperation Framework will make an even more concerted effort to bring on board different partners and stakeholders to work towards common goals.
I believe that if we all work with this principle of inclusive development in mind we can get Tanzania, Africa and the world back on track to achieving the SDGs. I ask everyone from the Government, development partners, private sector and all other stakeholders to think of how they can reach those who have been left further behind.
Zlatan Milisic is UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania
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Tanzania: Samia Hands Over NBC’s 354m/ – Crop Insurance Compensation to Farmers Affected By Hailstorms
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has handed over a cheque of 354m/- from the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) as compensation to tobacco farmers, who were affected by hailstorms during the previous farming season in various regions across the country.
Handing over the cheque in Dodoma, the compensation is part of the crop insurance service provided by NBC in collaboration with the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).
Furthermore, President Samia has also handed over health insurance coverage to members of the Lindi Mwambao Cooperative Union based in Lindi Region, through the Farmers’ Health Insurance service provided by the bank in partnership with Assurance Insurance Company.
While visiting the bank’s pavilion at the Nanenane Agricultural Exhibition and being received and briefed by the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Theobald Sabi, she said: “This crop insurance is one of the crucial solutions in ensuring farmers have a reliable income, without fear of challenges such as natural disasters, including hailstorms.
“I call upon all farmers in the country to make the best use of this important opportunity by accessing these kinds of insurance services. I also highly commend NBC and all the stakeholders participating in this programme.”
Elaborating further on the crop insurance service, the Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, stated that it will help to recover the loss farmers incurred, especially in various calamities beyond their control.
Citing them as floods, fires, and hailstorms, which have significantly affected the well-being of farmers and caused some to be reluctant to invest in the crucial sector, Mr Bashe added: “However, our President, this step by NBC is just the beginning, as this is the second year since they started offering this service, and the results are already visible.
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“As the government, we promise to continue supporting the wider implementation of this service, with the goal of ensuring that this crop insurance service reaches more farmers.”
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On his part, Mr Sabi said that the farmers who benefited from the compensations are from 23 primary cooperative unions in the regions of Shinyanga, Geita, Tabora, Mbeya, Katavi, and Kigoma.
He added: “In addition to these insurance services, as a bank, through this exhibition, we have continued with our programme of providing financial education and various banking opportunities to farmers, alongside offering them various loans, including loans for agricultural equipment, particularly tractors, to eligible farmers.:
At the NBC booth, President Samia also had the opportunity to be briefed on the various services offered by the bank to the farmers namely crop insurance and health insurance services.
There, the President had the chance to speak with some of the beneficiaries of the services, including the Vice-Chairman of the Lindi Mwambao Primary Cooperative Union, Mr. Hassan Mnumbe, whose union has been provided with a health insurance card from the bank.
Source: allafrica.com
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European Union Bans Air Tanzania Over Safety Concerns
Kampala — The European Commission added Air Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List, banning the airline from operating within European Union airspace. This decision follows the denial of Air Tanzania’s Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), citing significant safety deficiencies.
The EU Air Safety List includes airlines that fail to meet international safety standards. Commissioner Tzitzikostas emphasized the importance of passenger safety, stating: “The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards. We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift action to address these safety issues. The Commission has offered its assistance to Tanzanian authorities to enhance safety performance and achieve compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania joins several African airlines banned from EU airspace, including carriers from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Kenya. Notable names include Congo Airways, Sudan Airways, and Kenyan carriers Silverstone Air Services and Skyward Express. The ban reflects the EU’s strict approach to aviation safety worldwide.
Source: allafrica.com
