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Tanzania is a lower-middle-income country with a population of 61 million. The country has experienced steady economic growth in recent years. However, 27 percent of the population still live below the poverty line and an additional 8 percent live in extreme poverty.

A significant share of the population remains malnourished, with high stunting (impaired growth due to undernutrition) and increasing rates of overweight, obesity, and vitamin and mineral deficiency. An estimated 59 percent of families cannot afford a nutritious diet.

Agriculture plays a key role in the national economy and provides a livelihood for 70 percent of the population, with women making up most of the sector’s labour force. Despite their participation, women often have limited access to land, credit and other resources – reducing their ability to produce and generate income and making them more susceptible to shocks. The country is ranked 131 out of 193 on the Gender Inequality Index of 2022, mainly due to high maternal mortality rates, high adolescent birth rates and low levels of secondary education for girls due to early marriages and unplanned pregnancies.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been in Tanzania since 1963, working with the Government, donors, other UN agencies, NGOs and the private sector to improve food security and nutrition. 

WFP is expanding its operations across more regions in Tanzania’s mainland and Zanzibar, while increasing its focus on youth, women and people with disabilities.
 

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What the World Food Programme is doing in Tanzania

Food assistance and livelihoods
WFP distributes a monthly food basket to over 200,000 refugees. WFP fosters collaboration between host communities and refugees by supporting smallholder farmers in producing and selling food for refugees. We promote environmental restoration through reforestation, alternative energy solutions and landscape improvements.
Nutrition
WFP strengthens institutional capacity by training health workers, while supplying nutrition equipment and tools to enhance their effectiveness. WFP provides technical support to the Government to facilitate the design and implementation of cost-efficient and sustainable school-meal programmes. This includes the establishment of school gardens to improve access to nutritious foods such as biofortified fruits and vegetables.WFP provides technical support to the government to facilitate the design and implementation of cost efficient and sustainable school meals programmes. This includes the establishment of school gardens to improve access to nutritious foods such as biofortified fruits and vegetables.
Climate resilience
WFP empowers communities to adapt to the effects of climate extremes. We help farmers increase crop productivity and quality by promoting climate-smart agricultural practices such as use of organic fertilizers, reducing the use of chemicals and intercropping. We have further provided training in food handling, storage, fortification, packaging and delivery practices, as well as overall post-harvest loss management.
Capacity building
WFP delivers on-demand services to the Government, UN agencies and cooperating partners to enhance their ability to attain the Sustainable Development Goals. This includes training in communication and technology, and the provision of software. WFP is working with the Government to enhance the health sector supply chain system and supporting the provision of in-country logistics services in the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines across Tanzania. We are training national railway staff on a “cold chain” transport system to reduce waste and ensure fresh produce reaches urban markets faster and more efficiently.

Publications

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In focus

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Tanzania is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
Belgium Brazil China European Union Germany

Operations in United Republic of Tanzania

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Contacts

Office

Dar Es Salaam Plot No. 113, Ada Estates, Burundi Street/Mwindu Lane, Kinondoni. PO Box 77778,
Dar Es Salaam
Tanzania

Phone
+255 22 2197300
Fax
+255 22 2197303
Email
[email protected]
For media inquiries
[email protected]
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