Potentials of Private Sector and Civil Society Organizations in Investing in REDD+ in Tanzania

Abstract

This paper discusses a study on the roles of private sector and civil society organizations in investing in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)for climate change disaster risk reduction in Tanzania. It goes on to assess the existing framework conditions for inclusion of private sector as partners in REDD+ activities, especially with the experience gained from some earlier REDD+ pilot projects in the country. The paper is based on the premise that, inclusion of private sector in the implementation of REDD+ activities will widen and better sustain forest conservation efforts and reduce dependence on government and development partners. Various data collection methods were employed in this study which included; key informants’ interviews, focus group discussion, in-depth interviews using structured questionnaire and literature review. The results indicated that 79% of respondents argued that the existing position for the private sector and civil society in the institution framework for REDD+ is limited and that there is a need to ensure clear position for the private sector and civil society organization. The conditions and incentives observed for private sector and civil society organization to invest in REDD+ were; 87% of the respondents said that private sector and civil society organization and  climate change issues should be mainstreamed into all policies, 89% of the respondents are aware of the impacts of climate change and its impacts on the business investment,  78% of the respondents are willing to participate in climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives such as REDD+, 77% of respondents see the future of REDD+ and that it needs to be sustained for climate change related risk reduction in Tanzania.

Keywords: REDD+, Climate change, Disaster Risk reduction, Private sector, Civil society Organizations