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KESHO YETU CLIMATE HACK 2022

The Kesho Yetu (Our tomorrow) Climate Hack is a part of UNA Tanzania Mazingira Yetu, Kesho Yetu (Our Environment, Our Future) program designed to inspire youth to take action towards climate resilience by taking care of their environment, through positive changing of mindsets, awareness on social and mass media, planting trees, beach clean-up, recycling and supporting youth led innovation towards climate resilience. The hackathon is a two rounds challenge created for young climate innovators aged between 18-25 years to create innovative climate smart solutions for climate resilience. The main objective of the hackathon is to increase youth agency in climate resilience through taking action and supporting youth led climate innovation.

Mr. Mohamed Mwabumba, A Meteorologist expert from The Tanzania Meteorological Authority ( TMA) mentoring one of the team during the first round of the Kesho yetu Climate Hack at UNA Tanzania Offices

UNA Tanzania and UNA Finland organized the first round of the Kesho Yetu Climate Hack. The hackathon was done parallel ( hybrid format) with youth in Finland and in Tanzania at UNA Tanzania Offices on September 23rd -25th, 2022. In Tanzania 56 Teams making a total of 168 people registered for the hackathon. Out of 56, 6 teams making a total of 19 people (12 female and 7 male) from Tanzania and 3 teams making a total of 9 people from Finland who had innovative solutions were selected for the hackathon. For 3 days, young people in Tanzania and Finland were given the opportunity to be key players in addressing and developing innovative climate smart solutions that mitigate disaster risk and reinforce climate resilience in Tanzania on three areas; early warning system, food security, and youth mobilization in Tanzania.

Ms. Diana Mbogo, The Executive Director of Millenium Engineers mentoring one of the team during the first round of Kesho Yetu Climate Hack at UNA Tanzania Offices in Dar es salaam

The hackathon brought together young climate innovators, mentors, and an expert from Tanzania Meteorological Authority for deep consultations. The teams from both countries engaged in mentoring sessions as well as peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing in order to co-create real life innovative solutions to enhance climate resilience. On the final day, the teams presented their final ideas to a panel of experts who selected one best team from Tanzania and one from Finland. In Finland, the best team adopted an ambitious agroforestry approach to tackle several climate issues with one multifaceted solution. The team obtained an opportunity to visit The Finnish Meteorological Institute to discuss their operations and potential trainee programs. The best team from Tanzania, alongside other two teams obtained an opportunity to proceed in the second round of The Kesho Yetu Climate Hack.

The second round will be conducted in November 2022. It will engage top 3 best teams from Tanzania which will enter a boot camp and get a chance to be mentored by experts in human centered design thinking, innovation, pitching, climate entrepreneurship as well as a deepened understanding of climate change and finesse their innovative ideas into practical solutions.

Meet the interventions of the best three teams from Tanzania;

CSE. ST. Joseph

Created a prototype that will help to predict information on climate hazards and inform people to take precautions. The system works as part of providing solution for challenges in early warning sysytem

Team members from left; Francis Ephraim Mwasyoka, Baraka Solomon Kimaro and Abraham William Mbuli

 

She Winners

Created a method that will connect experts and marginalized communities to extend their expertise and experience on climate change and agriculture in ensuring food security.

Team members from left; Happy Malunde, Careen Mbati, Julieth Sewava and Sarah Robert Mrosso

 

The Rehabs

Created an efficient and cost effective Early Warning Device ( EWD) that will help disseminate early warning information to vulnerable communities.

Team members from left; Doreen Machumu, Ebenezer Mathew and Theresina P. Tety

 

UNA TANZANIA ORGANIZES YOUTH EXPOSITION 2022

On Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd of September The United Nations Association of Tanzania and Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation organized the Youth Expo 2022 at the National Museum, Posta Dar-es-salaam. The Expo was attended by about 150 youths from the business sector and CSOs sector.  The main aim of the Expo was to create a platform for youth to acquire understanding of the requisite skills-set necessary to establish and enhance the sustainability of youth-led businesses or youth-led organizations.  Furthermore expose and link youth to opportunities and resources that will result in the promotion of better youth engagement and access to decent work.

The facilitators of the event were Miss Prudence Zoe Glorious Chief Purpose Officer PZG Impact  Communication Firm, Vicencia Fuko  legal Officer BRELA, Siraji Nalikame NEEC (UWEZESHAJI),Suzan Msaki – KPMG, Madam Donatha Narcis Human-centered Design Specialist, Mr.Said B.Kambi from the Insitiute of Directors Tanzania (IoDT), Victor Makere  a Senior Manager of Acquiring Business at CRDB Bank and Ndibalema Rwezaura s a Business Planning Manager  and a Country Strategy & Conduct Lead at Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania.

The topics discussed for the first and second day were;

  • Strategic Impact Communications for Business and Youth Led Non-profit organizations
  • Business formulization – Intellectual property rights
  • 10% Financing opportunities available at the council level (Changes in the requirements) – Public procurement priority for youth opportunities at the Government level (Qualifications to meet the criteria of PPRA) – Financing opportunities available at PMO’s office – Fund baskets available for youth at NEEC
  • Fundraising and Resource Mobilization – different approaches to grow and sustain your NGO
  • -Re-evaluating our work and our model- Model canvas (Group exercise)
  • Introduction to basics of corporate governance, – what does your business or organization need to have – Conflict management – Building and maintain a team – Contracts and labor laws and regulations
  • Growing your business – Re-inventing your profits – Building a culture for business sustainability – Investment options in Tanzania
  • Business narratives development – Keywords – Purpose statement for NGOs and value proposition for your Business. – Negotiation skills simulation: -Play talking to clients video. Followed by a negotiation simulation as per the work booklet. – Tip sharing: dialog between the young people on stakeholder management, networking, and visibility

 

One of the participants Lusekelo Richard Mwaikenda commented on the following;

  • “Youth Expo has taught him a lot of things especially to young people who have dreams of becoming an entrepreneur  and businessmen have been able to find many things that will develop knowledge and skills to become prominent figures in business and Entrepreneurship”.

UNA Tanzania convened stakeholders in advocating for anti-trafficking in persons act no.6/2008 and countering human trafficking in Tanzania.

CSOs Information sharing session

UNA Tanzania in partnership with Freedom House and Pact Tanzania under USAID support conducted a Civil Society Organizations’ session for collecting inputs to develop a booklet on human trafficking. The session was held on 28th and 29th of June 2022 at Seashells Millennium Hotel, Dar-es-salaam and brought together 15 representatives whereas 4 were Female and 11 were male. The main objective of the session was to gather inputs from different CSOs representatives working around human trafficking to come up with a comprehensive booklet which will be used for advocacy and awareness raising in the community.
During the session Baraka Thomas from Bridge for Change emphasized that “In order to be easily understandable the booklet should be informative with simple examples on types of human trafficking like sex trafficking, labor trafficking and debt bondage trafficking”.
On the other hand Ally Mwamzola from Youth of United Nations Association (YUNA) of Tanzania as he was presenting inputs from his group insisted that, “One of an important aspect to be included in the booklet is indicators of human trafficking, the community should be made aware of signs to look at that may help identify trafficked persons, such signs may include a person who is sexually exploited, labor exploited, a person who is begging or committing petty crimes”.

UNA Tanzania and Community Led Actions to Combat Climate Change.

Take a look at the above photo. What comes to mind? Wetlands? ordinary farming activities?

Well the photo is showcasing the people of Kengeja Community in Pemba, Tanzania planting mangrove trees as a means to reduce salt water intrusion in their farms. You might be asking yourself how did salt water invade farms in the first place and how is that a threat? you guessed it right, it is all a result of climate change.

Salt water intrusion is the movement of saline sea water into coastal lands and fresh water sources which are in proximity to the ocean. The act is facilitated by climate change either directly or indirectly. The direct cause is through the rise in sea levels due to expansion of water particles which is brought about by abnormal temperature rise. While the indirect cause is through the increase of drilling or pumping of coastal underground freshwater, might be for creation of wells or boreholes. These actions lead to an imbalance in the water pressure between the sea and underground water, hence making salt water invade the coastal areas.

Salt water intrusion affects the world differently. It is evident to coastal communities in Pemba where its impacts cut across fresh water availability, crop growth, productivity and quality of crops produced without forgetting the livelihood of farmers. Most of the people in Kengeja practice subsistence farming, to them it is the main source of food and income. When salt water invades, crop growth and productivity is affected due to the presence of traces of salt in the water which enters the farms. The action subsequently leads to a greater risk of food insecurities, furthermore low productivity leaves farmers with low earnings. Collectively all these escalates vulnerability to coastal communities.

If we are to tackle saltwater intrusion, climate action must be taken. Everyone has a role to play in our communities. It starts with the simplest things that we can all adopt. From spreading a word about the impact of climate change to being mindful of our daily activities at home or in the working environment. Making sure we create proper habits to adapt to climate change impacts like proper usage of water, planting trees and saying no to cutting trees. Apart from that, raising awareness about the importance of using clean energy, reducing the use of plastic materials and preserving our environment.

The United Nations Association of Tanzania is at the forefront of climate mitigation. We worked hand in hand with the people of Kengeja community in Pemba to plant mangrove trees in order to reduce salt water intrusion. UNA Tanzania engaged different age groups in this project while putting a particular priority in youth and women participation due to their influence. Climate dialogues were conducted to know the level of community understanding on climate action. Community sensitization on the adverse effects of climate change and adaptation measures were advocated. However, this is not enough. We therefore make a call upon everyone reading this article to be an agent for change. The climate change nightmare is not to be left in the hands of governments only. It is everyone’s battle, Play your part now!