Tanzania is seeking to mobilise financing for its commitment to restore 5.2 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030 under the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100). The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), through the AFR100 Supporting Programme, has convened stakeholders to validate a roadmap aimed at improving access to restoration financing and attracting investment into landscape restoration activities. The meeting brings together government representatives, financial institutions, producer organisations, communities and development partners to review capacity gaps, blended finance mechanisms and proposed strategies for scaling up restoration investments across the country.
Opening the stakeholder validation workshop, a representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Shabil Mzee, said the proposed documents were important in connecting the country's restoration ambitions with practical financing opportunities. He said communities and enterprises involved in restoration activities needed adequate capacity to develop viable business proposals and access available financial resources. "These documents should help connect restoration priorities with workable financial pathways. Capacity development is equally important in enabling communities and enterprises to prepare viable investments and participate meaningfully in restoration financing opportunities," he said.
Investment in landscape restoration faces significant challenges, including the long periods required for projects to generate returns, exposure to climate and market risks, and limited access to conventional financial services among local communities. According to assessments presented at the workshop, Forest and Farm Producer Organisations and other community-based groups require additional support in business planning, financial literacy, governance, digital skills, innovation and market access to become attractive to investors. Financial institutions also face challenges in assessing restoration-based business models, integrating climate risks into lending decisions, monitoring green investments and developing financial products that respond to the needs of nature-based enterprises.
To address these financing challenges, the proposed framework recommends blended finance, an approach that combines public and private resources to reduce investment risks and attract more capital into restoration activities. The proposed instruments include green credit lines, guarantee facilities, matching grants, results-based financing mechanisms and community revolving funds. Such mechanisms are expected to create opportunities for restoration enterprises and community organisations that may struggle to secure financing through conventional lending arrangements.
The workshop also reviewed a proposed 2026-2030 roadmap outlining strategic priorities, implementation actions, partnerships and monitoring indicators required to expand restoration financing nationwide. FAO Project Coordinator Geoffrey Bakanga said the validation process was an important step towards translating Tanzania's restoration commitments into investments capable of delivering benefits to communities and the environment. "Through this process, we are laying the foundation for mobilising the financial resources required to support Tanzania's restoration commitments under AFR100. By strengthening capacities and creating enabling financing mechanisms, we can help ensure restoration delivers sustainable livelihoods, economic opportunities and environmental benefits," he said.
The roadmap seeks to establish a coordinated approach through which government institutions, financial service providers, producer organisations and development partners can contribute towards mobilising resources and supporting restoration investments. Tanzania's 5.2 million-hectare restoration commitment represents an opportunity to combine environmental conservation with economic development, particularly in rural communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on land and natural resources. The success of the initiative will depend on how effectively the proposed financing solutions translate into accessible resources for those implementing restoration activities on the ground.