The European Union has signed two agreements with Zanzibar aimed at promoting sustainable development of the blue economy, marine conservation and gender equality.
The first agreement, valued at 32 billion TZS (€11 million), focuses on marine conservation through the Bahari Yetu (Our Ocean) Project which is part of the EU’s Team Europe Initiative for the Blue Economy. This initiative will be implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to address critical challenges of protecting marine resources, promoting sustainable fishing practices, and tackling plastic pollution. The project is set to empower local communities by creating sustainable economic opportunities while protecting Zanzibar’s rich marine biodiversity.
The second agreement allocates additional 8.8 billion TZS (€3 million) to expand the EU’s Gender Transformative Action program in Zanzibar implemented by UN Women and the ministry responsible for Gender to eliminate barriers to women’s rights, and enhance women’s leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. A new focus will be on the promotion of girls’ education, especially in tertiary education.
Rita Laranjinha, Managing Director for Africa at the European External Action Service (EEAS) said, “These agreements demonstrate the EU’s unwavering commitment to Zanzibar’s long-term development, from fostering sustainable marine practices to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.”
The agreements align with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which focuses on high-quality, sustainable investments that meet the needs of partner countries and ensure long-term positive impact