COLEACP has carried out four missions to Tanzania in the framework of the FFM programme. Visits took place in March, December 2017 and in December 2018. A fourth visit took place in September 2019.  During the missions, several meetings and field visits were organized with potential and future beneficiaries. The EU delegation was met along with the competent authorities (the Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services – Ministry of Agriculture). Meetings were also held with NGOs (highly represented in the country) and with experts/ consultants so to get to an integrated vision of the status of the horticultural sector in Tanzania.

The information collected throughout the missions along with the requests for intervention and a continuous communication with the different stakeholders (public and private) contributed to the strategy and actions that are being carried out and are planned for Tanzania.

Since January 2021, COLEACP counts with the support of a focal point in the country (National Relay), Mr. Isaac Ndamanhyilu. The services provided by the national relay mainly contribute to facilitate relations with the various stakeholders in both public and private sectors, particularly at decision-making level and assist the COLEACP team in ensuring that the activities of the Association’s programmes are consistent with other projects and programmes implemented by other organisations whose objectives, or part of whose objectives, relate to the same field of activity.

Target Beneficiaries

COLEACP intervention in Tanzania remains on the crops that have the most important market shares in the European market: french beans, peas and avocados. For local market the capacity building of cooperatives that produce vegetables and herbs for high end niche markets is also considered.

FFM support is being provided to the following beneficiaries:

• companies (MSMEs and large corporations) that are supplying for local, regional and export markets. The majority of the beneficiary companies work with outgrowers (covering more than 7.000);
• cooperatives and producer associations, which represent more than 2.000 producers selling on the domestic and the export market;
• COLEACP is liaising with a key stakeholder in the country – TAHA (Tanzania Horticultural Association) which aggregates and represents the interest of producers, traders, exporters and processors of horticultural products;
• consultants / experts – FFM is supporting consultancy firms and experts in the country. There is not yet a high number of Tanzanian consultancy firms providing services to COLEACP and benefiting from FFM support. Kenyan and other regional consultants are still regularly contracted to provide technical assistance and trainings in the country;
• COLEACP is liaising, since the launching of the FFM, with the Tanzanian competent authorities with a focus on inspection services and compliance of export produce.

Operation mode

Since the launching of the “Fit for Market Programme” in June 2017 until June 2021, COLEACP received 30 Requests for Intervention which led to the drafting of 29 Memorandum of Understanding.

COLEACP intervention in Tanzania:

• includes capacity building of small producers through the training system of companies and through the extensionists working for TAHA, the producers’ associations and NGO’s.;
• covers themes such as compliance with food safety requirements for export and domestic market, sustainable use of soil and water and professionalisation of farmers, especially for the cooperatives that directly manage food safety certification;
• promotes, where possible, the gathering of the staff of companies and cooperatives facing similar challenges to beneficiaries in Kenya (similar products, pest management problems, e.g. avocado; drought and climate change mitigation, compliance with organic standard for avocado, outgrower management and ownership, etc). Beneficiaries will continue to be invited to the collective trainings organised in Kenya or vice versa. The exchanges between technical staff on a regional level encourages sharing of expertise, of experiences and solutions;
• provides support to the Tanzanian inspection services (under the FFM-SPS programme) in the framework of the challenging requirements of the new EU plant Health directives.

COVID 19

Since March 2020, and following the evolution of the Covid-19 situation, COLEACP has adapted its modus operandi and taken a series of measures to continue working while integrating domestic and international guidelines related to the evolution of the pandemic. The safety of human resources, including partners’ staff, service providers, and members, is COLEACP’s priority.

Adjustments have therefore been implemented regarding field activities to comply with the precautionary measures related to COVID-19.
This does not have a direct impact on the main focus areas of the country strategy, but justifies an adaptation of the technical support, an increased use of remote communication and meeting tools, and as much as possible, an accelerated digitisation of advisory and training activities.