EfD Tanzania took center stage this October, hosting EfD’s Annual Meeting. Dr. Martin Chegere, who stepped into the role of Center Director just over a year before that, got right into the heart of the action.

“It’s an important event for our center,” he says. “We showcase our research, engage with global partners, and elevate our voice on sustainability issues, nationally and internationally.”

The Policy Day, held in connection to the meeting, focused this year on sustainable and climate-smart agriculture, a crucial issue for the whole African continent.

“The meeting served as a platform for dialogue between policymakers and researchers. There were very constructive discussions.”

Timely opportunity to impact policies

Hosting the Annual Meeting meant that the EfD Tanzania center received national media coverage. The national television company TBC showed, for instance, interviews with EfD’s Global Hub Director Gunnar Köhlin, Martin Chegere, and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam.

“Hosting EfD’s Annual Meeting is also a very timely opportunity for us to have an impact on policies. The government is right now in the process of revising policies to align with the new development vision 2050.”

There were also discussions with funding organizations, as well as between centers, regarding how they can collaborate to attract funding.

Contributes to national planning

Under his leadership, EfD Tanzania has continued to focus on policy-relevant research in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, energy transition, green fiscal reforms, and environmental policy instruments.

The center also plays a vital role in capacity building, training students, researchers, and policymakers, and contributes directly to national planning.

As Tanzania grapples with challenges ranging from climate change and marine degradation to reliance on biomass fuels, deforestation, and rapid urbanization, Martin Chegere believes EfD’s work is more relevant than ever.

Following the Annual Meeting, EfD Tanzania researchers saw a notable rise in invitations to national policy platforms and commissioned policy work, including engagements with the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Planning Commission.