Poland in Tanzania

We visited the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania, to monitor a project implemented in partnership with the Southern Tanzania Elephant Project (STEP), aimed at strengthening local entrepreneurship and promoting environmental education in the region.

On 19–20 November, a monitoring visit was conducted by a representative of the Polish Embassy in Dar es Salaam to assess activities supporting livelihood diversification in the Kilombero Valley and the Udzungwa Mountains. This year, with the support of Polish Aid, three new Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) were established, 200 farmers received training in poultry health, and three new beekeeping groups were formed, receiving both training and specialized equipment. Six existing groups were also supported to continue developing local honey production.

In parallel, the project reached over 2,400 students in 31 schools through environmental education programs and provided technical training for 15 field guides from Udzungwa Mountains National Park in swimming and water rescue skills. The visit demonstrated the tangible impact of the project on local initiatives, improved tourism safety, and increased environmental awareness in the region.

Polish Aid has supported STEP’s broader work for several years, promoting peaceful coexistence between communities and wildlife through community education, crop protection, and the development of local savings and loan initiatives.