Each implementing entity contributes distinct technical strengths.

Tanzania Secures US$25mn from the Pandemic Fund to Strengthen Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness.

The Ministry of Health is spearheading the project in close coordination with the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.

The United Republic of Tanzania has been awarded a significant grant of US$25mn from the Pandemic Fund to enhance its national health security and pandemic preparedness capacities. In addition to this core funding, the initiative has successfully mobilized US$7mn in co-investment and US$6.7mn in co-financing, bringing together strong technical and financial partnerships.

The project is being implemented through the collaborative efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), which serve as the three designated Implementing Entities. Together, they will provide coordinated support across human, animal, and environmental health systems in alignment with the One Health approach.

Tanzania, which comprises both Mainland and Zanzibar, continues to enjoy steady economic growth, driven in part by its abundant natural resources and vibrant tourism sector. However, this growth is accompanied by increased risks, particularly zoonotic and cross-border disease transmission due to high population movement and porous borders. Despite a strong commitment by the government to the International Health Regulations (IHR), the country still faces critical challenges in disease detection, specimen referral systems, laboratory capacity, biosafety, and early warning functions.

In response, the new project aligns closely with Tanzania’s National Action Plan for Health Security. It aims to reduce the impact of future epidemics and pandemics by addressing system-level gaps while ensuring that the needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations, including the elderly and persons with disabilities, are fully integrated into planning and implementation.

The Ministry of Health is spearheading the project in close coordination with the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. Implementation will also involve a broad coalition of national and international partners.

Each implementing entity contributes distinct technical strengths. FAO supports animal health planning and implementation, UNICEF leads on risk communication and community engagement, and WHO supports the strengthening of human health systems and emergency readiness. By 2027, Tanzania aims to have an integrated, functional disease surveillance and response system capable of effectively monitoring, confirming, and responding to epidemic and pandemic threats. With this investment, the country is not only reinforcing its ability to protect the health of its citizens but also contributing meaningfully to regional and global health security.

Innovative pasture technologies for sustainable livestock farming.

Nigeria's ministry of livestock development is working with state governments, experts, and international partners to modernise the livestock sector and ensure sustainable pasture and fodder for farmers.

The new initiative, supported by the L-PRES project, aims to tackle the challenges facing pasturelands, including overgrazing, land degradation, and climate change.

A meeting held in Abuja brought together stakeholders from various sectors, including state governments, livestock experts, the World Bank, and the Israeli ministry of agriculture. The event, organized by L-PRES, focused on "technologies for sustainable pasture production and management in Nigeria."

 Idi Mukhtar Maiha, minister of livestock development, said, "As we confront pressing challenges ranging from overgrazing and climate stress to rising tensions over scarce pasture resources, it has become evident that innovation and collaboration must be our most potent tools."  He further highlighted that managing pasture sustainably is not just an agricultural issue but a means to promote environmental stewardship, social stability, and economic resilience.

Sanusi Abubakar, national coordinator of the L-PRES project, pointed out that pasturelands are essential for livestock production but face growing threats and said, "These challenges not only affect productivity but also contribute to conflicts over scarce resources." Nigeria is now looking at climate-smart and technology-driven solutions to restore and sustainably manage its pasture ecosystems.

The meeting explored various innovative technologies, such as GIS, remote sensing, and precision irrigation, to improve pasture management. Experts also discussed best practices in rangeland and soil health management, sustainable pasture enterprises, and policy frameworks for long-term success.

Israel expressed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s livestock sector. Daniel Werner, head of foreign relations of Israeli ministry of agriculture, said,"Israel has developed technologies that can help modernize Nigeria's livestock sector." 

Livestock farmers welcomed the initiative but called for a sustainable development model that benefits both farmers and investors. Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril, the Emir of Nasarawa, urged experts to avoid past mistakes, such as those made with cassava farming, where farmers were encouraged to invest without sufficient market opportunities.

Some L-PRES participating states, like Borno and Gombe, have appealed to investors by offering incentives, such as free land ownership titles in Borno for anyone interested in investing in the state's 180 square kilometres of grazing land.

Tanzania can take control of its waters.

Tanzania’s fishing industry has long supported families, kept children in school, and sustained coastal communities

But behind the scenes, the sector is under serious threat. The problem isn’t natural disasters or predators, but something worse—illegal foreign fishing fleets quietly stealing Tanzania’s marine resources.

According to the Tanzania Relief Initiative (TRI), many of these foreign vessels disguise themselves under local names and operate in Tanzania’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Despite clear territorial boundaries, these fleets continue fishing without proper permits or accountability. The Global IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) Fishing Index has ranked Tanzania poorly, placing it among the worst-performing countries in recent years.

 Edwin Mugambila, TRI CEO has called for urgent action. “Foreigners must pay taxes so the country benefits. Locals should be the ones earning a living from our waters,” he said at a recent press conference. He urged the government to introduce strict laws, involve local fishing associations in licensing, and implement modern tracking systems.

One major concern is the depletion of key fish species. Once abundant and valuable fish like Robusta are now nearly extinct in Tanzanian waters. Mugambila also raised alarm over the capture of banned species, including whales and sharks, with foreign crews taking only the fins and discarding the rest. Many foreign operators reportedly use Tanzanian proxies to appear legitimate while keeping full control.

Despite having over 1,400 km of coastline and more than 61,000 square kilometres of inland water, marine fishing contributes just 1.7 to 1.8 per cent to Tanzania’s GDP. Most fishing is done by small-scale operators using outdated tools. Deep-sea fishing, where the real value lies, is dominated by foreigners. Meanwhile, aquaculture remains underdeveloped, contributing only about 1 per cent to the economy.

Local fishers and entrepreneurs are also struggling to compete. Sarah Mwambu from the Tanzania Association of Marine Entrepreneurs (TAOME) said foreign buyers pay much higher prices for fish, leaving locals unable to match them. “We used to buy at 15,000/- per kilo. Now they offer 40,000/-. We can’t keep up,” she said.

The TRI and local groups are calling for tighter enforcement, better infrastructure, and greater support for Tanzanian fishers. With bold leadership and proper investment, Tanzania can take control of its waters and ensure the ocean’s wealth benefits its people first.

The camera captures a bird’s-eye view of cows as they pass underneath.

A new camera and AI system is now helping dairy farmers improve cow health, productivity, and herd management

The cutting-edge HerdVision technology, now available exclusively through Wynnstay, measures body condition score (BCS) and mobility, giving farmers instant insights to act on. The camera fits into any parlour or race and captures a bird’s-eye view of cows as they pass underneath. It automatically provides a BCS and mobility score, which can be viewed on a desktop or app. The key benefit lies in how farmers use this data, supported by Wynnstay’s team of dairy experts.

Matt Dobbs, CEO of HerdVision,“This partnership brings the benefits of early identification of problem cows alongside support from Wynnstay's specialists, nutritionists and range of products, ensuring that a problem will be quickly addressed. Wynnstay's superior knowledge of dairy farming, range of expertise and wide product portfolio made them logical partners to bring the benefits of vision technology to UK dairy farming.”

Lameness is one area where the system shows real value. “With access to the data from the HerdVision reports, and working alongside the farm’s foot trimmer, we can identify problem areas which may be causing issues like sole bruising or white line disease,” says Rebecca Reed-Downes, dairy technical specialist at Wynnstay. He added,“If it’s an issue of digital dermatitis, we could dig into the farm’s footbathing routine, and refine the system.”

Nutritionists also benefit. “For nutritionists, this will provide vital data on BCS changes throughout lactation.Used correctly this information will allow for improvements in fertility, health and production”says David Jones, dairy nutritionist at Wynnstay.

The system costs £5,900 with a free first-year subscription and is eligible for funding through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.