ARUSHA, Tanzania (BG) – The East African Community has launched a three-year project to promote sustainable management of natural resources and strengthen climate resilience across the region.

The EAC4Nature Project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU), with a budget of 8 million euros.

Running from January 2025 to June 2028, it will integrate nature-based solutions into regional policies, enhance cross-border cooperation, and support key basin organizations, including the Lake Victoria Basin Commission and the Lake Tanganyika Authority.

Speaking at the launch in Entebbe, Uganda, Eng. Richard Gatete, representing EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva, emphasized the project’s importance.

“It is a call to action. It is a call to work together, across borders and sectors, to protect our natural wealth, build climate resilience and secure a sustainable future for the people of East Africa,” he said.

Germany’s Julia Kronberg highlighted her country’s commitment to climate resilience, while Pierre-Yves Renaud of the EU Delegation to Burundi reaffirmed the EU’s support for protecting water resources and promoting regional cooperation.

With technical support from GIZ, the project aligns with EAC’s development strategy and international environmental standards.

It will promote gender-inclusive approaches, enhance data-driven decision-making, and strengthen partnerships to ensure sustainable natural resource management and climate adaptation in the region.