INTEGRATED DROUGHT RECOVERY PROGRAMME The prolonged drought in two consecutive farming seasons, October- December 2010 and March –June 2011 adversely affected crop production and livestock development in many parts of Tanzania especially in the Northern regions of Arusha, Manyara and Kilimanjaro. This situation resulted into drought that caused wilting of crops particularly maize and beans as staple food crops before flowering. Events such as of death of livestock were reported due to lack of water and pastures a situation that caused people among the pastoralist communities to migrate in search for livelihood elsewhere in the country. Food prices have been on the rise since then accompanied with fall of Tanzanian currency vs US dollar.  The Rapid Vulnerability Assessment (RVA) report of June 2011 indicated acute food shortage in most of the regions that needed assistance in terms of relief food to save lives and livelihood of the affected communities. The government appealed for Organizations and well wishers to jointly support her in distributing food among those communities.

Caritas Tanzania being one of the organizations dealing with disaster management adhered to this call by raising an appeal for responding to this disaster. In response to the appeal, CAFOD positively supported Caritas Tanzania with the capacity to enable her support communities in Arch/diocese of Arusha and Mbulu in the districts of Ngorongoro and Karatu respectively. The proposed intervention was interms of Maize, beans and cooking oil through food for work for energetic people and free food among the sick elderly and children. This response program is still in operation.
Upon the completion of the response phase, Caritas Tanzania is proposing for continuation of supporting the communities in the region taking to account that there have not been and agricultural activities that would lead to food production in the area. Therefore the second phase as a recovery phase will more focus into improving resilience among the drought affected communities in Arch/dioceses of Arusha and Mbulu. 

The main objective will be achieved through supporting communities’ development initiatives in various areas including water sanitation and hygiene, food security through seed distribution, construction of water harvesting structures and environmental conservation activities ranging from improving irrigation structures, trees planting, contouring and improving soil fertility. The intervention will also reduce workload especially among women and children who have to walk for long distances searching for water and also save for such cost of water where in some project area one has to pay for about Tzs 500  for every 20lts with a working distance about 25 kilometers. Therefore, implementation of the project apart from increasing access to safe and clean water, it will also improve the community health and development.

The proposed project through soil and water conservation component will restore lost soil fertility, conserve soil moisture and eventually improve food production and ensure food security. The food secured household/community has a better opportunity to diversify its livelihood engagements and become more resilient to livelihood shocks such as drought.
The recovery phase will directly contribute to the government initiatives in addressing and dealing with adverse effect of climate change through The National strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (MKUKUTA), where’s’ climate change and projection, early warning systems and national disaster response, coordination framework will be strengthened. 

The proposed intervention intends to reach about 6585 households as direct beneficiaries who will be directly involved in the implementation of planned activities. Gender mainstreaming issues will be in cooperated throughout the implementation duration where women will be encouraged to participate in decision making process including formation of village relief committees, supervision committees for monitoring different activities during the implementation of cash for work activities.