TUI Field to Fork Tanzania

TUI Field to Fork Tanzania is a two-year project located in the Simiyu region of the Serengeti ecosystem, in the North-East Kilimanjaro region. Despite this area attracting nearly a million tourists annually, over 50% of the local population lives below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 per day. Rural communities depend heavily on farming and livestock but face severe challenges like soil degradation, unpredictable weather patterns, and crop destruction by wild animals, leading to decreased agricultural yields and unreliable incomes. Women are particularly affected, often lacking access to education, assets and essential business skills.

The project empowers these women by providing technical training in farming, climate resilience and business skills. By establishing links with the tourism sector, it creates better income opportunities and a unique "field to fork" tourism experience. This initiative promotes gender equality, economic development, environmental conservation, and sustainable tourism, ultimately improving the livelihoods of marginalised women and their communities.

The Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania, renowned for its annual Great Migration, is a breathtaking landscape where vast herds of wildebeest, gazelles and zebras migrate every year. However, this natural wonder is contrasted with the harsh realities faced by local communities. In Mwiba and Maswa, most women spend eight-ten hours a day on household labour and lack access to education and productive resources. Intensive farming practices have degraded the soil, and climate change has introduced unpredictable weather patterns, further reducing agricultural yields. The destruction of crops and livestock by wild animals can wipe out entire livelihoods, making it difficult for families to sustain themselves.

TUI Field to Fork Tanzania tackles these issues by training 2700 local entrepreneurs, 80% of whom are women, across 16 villages in the Simiyu region. Training sessions over twelve months include regenerative farming, climate resilience and various essential business skills such as enterprise and financial management. By focusing on value chains such as sunflower processing, beekeeping, and poultry farming, the project builds livelihoods and forges links with the tourism sector. One of the key strategies is forming Self-Help Groups to facilitate learning, saving, and mutual support amongst participants. These groups provide a platform for women to share knowledge, access credit, and collectively market their products.

A satellite office near Meatu serves as a central hub for the project.

The project’s other location is in the Kilimanjaro region, nestled at the foot of the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro. This section of the project strengthens the connection between tourism, hotels and local farms to foster sustainable income opportunities and formal employment.

Land will be purchased to establish a demonstration farm where women from marginalised communities will receive training on climate-resilient farming techniques. Greenhouses, a drip irrigation system and water tanks will be constructed to combat drought and mitigate climate change impacts.

The project develops a unique "field to fork" tourism experience by designing farm tours, enhancing farm facilities, and promoting these attractions to draw in tourists.

It engages tourism and hospitality stakeholders and provides training on the significant impact and value of establishing and nurturing links with the local community, highlighting sustainable sourcing practices that benefit both hotels and the community.

PROJECT PARTNER

Hand In Hand International:

Hand in Hand International is a global non-profit organisation aiming to change lives by empowering women to beat the odds and succeed as entrepreneurs. Its main activities include providing business and credit management training, training farmers on regenerative agriculture and circular economy techniques and building market connections, including with the tourism industry. Its operating model is based on a strategic collaboration between expert practitioners in low and middle-income countries, and fundraisers in high-income countries.

Equality In Tourism:

Equality in Tourism is a registered non-profit organisation transforming the lives of women in tourism by advocating for gender equality across the industry. They envision a just tourism industry that empowers women and girls, promotes diversity and inclusion, and contributes to the social, economic and environmental well-being of local communities. Their collaborative and innovative approach provides practical solutions and best practices that inspire global action towards a more equitable and responsible tourism industry.

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