VP Harris Unveils Plans to Strengthen U.S.-Tanzania Partnership

The partnership between the United States and Tanzania is rooted in more than six decades of economic, development, health, and security cooperation. The United States and Tanzania stand together as friends and partners, based on the principle of mutual respect and aspirations for a more peaceful and prosperous future. The United States firmly supports Tanzania's democratic reform agenda and shares Tanzania's democratic values.

The Vice President's travel to Tanzania affirms the partnership between our two countries and will advance cooperation on commercial engagement, digital connectivity, investing in women and youth, fostering democratic values, food security, marine conservation, and health. In support of the breadth and depth of our bilateral engagement, the Administration intends to provide $560 million in bilateral assistance in fiscal year (FY) 2024 for Tanzania.

As part of her visit to Dar es Salaam, the Vice President is announcing the following U.S. plans, working with Congress as appropriate. She will also highlight additional resources requested in the FY 2024 President's Budget.

Strengthening Commercial Engagement

• U.S. EXIM-Tanzania Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and the Government of Tanzania will sign an MOU to expand U.S.-Tanzania commercial engagement by empowering U.S. businesses to export quality, innovative goods and services to Tanzania. The MOU, which will facilitate up to $500 million in U.S. export financing to Tanzania, will support exports in a variety of sectors, particularly: infrastructure, transportation, digital technology, climate and energy security, and power generation and distribution projects. The MOU will support jobs in both Tanzania and the United States, and builds on EXIM's Congressional mandate to increase U.S. exporters' relationships in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Life Zone Metals Project: The United States, through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), the Administration's signature G7+ effort to enable transformative infrastructure development, has helped facilitate a strategic partnership between Life Zone Metals and TechMet, a leading critical metals company part-owned by the U.S. Government through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Life Zone Metals entered into a Framework Agreement with the Tanzanian government to open a new multi-metals processing facility that will use innovative, low-emission technology to process nickel and other critical minerals mined in Tanzania, targeting delivery of battery grade nickel to the U.S. and the global market as soon as 2026. The partnership will also work to identify additional opportunities across the region for critical mineral inputs to the new facility. These efforts are aimed at building and expanding resilient, transparent supply chains for clean energy technology that are based on extensive local engagement, respect for the environment and conservation, and safe, high-integrity labor practices.

• Fiber Backbone and Access Network Expansion in East and Central Africa: The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will support the expansion of affordable broadband access to thousands of people across East and Central Africa through a $1 million feasibility study grant to help develop new fiber backbone and access network infrastructure in Tanzania, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda.

• Partnership on 5G Security and Cyber Cooperation: The United States and Tanzania signed an MOU on March 27 establishing a partnership to build capacity and collaborate on 5G, cybersecurity, and related regulatory policies and frameworks. During their April 2022 bilateral meeting, President Samia and Vice President Harris committed to focus on strengthening the U.S.-Tanzania partnership on cybersecurity and information and communications technology (ICT). Since then, the United States has worked closely with the Government of Tanzania to conduct a regional workshop on ICT; provided technical assistance on 5G, cybersecurity, and combatting cybercrime; and facilitated greater U.S. investment in Tanzania's ICT sector.

Investing in Democracy, Good Governance, and Development

• U.S.-Tanzania Bilateral Development Partnership: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Tanzania signed a five-year, approximately $1.1 billion assistance agreement on March 29. Under the agreement, USAID will work in close collaboration with the Government of Tanzania to provide assistance in the areas of economic growth, health, education, and democracy and governance. The agreement underscores the U.S. government's commitment to help advance the Government of Tanzania's development priorities.

• Strengthening Democratic Rights and Governance: In its FY 2024 Budget, the Biden-Harris Administration requested approximately $16.4 million in funding for democracy, rights, and governance programming for Tanzania, a significant increase that will support Tanzanian-led efforts in this space. USAID additionally selected Tanzania as a focus country for its Advancing Women's and Girls' Civic and Political Leadership Initiative, which would provide up to an additional approximately $1 million in funds for programs starting this year.

• Advancing Freedom of Expression in Tanzania: The U.S. Department of State plans to provide $1 million for projects that encourage lifting restrictions on freedom of expression for the Tanzanian public and media.

• Tanzania Center for Democracy Programming: In support of the Government of Tanzania's stated democratic commitments, particularly in the lead up to the 2024 and 2025 elections, the United States will provide $400,000 to support the work of the Tanzania Centre for Democracy to bring together stakeholders to discuss further democratic and legislative reforms, while also building youth capacity in the political sphere.

Fostering Biodiversity and Food Security

• Heshimu Bahari (Respect the Ocean) Program: USAID intends to provide $8.4 million to launch the Heshimu Bahari program, a five-year effort to enhance the ecological resilience and productivity of Tanzania's marine ecosystems. This funding will be the centerpiece of USAID/Tanzania's $25 million investment in marine conservation and sustainable fisheries efforts. Tanzania is a global hotspot of marine biodiversity that supports fishery and tourism livelihoods and is critical to the well-being of coastal communities throughout Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.

• Kilimo Tija (Agricultural Productivity) Launch: USAID intends to provide $16 million to launch Kilimo Tija, an initiative to support Tanzanian farmers with a focus on women and youth, and respond to the global food security crisis. Kilimo Tija is intended to equip Tanzanian farmers with the supplies, resources, and skills needed to increase yields and enhance the horticultural supply chain to get their goods to domestic and international markets. Through climate smart seeds and targeted technological improvements, U.S. Government investments are intended to help mitigate the impacts of climate change while increasing production of highly nutritious horticultural goods. USAID plans to provide an additional $10 million from Ukraine supplemental funding to further respond to the global food security crisis.

Promoting Education, Youth Engagement, and Women's Economic Empowerment

• Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Conference: Approximately 100 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) alumni from several African countries will convene in Tanzania in July to share best practices on growing a business, expanding export capacity, promoting inclusive gender policies, and building a strong international network of women in business. This is the first AWE alumni conference in Africa to discuss entrepreneurship, access to capital, business and financial management, and marketing.

• Humphrey Alumni Conference on Food Security: The Department of State will convene alumni of the Humphrey Fellowship, a Fulbright Exchange Program, in Dar es Salaam on April 28, 2023 for a solutions-focused conference and dialogue on promoting food security and resilient food systems in Africa. Informed by key takeaways from the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, alumni will chair roundtables on sustainable land and water management, agricultural technology, and related issues. The conference will showcase the contributions and importance of Humphrey Alumni from several African countries in addressing complex regional and global challenges.

Advancing Health Cooperation

• Partnering on Marburg Response: The U.S. Government is engaged with the Government of Tanzania and partners at all levels to support Tanzania's response effort to the recent outbreak of Marburg virus. Building on our long-standing collaboration in health, the U.S. Government, through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is providing technical support in epidemic management. In addition, USAID plans to provide $1.3 million for key prevention activities and critical response interventions to WHO and UNICEF, and the United States is providing Personal Protective Equipment to help Tanzanian responders.

• Continuing PEPFAR Investments: The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program celebrated its 20^th anniversary this year. In recognition of the tremendous strides of the PEPFAR program in Tanzania, the United States plans to invest $433 million in appropriated resources over the next two years, and has requested an additional $395 million in the President's FY 2024 Budget, subject to the availability of appropriation. Tanzania is one of 12 countries participating in a Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children, spearheaded by UNAIDS and the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. In partnership with the Government of Tanzania, PEPFAR is supporting the adoption of health policies that will strengthen HIV program activities for children. PEPFAR is also supporting Tanzania to expand a minimum package of prevention activities for adolescent girls and young women who bear a disproportionate burden of HIV infections in Tanzania.

• Malaria Investments through PMI: The U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) plans to invest $39 million over the next year in partnership with the Government of Tanzania to deploy lifesaving interventions proven to fight malaria, including bed nets, fast acting malaria medicines, rapid diagnostic tests, and preventative treatments in pregnancy. These funds are intended to support stronger, more resilient health systems by training health workers, strengthening supply chains, and improving data monitoring.

• Health Electrification and Telecommunications Alliance: Through Power Africa, USAID intends to provide $600,000 to work with private sector telecommunications and technology companies and the Government of Tanzania to expand clean energy services and provide electricity for as many as 100 health facilities in western, central, and southern Tanzania. Powered by clean energy, telecommunications companies would build and enhance data services allowing health facilities to reliably access and utilize essential digital platforms. As a result, health facilities would be able to more reliably track inventory; communicate and manage emergencies; and report on key patient care metrics. Access to a clean, reliable energy source would improve basic health care and provide light and power for people and businesses to more efficiently and effectively conduct commerce and daily life.

• Global Health Security: As part of U.S. government global health security efforts and in support of the National Biodefense Strategy target to support at least 50 countries to improve their health security capacities, USAID and CDC plan to provide approximately $26 million over the next three years (Fiscal Years 2022-2024), pending the availability of appropriations and final allocations, to strengthen Tanzania's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. The President's FY 2024 Budget includes an additional $9 million in USAID funding for this purpose, requested to be provided during this timeframe. USAID and CDC will strengthen their partnership with the Government of Tanzania to address critical needs of health care facilities, health care workers, and patients to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks by strengthening laboratories and disease surveillance, including zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance surveillance; improving infection prevention and control; increasing rapid-response capacity; improving biosafety and biosecurity; and providing reliable information to the public on emerging pandemic threats and other infectious disease outbreaks in Tanzania.

• COVID-19 support: Tanzania is one of the 11 Global VAX surge countries. The U.S. Government partnership with countries, including through the Global VAX initiative, has driven dramatic results. Vaccination rates in Tanzania skyrocketed from 15 percent (in June 2022) to 98.9 percent (as of December 2022) of the eligible population. With support from the Global VAX initiative, community leaders encouraged people to get vaccinated, and health workers went door to door to vaccinate those hardest to reach.