Our projects and priorities
GGF provides technical, financial and strategic support for businesses, investors and financial institutions working to improve three key markets. We also provide technical assistance to the Government of Tanzania to help improve the business environment.
Investment capital
Carbon markets
High-value crops
Technical Assistance Facility
Carbon markets
GGF is supporting the development of Tanzania's nascent carbon credit market, assisting the Government to create a more enabling policy and regulatory environment, and encouraging project developers and investors to increase the supply and demand for carbon credits. GGF currently has a focus on forest carbon, but may later expand to support the energy and waste management markets. We currently have three active project partnerships:
Protecting forests on communal village lands
Communal village forests account for around 40 per cent of Tanzania’s total forest resources, and – as a result of changing land use – face the greatest pressure from deforestation. Carbon credits are currently the best and most sustainable model for transferring payments to local communities, with payments for eco-system services exchanged for conserving designated forest areas. GGF is currently supporting Village Climate Solutions to reach its first issuance of carbon credits, with local communities expected to receive over US$1.5 million annually to maintain over 400,000 hectares of forest in Lindi, Mtwara and Morogoro. There is also great potential to extend protection over additional parcels of forested land in the future.
Regenerative shade-grown coffee
Coffee is Tanzania's third biggest export by value, yet has been a major contributor to deforestation in the country. In addition, production has been falling due to various factors including climate change. GGF is supporting a major new investment into regenerative, organic, shade-grown coffee, focusing on commercial-scale production. We are currently supporting pre-feasibility studies and regulatory analysis. If successful, this innovative new business model will harness carbon assimilation benefits in the production process to create a commercially-viable, nature-positive model of premium coffee production, which would be a first for Africa.
Carbon sequestration from agro-forestry waste
GGF is providing technical and financial support to the Tanzanian biochar start-up, Dark Earth Carbon (DEC) to help optimise its pilot plant in Mafinga, and better position it for commercialisation and replication. Our support is helping DEC develop an affordable, scalable, long-term carbon sequestering solution, which can enhance soils and improve the lives of smallholder farmers. By 2029, DEC aims to be selling 200,000 tons of carbon credits per annum.
Investment capital
GGF is working to improve the investment environment in Tanzania, with strategies to reduce regulatory hurdles, catalyse new improved financial products, and strengthen market actors. We currently have three active projects through which we are also strengthening the wider eco-system by connecting key partners, plugging information gaps, and facilitating ground-breaking transactions.
Reducing regulatory hurdles for mergers and acquisitions
Tanzania’s current merger and acquisitions regulations hinder and delay many simple investment transactions, making them slow, uncertain and costly. GGF is supporting the country’s Fair Competition Commission, an agency of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, to analyse and compare Tanzania’s regulatory approaches with those of its regional peers and competitors. This analysis with help inform a review of current national policy, make recommendations for improving the investment climate, and align Tanzania with its peer jurisdictions.
Innovations in lending and financial products
The current structures, requirements and procedural norms of Tanzanian banks make loans unaffordable and unavailable to many. GGF is working with an innovative Dutch partner, Simbuka, to support six+ local banks and financial institutions to develop, test and launch new financial products designed to improve access to commercial loans. If successful, lower interest rates, collateral requirements and turnaround times will become the norm across the banking sector, enabling small and medium enterprises better access to finance, and fueling growth, expansion, productivity and job creation.
Accelerating deal flow through transaction advisors
Tanzania has the second largest economy in East Africa and much potential for growth, yet the number of private finance transactions is still very limited. GGF’s Transaction Support Facility (TSF) matches Tanzanian companies that are seeking growth capital with specialists who can assist their fundraising efforts by providing technical assistance, investor network connections and transaction advice. The TSF aims to stimulate wider market interest in Tanzania, as well as demonstrate how Tanzanian companies can attract investment finance and how transaction advisors can support deals.
High value crops
GGF is focused on developing Tanzanian supply chains, and boosting sales of high-quality, high-value foods to high-income markets, We aim to catalyse sector-wide structural transformation through an array of interventions, and are involved with scoping market demand, improving agro-logistics, building the export capabilities of Tanzanian businesses, easing market access for high growth firms, and growing Tanzania’s food brand and reputation. We currently have two active project partnerships:
Developing Tanzania’s cold chain infrastructure
GGF is working to establish commercially-viable cold chain services to support the distribution, marketing and export of high value crops and food products. We are helping service providers through a number of interventions, including finding commercially-viable markets for storage, transportation and distribution across the value chain. Enhancing Tanzania’s cold chain infrastructure will improve food storage and supply chains, reduce post-harvest losses, promote food security, grow exports, and boost agricultural competitiveness.
Securing high-value export markets through sustainability certifications
GGF is supporting businesses across a range of value chains (including cocoa, vanilla, avocado and cashew) to achieve Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance certification of key export products, which will also be compliant with the EU’s new deforestation regulations (EUDR). GGF is working in partnership with the Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA) to enable its subsidiary arm, GreenCert, to become an accredited Rainforest Alliance Certifying Body, in order to promote and provide affordable certification services within the country.
Technical Assistance Facility
The TAF provides technical assistance to short term projects that promote prosperity and climate resilience. Support is multi-varied and may include research, analysis and advice, policy formation and implementation, and facilitating workshops and key events. We have two active interventions:
Strengthening public-private partnerships (PPP)
Dar es Salaam’s new PPP Centre is tasked with the ambitious target of mobilising $20 billion of investor funding for infrastructure projects by 2025. Currently however, the Centre lacks resources to operationalise. GGF has embedded a consultant in the Centre to help strengthen its institutional capacity, and improve the management, coordination, and financing of PPP projects. GGF is supporting the new Centre to mobilise funding, draft a strategic plan, train new staff, and enhance strategic communications with the Government and potential investors. These will be critical to generating investments that can boost jobs, productivity and economic growth.
Strengthening sustainable tourism in Zanzibar
GGF is supporting the Zanzibar Ministry of Tourism and Heritage to develop a sustainability certification framework that will help the island transition from mass tourism towards a more socially and environmentally sustainable model. This is part of the island’s vision for a ‘Greener Zanzibar’, and follows the Government of Zanzibar's Declaration on Sustainable Tourism in January 2023, which envisages all large-scale hotels and operators becoming certified by an internationally-recognised certifying body by the end of 2026.
PHOTO CREDITS: Home page, main image Media Lens King. News (from right): Tempura, Bianca Thielke, Intek1, Golerol. Carousel (in order): Elen Marlen, Wirestock, GomezDavid, Den-belitsky, Zelikosantrac, Bianca Thielke, Zelikosantrac, Rchphoto, Andrey Gudkov, Hispanolistic, Neema Jodie/NEI, About Us page: © Neema Jodie, GGF. This page (top from left): © Wirestock; Neema Jodie/GGF; Media Lens King; PeopleImages. Carbon: Elen Marlen; Hadynyah; Dark Earth Carbon (adapted from Wilson, 2013, and based on Biochar Solutions Inc, 2011). Investment: Olva Solodenko; Tempura; Intek1. HVC: Laranik; Maximum Foto. TAF: © Cecilie Arcurs; Den-belitsky. How We Work page: Neema Jodie/GGF. Our Goals page: GettyTim82.