About SECCA

Introduction

With a registration number of 00NGO/00005360, SECCA was established through grassroots initiatives in Arusha City, Tanzania. The organization is headquartered in Mbeya City, located in the Southern Highlands, with an additional branch office in Mwanza and a liaison office in Dar Es Salaam. SECCA operates with the primary aim of facilitating environmental conservation and protection, recognizing the urgent need to address climate change through proactive community engagement.

The development of this strategic plan involved a thorough review of national and sectoral policies, speeches and guidance from national leaders, as well as international commitments and research from peer-reviewed journals. This comprehensive analysis is crucial to ensure that communities benefit from the transition to a low-carbon and resilient future. At the core of climate action is the understanding that people must be supported in adapting to changes that come with new, weather-focused regulations. A people-centered approach is essential not only for political feasibility but also for ensuring that the benefits and burdens of transitioning to a sustainable economy are distributed equitably.

The conservation of natural capital is imperative, especially as ecosystems face severe challenges due to climate change, resulting in dire consequences for human health and well-being. Preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services is crucial for both climate change mitigation and adaptation. SECCA emphasizes the need for increased investment in emerging markets to strengthen the waste value chain and address the pressing issue of marine plastics, ultimately contributing to a sustainable circular economy.

SECCA recognizes the necessity for informed, community-led climate discussions that intertwine issues of biodiversity and natural capital, all aligned with national and international development objectives. Therefore, SECCA is committed to engaging deeply in climate change data diagnostics and analytics to support national policy and planning. This approach aims to identify and prioritize adaptation and mitigation opportunities while considering trade-offs and transition costs. The goal is to deliver effective outcomes that address the unique needs and circumstances of communities, all while aligning with the objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement.

In collaboration with CLM Consultants Ltd, a management consulting firm based in Dar Es Salaam that specializes in community-led monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems development, SECCA aims to enhance both local and national government capacities. This partnership focuses on empowering deprived communities, particularly those in towns and regions suffering from economic decline, unemployment, and reliance on welfare.

Mission and Vision Statements

Vision

To achieve environmental restoration in relation to climate change.

Mission

To enhance environmental conservation and protection through active involvement and participation of communities.

Strategic Approaches

SECCA, in partnership with CLM Consultants, seeks to strengthen the capacity of local and national governments to design and implement strategies that build and sustain community capacity. Key strategic approaches include:

• Policy Advocacy: Conducting seminars and workshops to inform leadership and grassroots communities about climate change adaptation and mitigation. SECCA will promote participatory seminars to enhance community-led, multi-sectoral monitoring and policy dialogues.
• Strategic Partnerships: Supporting the implementation of international frameworks such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Global Framework for Climate Services through education, training, and public awareness. This collaboration will integrate climate change considerations into community-led planning and budgeting.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning: Developing and updating monitoring and evaluation frameworks, focusing on climate-resilient economic development and tracking the impacts of climate-related interventions.

Stakeholders Engagement and Funding Vision

SECCA aims to collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders, including local government authorities, development partners, private sector representatives, and communities. The funding vision focuses on supporting the development and implementation of policies for sustainable climate change adaptation and connecting affected communities with institutions that can aid in these efforts.

By building capacity at all levels, SECCA will enhance organizational effectiveness and promote thought leadership. Engaging communities in capacity-building initiatives will empower individuals to take control of their lives and contribute to inclusive local development, ultimately fostering resilience against economic and social challenges.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

Monitoring and evaluation for learning are the pillars of an interdependent and integrated framework. The importance of orienting M&E toward learning requires a paradigm shift from using M&E for accountability to using M&E for learning. SECCA’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework therefore seeks to track progress, coordinate effectively, assess performance, and institutionalize and harmonize M&E systems. These results will be shared through quarterly implementation reports. Stakeholder dialogue reports focusing on stakeholder dialogues will be produced to deliberate on policies and the implementation of various interventions.

Supervision and monitoring reports will be prepared quarterly, semi-annually, and annually in collaboration with Local Government Authorities (LGAs). Evaluation reports, including participatory, mid-term, and final evaluation reports, will also be produced. The operationalization of these deliverables will be undertaken through the M&E Strategy.

The strategic plan will be evaluated in two broad categories: mid-term and end-line evaluations. To enhance objectivity and transparency, these evaluations will be conducted by an independent evaluator outside of government machinery, with close supervision from the Ministry of Finance and Planning (MoFP) to validate data and ensure the objectivity of the findings. The details of the evaluations are discussed hereunder:

• Formative (Mid-term) Evaluation: This evaluation will monitor progress and adapt the implementation of the strategy, conducted after two and a half years of the strategic plan’s implementation. It will focus on assessing performance against the intended objectives and targets, recommending changes required to stay on track towards achieving these goals.
• Summative (Final) Evaluation: Conducted at the final year of the strategic plan’s implementation, this evaluation will assess the overall effectiveness of the strategic plan against its objectives and targets, and where possible, against outcomes and impacts. It will inform future strategic plans and implementation.

SECCA will support the implementation of Tanzania’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) through workshops and by establishing monitoring and evaluation systems, including payments for ecosystem services. SECCA will also develop, refine, and support the application of sustainability criteria and community-led MEL tools for pilot projects aligned with national development objectives.

Strengthening Climate Resilience

SECCA aims to enhance the role of monitoring, evaluation, and learning in promoting effective climate risk management. The organization will introduce a unique conceptual framework for stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, and civil society, to develop MEL frameworks for their climate risk management interventions. This approach will facilitate assessments of progress, impacts achieved, and lessons learned.

The uncertainty surrounding future climate change impacts emphasizes the need for continuous learning and adaptive decision-making processes. This can support adaptive management of interventions in response to evolving challenges over time.

Adaptive Pathways Approach

SECCA seeks to strengthen the adaptive capacity of MEL frameworks and climate risk management interventions, ensuring they remain relevant amid unpredictable changes. The adaptive pathways approach supports monitoring and decision-making under uncertain circumstances.

Management of Data and Information

This step in the MEL process focuses on collecting, analyzing, and sharing relevant data and information for tracking development progress. Economic modeling results will guide SECCA in justifying the tracking of economic impacts of climate risks and evaluating measures for climate-resilient economic development.

SWOT Analysis

The SWOT analysis for the Sustainable Environment and Climate Change Association (SECCA) highlights the organization's internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as the external opportunities and threats it faces. Here's a detailed breakdown:

Strengths

• Progressive Membership: SECCA's membership is formally recognized and registered, indicating a structured and recognized organizational base that lends credibility and support to its projects.
• Legal Recognition: SECCA is a legally registered organization, enabling it to operate officially and engage in various legal, financial, and project activities within and outside Tanzania.
• Operational and Organizational Systems: With an established organizational structure, operational procedures, and a digital presence through a website, SECCA has the basic foundation to manage its activities and outreach efficiently.

Weaknesses

• Lobbying and Advocacy: SECCA identifies a need to enhance its lobbying and advocacy strategies, particularly in influencing environmental regulations and policies for more effective environmental conservation practices.
• Limited Awareness and Engagement: There is a need to increase SECCA's visibility and engagement with broader environmental and conservation issues at the national and international levels to maximize its impact.

Opportunities

• Partnerships and Collaborations: Opportunities exist for collaboration with national and international organizations, governments, and the private sector for environmental conservation projects.
• Funding and Grants: Potential to secure funding from various sources, including international donors, government programs, and private sector partnerships, for projects aligned with SECCA's mission.
• Increasing Environmental Awareness: A global and national increase in environmental awareness and climate change concern opens doors for SECCA to play a significant role in conservation efforts.

Threats

• Political and Policy Instability: Changes in government policies or political instability can affect environmental conservation efforts and SECCA's ability to operate effectively.
• Economic Constraints: Economic downturns or shifts in funding priorities of donors and governments could limit available resources for environmental projects.
• Environmental Degradation: Ongoing environmental degradation and climate change pose a continuous threat to biodiversity and ecosystems, challenging SECCA's mission.

Conclusion

The SWOT analysis for SECCA reveals a solid foundation in legal recognition, membership, and operational capabilities. However, it also highlights areas for improvement in lobbying, advocacy, and broadening engagement. The environmental focus of SECCA is timely, given the global and national emphasis on climate change and conservation, presenting numerous opportunities for growth and impact. Nonetheless, external threats from political, economic, and environmental changes require adaptive strategies and resilience from SECCA to fulfill its mission effectively.