The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved a Management Action Plan (MAP) focused on supporting livelihoods and managing water resources for communities around Ruaha National Park in Tanzania. This action follows an investigation into the Tanzania Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth (REGROW) Project, aiming to improve natural resource management and tourism in southern Tanzania.
The REGROW Project was backed by a $150 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). However, allegations of misconduct, including the threat of eviction of residents and the seizure of cattle, led to a request for inspection submitted by local community members on July 20, 2023. The complaint triggered an independent investigation by the Bank's Inspection Panel.
The investigation revealed that necessary safeguards were not timely applied to address the risks associated with the potential resettlement of communities within the project area. Due to non-compliance by the Tanzanian government, the project faced disbursement suspension on April 18, 2024, and was ultimately canceled in November 2024.
Anna Bjerde, World Bank Managing Director of Operations, acknowledged the project's shortcomings: "We regret that the REGROW project preparation and supervision did not sufficiently account for project risks, resulting in inadequate mitigation measures to address adverse impacts."
The MAP outlines support for community livelihood activities and social services, including legal aid and grievance redress mechanisms. "The Management Action Plan will support community livelihood activities and social services including legal aid information to access the justice system," added Bjerde.
The Tanzanian government has expressed its commitment to implementing the MAP, and the World Bank will continue to oversee its execution. Ibrahim Pam, Chair of the Inspection Panel, emphasized the investigation's importance: "This investigation yields critical lessons for the Bank’s approach to supporting conservation and other projects that require physical resettlement and restrict access."
The Board of Executive Directors stresses the need to learn from the implementation challenges identified during the investigation. The World Bank will report annually on the progress of the MAP's implementation.
For detailed reports, the Inspection Panel's website provides access to the Inspection Panel Report and the Management Report and Recommendation.