Media CenterCRS Applauds Vice President Kamala Harris’ Visit to Tanzania to Address Pivotal Developmental Issues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Carlos Barrio
Catholic Relief Services
[email protected]
+34 644 154 997

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA, March 27, 2023 – Catholic Relief Services (CRS) welcomes Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to Tanzania to address critical issues related to food security and climate adaptation, economic empowerment of women, and inclusive and sustainable economic growth.  As a long-established partner of the U.S. government in humanitarian and development programs across the world, CRS continues to work hand in hand in Tanzania and beyond with interfaith leaders, national partners and local communities to build resilience to climate change, reduce food insecurity, address gender issues, and ensure young people have access to markets and financial services.

During Harris’ visit, Sean Callahan, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, will be in Tanzania to attend the 60^th anniversary event of CRS in the country.

“We see the impact of climate change in so many countries around the world, including Tanzania,” Callahan said. “It has led to unprecedented levels of food insecurity and threatens the livelihoods of farmers in many countries where CRS works. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the U.S. government in addressing these challenges.”

For the last 60 years, CRS has supported young people with economic opportunities and worked with local partners and communities in Tanzania to build sustainable economic development. To advance this mission, CRS has implemented U.S government-funded programs in the country, including Soya ni Pesa, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food for Progress program. Along with Caritas and other local partners, CRS engaged 69,000 small-scale farmers in improved soy production and small-scale female farmers in poultry production, helping to expand their access to the market and supply chains.

“By supporting young farmers to increase their production and access to finance and markets, we are not only helping families thrive, but we are also supporting the entire country to prosper,” said Marilyn Chottah, CRS head of office in Tanzania. “In line with the government’s efforts, we see the great potential of working with the private sector to create development at scale.”

CRS supported equity investments in agribusiness in Tanzania and Zambia through its Soy ni Pesa project and CRS’ impact investment fund through 2019. By incorporating more climate-smart, gender-sensitive, and nutrition-sensitive approaches to agriculture and livelihoods through a public-private partnership, more than 16,000 farmers have benefitted, with an average increase in production of 300%.

CRS also engages young people in coffee production through agriculture and livelihood programs in several regions of the country. This helps to improve their access to modern coffee production methods, credit services, and to promote gender equality in the business. Due to improved and sustainable production, young farmers can now access financial assistance, better supplies, and a wider coffee market.

“With a significant increase in the budget for agriculture by the government, there is an opportunity for Tanzania to become a country that exports agricultural output, in the region and the whole of Africa,” Chottah said. “Foreseeably this could help address the food crisis in the Horn of Africa as a consequence of factors like climate change.”

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Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.  For more information, visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org and follow Catholic Relief Services on social media in English at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube; and in Spanish at: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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