On 24 February, ClimateFiGS will host Dr. Beatrice Sumari and Dr. Peter Rogers for an online session on climate finance in Tanzania, examining how climate finance flows from national to local levels and who holds the power to decide how it’s used.
Date: 24 February 2026
Time: 15:00-16:30
Location: Microsoft Teams – link will be sent out to registered particpants
Climate Finance in Tanzania
Climate change is intensifying risks across Tanzania, but turning adaptation commitments into real-world resilience depends on more than the amount of money available. It also hinges on how funds move through government systems, how decisions are made, and whether local institutions have the authority and resources to act. In this session, Dr. Beatrice Sumari and Dr. Peter Rogers examine climate adaptation finance in Tanzania from two complementary angles: the fiscal pathways that shape what gets funded and spent, and the central–local power dynamics that determine who controls priorities on the ground.
Tracing adaptation finance across the public finance chain
Dr. Rogers draws on OECD-DAC records, national and district budgets, and stakeholder interviews to track how adaptation finance moves through allocation, disbursement, and expenditure stages. Using case studies from Karatu and Monduli districts, the talk explores what the data reveal about where adaptation funding goes and how it translates into spending at national and subnational levels.
When power centralises, adaptation suffers
Dr. Sumari examines how central–local power asymmetries shape adaptation finance, project selection, and implementation in Tanzania. Despite decentralisation reforms, local governments often lack financial autonomy and decision-making authority, leaving them with mandates but limited means. The talk argues that rebalancing power and resources is essential if climate finance is to support locally led, equitable adaptation.
About beatrice sumari
Beatrice Kundael Sumari is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Climate Change Studies and the Institute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar es Salaam. She holds a PhD in Climate Change and Sustainable Development and has over eight years of experience working with Tanzanian central and local government institutions. Her doctoral research examined the political economy of climate finance devolution in Tanzania, with a focus on climate change adaptation governance, power relations among actors, and their implications for locally led adaptation. She is currently conducting research on climate adaptation with a particular emphasis on gender mainstreaming. Dr. Sumari has worked extensively with government agencies, development partners, and local communities, and has published in leading international journals, including Climate Policy and The Journal of Development Studies.
ABOUT Peter rogers
Peter Msumali Rogers holds a PhD in Climate Change and Sustainable Development from the University of Dar es Salaam (2025), with a specialization in climate change finance. His research focuses on the governance, equity, and effectiveness of climate finance mechanisms, with particular emphasis on adaptation and resilience-building in developing country contexts. Dr. Rogers has conducted extensive empirical research on climate finance in Tanzania, working closely with both central and local government institutions. This work has generated evidence that has informed expert reports, policy briefs, and publications in peer-reviewed academic journals. He also holds a Master of Science in Natural Resources Assessment and Management. Situated at the interface of research, policy, and practice, his work contributes to advancing scholarly debates while providing policy-relevant insights aimed at strengthening climate resilience and sustainable development pathways in Africa and the broader Global South.