Saada Juma (L) works with fellow seaweed farmers at Jambiani coast in Zanzibar. Credit: Kizito Makoye/IPS

By Kizito Makoye
JAMBIANI, Zanzibar, Aug 25 2025 (IPS)

At dawn on the white-sand shores of Jambiani, 45-year-old Saada Juma braces herself against the pull of the tide, wrangling ropes laced with seaweed. Her hands, hardened by decades of labor, move instinctively as she secures her aquatic crop.

“I’ve been farming seaweed since I was a teenager,” she tells IPS, squinting against the morning sun. “This ocean is our life. But for us women, it’s always been a fight to be seen, to be heard.”

Juma is one of thousands of Zanzibari women who sustain the island’s marine economy through seaweed farming, artisanal fishing, ecotourism, and conservation. While their labor underpins Zanzibar’s blue economy—a model that leverages marine resources for sustainable development—many women say the system still disproportionately favors men.

Changing Seas, Unchanged Inequities

Seaweed farming became a prominent source of income in Zanzibar in the 1990s, especially for women. Yet climate change is altering the dynamics of this once-reliable livelihood.

“I started farming seaweed because my mother did it. Now my daughters do it too,” says 52-year-old Mwantumu Suleiman, a seaweed farmer in Jambiani village. “But we’re stuck in the same place. The sea has changed, and we have not been helped to change with it.”

Warming waters and strong tides are making shallow-water cultivation increasingly unviable. But venturing further offshore poses serious risks.

“Most of us don’t know how to swim and even if we did, we don’t have diving gear,” Suleyman says. “So, we pay young men to go for us—if we have the money. Otherwise, we just lose out.”

Tools, Training, and the Gender Gap

On the coast of Jambiani, Juma wades ankle-deep through the surf, examining a torn seaweed rope. She is exasperated.

“These tools are not made for us,” she says, showing a frayed line. “They’re cheap, break easily, and we have nowhere to store or dry the harvest properly. We need better equipment.”

For women like Juma, the work goes beyond survival—it is a path to independence. Yet limited access to financial services, poor infrastructure, and insufficient training have prevented women from reaping the full benefits.

“Seaweed farmers earn the least in the chain, even though we do the hardest work,” she says. “We want to do more—make creams, soaps, drinks—but no one trains us.”

A Blueprint for Gender-Inclusive Growth

To address these imbalances, Zanzibar’s government—supported by UN Women and Norway—launched the Blue Economy Gender Strategy and Action Plan in 2022. The initiative is the first in the region aimed at embedding gender equity in marine policy.

“Women are not just participants; they are leaders in these sectors,” says Asha Ali, a gender advisor who helped draft the strategy. “But leadership requires opportunity, training, and recognition—all of which have been scarce.”

The plan outlines targeted reforms, including skills training, access to credit, and the allocation of designated sea plots to women.

From Tides to Tables of Power

Some women are already pushing for reform from within. Amina Salim, 40, leads a women’s seaweed farming cooperative in Zanzibar and has become a vocal advocate for women’s rights in marine economies.

“I’ve sat in dusty classrooms and government offices to tell our story,” she says. “It’s not just about seaweed. It’s about survival. We are feeding our families, educating our children—and we deserve a better deal.”

Under her leadership, women have petitioned local authorities, secured training opportunities, and begun engaging in policy-making processes.

“We’ve come a long way,” Salim adds. “Five years ago, we had no voice. Today, the government is listening. They’ve promised designated farming zones and better tools. Now, we want action.”

A Sector Under Pressure

Zanzibar’s blue economy accounts for nearly 30 percent of the islands’ GDP and provides employment to one-third of its population. Yet experts warn that the sector’s sustainability is threatened by gender disparities and environmental degradation.

“Women have been sidelined in marine industries for decades,” says Dr. Nasra Bakari, a marine economist at the State University of Zanzibar. “If we empower them—through training, equipment, access to markets—the entire economy benefits.”

Bakari notes that community-driven conservation projects led by women, such as coral reef restoration and ecotourism, hold great promise for sustainable development.

“Let’s not forget—women know the ocean. They’ve worked these shores longer than most. We just need to meet them halfway.”

Charting a Climate-Resilient Path

At the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, Tanzania used the global platform to push for aquatic foods as a solution to hunger, climate resilience, and sustainable growth.

“Our survival is intimately tied to the ocean. It feeds us, it employs our people, and it holds the promise to lift millions out of poverty,” said Zanzibar’s Minister for Blue Economy and Fisheries, Shaaban Ali Othman, during a high-level panel discussion.

Highlighting the urgent need to manage marine resources responsibly, Othman detailed how Zanzibar’s blue economy policy has prioritized gender equity and climate adaptation.

“Communities in Zanzibar and along the Tanzanian coastline have fished for generations, but now we must ensure those practices are not just traditional but also sustainable and inclusive,” he said.

Othman also emphasized the importance of value addition and cold-chain infrastructure, noting post-harvest losses remain a major challenge.

“We are piloting aquatic food training centers aimed at supporting youth to acquire and apply climate-smart aquaculture skills, including sustainable pond farming and low-carbon feed techniques,” he said. “This is how we move from potential to prosperity.”

Expanding the Blue Horizon

In parallel, Zanzibar’s Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) initiative—supported by Norway—is mapping marine zones for tourism, shipping, conservation, and fishing. This aims to prevent resource conflicts and ensure environmental protection.

“It’s like a marine land use plan,” says Omar Abdalla, MSP coordinator. “We want to avoid conflicts and protect sensitive areas before they are damaged.”

Still, building trust remains a challenge.

“These maps are made by computers in offices,” says Salim Juma, a sea cucumber diver. “They should come underwater with us. See what’s really happening.”

Omar acknowledges the tension. “We are trying to combine science and traditional knowledge. It’s not easy. But we’re learning.”

Seaweed Innovation and Investment Opportunities

Zulekha Khamis, a 42-year-old farmer in Paje, is among 300 women testing new seaweed farming techniques using floating rafts suited for deeper waters.

“Before, we didn’t know what to do. But now we attend training. We know about climate change,” says Mariam Hamad, leader of the cooperative. “We are not just farmers. We are scientists in the water.”

The group also produces seaweed-based soaps and cosmetics, boosting income and self-reliance.

“We earn more now,” Hamad says. “Some of us can send children to school or build better houses.”

Yet the risk of donor dependency looms large. “If the support goes away, we will go back to struggling,” she cautions.

To address financing gaps, Zanzibar plans to launch a Blue Economy Investment Forum and a Blue Economy Incubator to connect entrepreneurs with ethical investors. But barriers remain.

“Banks don’t understand blue startups,” says Imani Kombo, a 29-year-old ecotourism entrepreneur. “We need patient capital that sees beyond profit.”

A Call for Inclusive Sustainability

Back in Jambiani, Juma ties her final line of seaweed to dry, her eyes on the sea.

“We’ve been patient with promises,” she says. “Now we need results.”

She dreams of building a small factory to process seaweed into cosmetics and health products. “We want to control the full value chain—from the sea to the shelf,” she adds.

As Zanzibar advances its blue economy agenda, the call from women is crystal clear: the sea may sustain life, but without equity and inclusion, the promise of prosperity will remain out of reach.

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Fishermen gliding on a canoe off the coast of Dar es Salaam. Photo by Kizito Makoye

By Kizito Makoye
NICE, France, Jun 17 2025 (IPS)

With less than six harvest seasons left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the urgency to find transformative solutions to end hunger, protect the oceans, and build climate resilience dominated the ninth panel session at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

In a moment emblematic of growing African leadership in ocean sustainability, Tanzania took center stage during the panel titled “Promoting the Role of Sustainable Food from the Ocean for Poverty Eradication and Food Security.” The panel offered not only a scientific and policy-rich exchange of ideas but also a rare glimpse into how countries like Tanzania are positioning aquatic foods as engines of economic recovery, public health, and ecological sustainability.

A Defining Voice From the Swahili Coast

Co-chairing the session, Shaaban Ali Othman, Minister for Blue Economy and Fisheries of Zanzibar, part of the United Republic of Tanzania, laid out his country’s blueprint for harnessing ocean resources without compromising marine ecosystems.

“Our survival is intimately tied to the ocean. It feeds us, it employs our people, and it holds the promise to lift millions out of poverty,” Othman said, advocating for a redefinition of how the world views aquatic food systems. “But this can only happen if we manage them responsibly.”

He emphasized that for Tanzania, the blue economy is not a buzzword—it is a foundational strategy woven into national development planning. As climate change intensifies and traditional farming struggles under erratic rainfall, coastal and inland aquatic foods offer a viable, nutrient-dense alternative for the country’s growing population.

“Communities in Zanzibar and along the Tanzanian coastline have fished for generations, but now we must ensure those practices are not just traditional, but also sustainable and inclusive,” Othman said.

He pointed to Zanzibar’s push to increase seaweed farming, particularly among women, as a double dividend for nutrition and gender equity. He also highlighted new investments in cold storage and fish processing facilities aimed at reducing post-harvest losses—currently among the highest in the region.

The Global Science Backs Tanzania’s Approach

His remarks resonated with the scientific panelists, particularly Jörn Schmidt, Science Director for Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems at WorldFish, who urged countries to bring aquatic foods “from the margins to the mainstream.”

“Aquatic foods are one of the few tools that can simultaneously tackle poverty, hunger, and climate risk,” said Schmidt. “But they are often left off the table—both literally and figuratively.”

Schmidt called for urgent action on three fronts: nutrition, production, and equity. He cited research showing that even modest increases in aquatic food consumption in the first 1,000 days of life could significantly reduce stunting and improve cognitive development. For production, he recommended low-impact, high-return systems such as seaweed and bivalves. On equity, he urged secure tenure for small-scale fishers, gender inclusion, and expanded social protections.

Barange noted that in 2023 alone, global fish production hit 189 million tons, delivering about 21 kilograms of aquatic animal protein per capita. However, an alarming 23.8 million tons—almost 15 percent—was lost or wasted due to poor handling and inefficient distribution systems.

“These losses are not just about food—they are lost nutrition, lost income, and lost opportunity,” said Barange, adding that if properly managed, aquatic foods could be the backbone of a global “blue transformation.”

Tanzania’s Call for Equity and Innovation

Othman used the opportunity to underline that the success of aquatic food systems must also address inequality—particularly the role of women and youth in the sector.

“Across Tanzania, from Kigamboni to Kilwa, women are drying fish, farming seaweed, and selling aquatic produce in markets. But they need access to capital, to better technology, and most importantly, to decision-making spaces,” he said.

To that end, Tanzania has begun piloting aquatic food training centres aimed at equipping youth with climate-smart aquaculture skills, including sustainable pond farming and low-carbon feed techniques.

“This is how we move from potential to prosperity,” Othman said.

A Blueprint for Global Action

The panel also featured a range of high-level contributions aimed at linking aquatic foods to broader development frameworks. Rhea Moss-Christian, Executive Director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, underscored the economic lifeline that tuna fisheries represent for small island developing states. She emphasized that tuna is not just a food source, but a pillar of public finance, especially in the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

“Let’s be clear,” she said. “In some Pacific nations, tuna revenue funds schools, hospitals and roads. A healthy tuna fishery is existential.”

Her message echoed Tanzania’s own struggle to balance economic imperatives with conservation, especially in the face of illegal fishing and weak monitoring infrastructure. Minister Othman called for stronger regional cooperation in fighting these threats, including shared surveillance and satellite-based monitoring systems.

CGIAR and the Seaweed Solution

Adding another layer of urgency, Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted of CGIAR warned that the world is “falling behind on SDG 2 and SDG 14.” She championed seaweed as a sustainable aquatic superfood with enormous potential, particularly for South Asia and Africa.

“Tanzania, with its long coastline and established seaweed culture, is ideally placed to lead in this domain,” she said.

She called for more public and private investment to scale innovations, support local entrepreneurs, and integrate aquatic foods into school feeding and public procurement programmes.

“Let us not miss this opportunity,” she added. “The sea can feed us—if we let it.”

Resilience in the Face of Crisis

Ciyong Zou, Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), highlighted the broader resilience benefits of aquatic food systems. He noted that aquatic foods support over 3 billion people globally, yet post-harvest losses—up to 30 percent in developing countries—undermine their potential.

He offered case studies from Cambodia and Sudan, where targeted investments in processing and training led to higher incomes and improved child nutrition. He announced UNIDO’s voluntary commitment to expand technical support to 10 additional coastal nations by 2030.

“For countries like Tanzania, this could mean new tools, cleaner production methods, and more resilient livelihoods,” Zou said.

Call to Action

As the panel drew to a close, one theme stood out: aquatic food systems are not merely about fish or seaweed—they are about dignity, sovereignty, and survival.

“We need to democratize access to data, empower communities, and ensure that small-scale fishers, especially women, are not left behind,” Othman insisted.

Back in Tanzania, the ripple effects of such commitments are already being felt. In Kisiwa Panza, a small island in Pemba, a women-led seaweed cooperative recently began exporting to Europe, thanks to technical support from local NGOs and government backing. “It’s a new life,” said Asha Mzee, one of the cooperative’s founders. “Before, we fished only what we needed. Now, we grow for the world.”

With nations like Tanzania stepping forward, the ocean—so long exploited—is being reimagined as a source of renewal. But the clock is ticking.

“In 2030, we’ll be asked what we did with these six remaining harvests,” Othman said in his final remarks. “Let’s ensure our answer is-we used them to feed people, protect our planet, and leave no one behind.”

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Nasir Haji, a sponge farmer, cleans sponges in the Indian Ocean. Credit: Kizito Makoye/IPS

By Kizito Makoye
JAMBIANI, Zanzibar, Mar 5 2025 (IPS)

In the early morning, as the tide pulls away, Zulfa Abdallah ties her scarf tightly around her head. She adjusts her goggles, places a snorkel across her forehead, and wades into the chest-deep waters off Jambiani village in Zanzibar. The Indian Ocean is her livelihood now, its waves offering a lifeline to women like her who confront challenges of poverty and climate change.

Years ago, Abdallah would have been hauling heavy bundles of salt-encrusted seaweed. Seaweed farming had long been a lifeline for Zanzibar’s coastal women, but rising ocean temperatures have made the crops nearly impossible to grow. In their place, farmers have turned to sea sponges.

“It’s a miracle crop that has given me my life back,” Abdallah said one Saturday afternoon as she inspected the porous orbs hanging from polyethylene ropes of her underwater farm. “They need patience and care—just like raising a baby. And like with children, you get so much in return.”

At 34, Abdallah, a divorced mother of two, has been farming sponges for four years, learning the craft through training programs run by Marine Cultures, a Swiss nonprofit. Her farm is a network of ropes suspended between floating buoys, each dotted with porous sponges that sway gently with the currents. Every sponge must be cleaned, monitored, and protected against predators. It’s hard work, but it has changed her life.

A New Beginning

Abdallah once earned less than USD 30 a month from seaweed farming, barely enough to support her mother and her children. Now, sponge farming triples her income. She has renovated her mother’s house, bought new furniture, and saved money for purchasing her own plot of land.

“Many women here were hesitant at first because of fear or tradition. They thought I was wasting my time,” she says, recounting the early doubts of her neighbors.

Abdallah’s story is part of a larger narrative along Zanzibar’s southeastern coast. Over the past decade, Marine Cultures has trained a dozen women in Jambiani to farm sea sponges, providing them with the tools and knowledge to transition from struggling seaweed farmers to successful aquaculturists. These women are pioneers, navigating the challenges of a new industry and the societal expectations of a conservative, patriarchal community.

“For a long time, we were told that women belong at home,” says Nasir Haji, one of the trainers involved in the program. “These women have proved that they can work and earn a good income for their families.”

The sponges, sold for USD 15 to USD 30 each in tourism shops, are used in cosmetics, bathing products, and baby care. A local farmers’ cooperative ensures that farmers keep 70% of the sale price, with the rest covering operational costs.

“It feels better to earn your own income. You’re free to use it as you please,” says Abdallah.

Hindu Rajabu, second from left and her colleagues sort dried sponges ready for sale. Credit: Kizito Makoye/IPS

Overcoming Challenges

The transition to sponge farming hasn’t been without hurdles. In 2018, a population explosion of brittle sea stars—tiny starfish-like creatures that burrow into sponges—devastated the farms, killing nearly half the sponges. The following year, a thick bloom of green algae threatened to suffocate the young sponges, forcing farmers to spend extra hours cleaning the ropes. Each season brings new challenges, but the farmers have learned to adapt.

“We learn new tactics every now and then to keep away pathogens and ensure our sponges are healthy,” says Abdallah.

The resilience of these women has drawn attention from across the globe. Marine Cultures has begun working with communities in mainland Tanzania, Madagascar, and the Seychelles to replicate the model. The organization’s founder, Christian Vaterlaus, believes sponge farming could transform coastal economies while protecting fragile marine ecosystems.

“Sustainable, community-based aquaculture is a win-win,” Vaterlaus said. “It provides income for people who need it most and helps preserve the environment.”

Leonard Chauka, a marine scientist at the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, agrees. “Sponge farming is a lifeline for women, providing stable incomes without depleting marine resources,” he says. “Ecologically, sponges are nature’s filters—they clean the water and create habitats for marine life.”

Chauka explained that the simple farming process requires minimal equipment and no external feed, making it affordable and sustainable.

Ripples of Change

Chauka’s comments are echoed by Vaterlaus, who sees sponge farming as a sustainable solution to economic and environmental challenges.

“These women are showing us what’s possible,” Vaterlaus says. “When you invest in communities and the environment together, everyone benefits.”

Unlike wild sponge harvesting, which has harmed ecosystems in other parts of the world, farming sponges is environmentally benign. The sponges filter water, support marine biodiversity, and may even help combat climate change by playing a role in regulating the ocean’s carbon cycle.

A Brighter Future

For women like 31-year-old Hindu Rajabu, the stakes are deeply personal. As a mother of two, Rajabu struggled to support her children on the meager income she earned growing seaweed. Sponge farming changed everything.

“I have earned good income, and I am using part of it to build my own house,” she says, as she gently clears algae from a sponge. “I’m proud of myself.”

The initiative hasn’t cleared all obstacles. Many in Jambiani still view swimming as taboo for women. Marine Cultures has made swimming lessons mandatory, a critical skill for farmers working underwater.

“I was very scared to get into the sea. But after learning how to swim, I feel confident, and I actually enjoy being out there tending my sponges,” says Abdallah.

Back onshore, the women gather at a small processing center to prepare their sponges for market. They clean, sort, and package each one, their laughter and chatter filling the salty air. Every sponge carries a label: “Sustainably Farmed in Zanzibar.”

A Lifeline

At sunset, Abdallah walks home with her gear slung over her shoulder. Her children run to meet her, their laughter mingling with the sound of the waves.

“The ocean is giving us a chance—a real chance—to build something better,” she says.
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An old fort building in Stone town, Zanzibar, Tanzania. On average at least one case of gender-based violence, including rape, is reported daily in Zanzibar. Credit: Zuberi Mussa/IPS

By Kizito Makoye
ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, Feb 26 2014 (IPS)

The story of Feiza*, an 18-year-old girl who was abducted and raped, is a bleak testament to the worsening plight of women in Tanzania’s semi-autonomous archipelago, Zanzibar.

Last month, Feiza was attacked by a knife-wielding man as she walked along a street in northern Zanzibar. He raped her and then fled.

“I don’t want to remember that day, it was horrible,” Feiza tells IPS from her aunt’s home where she lives.

She says that she was rescued by a passersby who phoned her father for help.“The outcome of our research has proved beyond a doubt that violence against women is still rampant in Zanzibar." -- Gladness Munuo, TAMWA

But when her father, who launched a man-hunt to find the rapist, finally apprehended his daughter’s attacker — the only justice he sought was monetary.

It turns out that Feiza’s attacker was the son of a prominent man in the area.

Feiza’s father tells IPS that although he is deeply angered by the assault, the best he can hope for is an out of court settlement to preserve his family’s honour. The legal system, he says, is too corrupt to deliver justice.

“Even if you go to the police, they will arrest the suspect and release him the next day,” he says.

Statistics from the Rape Crisis Intervention Centres here show that on average at least one case of gender-based violence, including rape, is reported daily in Zanzibar.

A study released by the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA) this month shows that rape, early pregnancies and child marriages are rising at an alarming rate in Zanzibar with 996 cases reported between 2012/13 as compared to the 398 in 2011.

TAMWA’s board member Gladness Munuo tells IPS that despite significant effort by rights activists and international donors to raise awareness about gender-based violence in Zanzibar, incidents have increased.

“The outcome of our research has proved beyond a doubt that violence against women is still rampant in Zanzibar,” she says.

She admits that it is, however, possible that incidents of assault against women are seen to be increasing because society was more enlightened and more readily reported cases. However, only a few reported rape cases ever make their way to court.

Asha Abdul, a TAMWA activist, attributes the increase in violent assaults against women to a number of factors, including the growing impunity of perpetrators.

“The police are the main obstacle, they don’t do their jobs properly while handling rape cases. That’s why most victims are not willing to report these incidents,” she says. As a result, many perpetrators are not even charged or investigated for their crimes.

According to Abdul, poor investigation has exposed rape victims and made them more vulnerable to social stereotypes. In some cases, witnesses have refrained from providing evidence for fear of being isolated by their community.

The police acknowledge that often victims and witnesses of violent assaults do not provide adequate evidence to convict suspects.

Zanzibar Urban-West Regional Police Commander Mkadam Khamis, however, dismissed the allegations of incompetence among the police. He tells IPS in an interview that the police force was working in accordance with the law, and it has the duty to protect all people and their property irrespective of their status.

“Our job is to protect the citizens, we follow legal guidelines when investigating abuse cases. It’s not true that we are not doing our investigations properly,” he says.

TAMWA says that courts, judges and prosecutors lack the skills to handle gender-based violence cases and this leads to trials that last for years, increased intimidation of victims and witnesses, and ultimately results in many cases being dropped.

But Walid Adam, a lawyer with the Zanzibar Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), tells IPS that rights groups are probably over reacting because lawyers and judges are qualified professionals with vast experience to handle such cases.

“I have no doubt that members of the judiciary are doing their job very well, let’s not underestimate their capabilities,” he says.

Adam points out that there are often cases were people destroyed crucial evidence before reporting a crime. He says often parents of young rape victims bathe their children first.

“Even those who know this is not procedure, they find it very difficult to leave their child in that state. But the moment they bath her, evidence is lost,” he says.

*Name changed to protect identity.

Over the years Zanzibar’s sea levels have risen to erode beaches and contaminate some of the island’s fresh water supply. Credit: Giandomenico Pozzi/CC by 2.0

By Erick Kabendera
ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, Jun 12 2013 (IPS)

Khadija Komboani’s nearest well is filled with salt water thanks to the rising sea around Tanzania’s Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar.

And until recently, the 36-year-old mother of 12 from Nungwi village in Unguja on the northernmost part of Zanzibar, spent most of her day walking to her nearest fresh water supply to collect safe drinking water.

“The water is very salty so it can’t be used for anything. You will use a lot of soap and water if you use it for washing clothes or dishes. Another difficulty is that you can’t use it for cooking or drinking. That is why we had to walk for long distances to collect water from fresh water wells,” Komboani tells IPS.

According to Zanzibar’s Department of Environment, rising sea levels have resulted in seawater mixing with fresh water supplies and contaminating the wells here. Zanzibar does not have rivers and the main source of water remains groundwater, which depends on the currently erratic rainfall. "The villages used to be far from the shore, but now everyone lives close to the ocean." -- Masoud Haji

But thankfully, for Komboani, the experience of spending hours collecting water is now just a memory, since the implementation of a project to supply clean and safe water to households in her village.

In October 2012, the Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) constructed an eight-km pipeline from Kilimani village, in the interior, to Nungwi village, which lies along the coast. A huge water tank near Kilimani village sustains the water supply.

The AAP, a climate change programme implemented in 21 African countries, aims to assist Tanzania with the development of climate-smart policies and climate change adaptation projects.

Meanwhile, the 15,000 people from Nungwi village now have access to water 24 hours a day, which can be sourced from taps and reservoir tanks.

Komboani says that since the water project was introduced, she now has more time to concentrate on her business of selling snacks. She says she earns approximately five dollars a day from this.

“I don’t have to worry about waking up early to collect water anymore. I use the time to engage in other productive activities, such as selling snacks and working in my vegetable garden.

“My husband used to accuse me of being unfaithful when I would return home late from the well. I am now glad that we have peace in our home,” she says.

Not only has it brought peace to Komboani’s home, but the easy access to drinking water has saved many women and girls from unwanted marriages.

Zanzibar’s North A district commissioner, the equivalent of a governor, Tatu Mganga, says her office had to intervene several times when they heard about women being married off so they could be used to fetch water for their new husbands.

“Such incidents were common and we had to intervene and rescue girls when we heard these stories,” Mganga tells IPS.

She says that while everyone in Nungwi village was affected by the shortage, women and children suffered the most because they were responsible for fetching water for their families.

Mganga says that the lives of the people from Nungwi village and its surrounding areas have now changed for the better.

“Almost all the people living in the area now have access to clean and safe water. Families can now wash their hands and clothes, and bathe properly. Subsequently, there has been improved sanitation,” says Mganga.

UNDP country director for Tanzania, Philippe Poinsot, tells IPS that the AAP is focused on improving the supply of clean and safe water to households through pilot projects.

“Women and children were walking for too long to fetch water from dirty surface water points (and consumption of this water) had accelerated ill health,” Philippe says. The rampant use of unclean water in Nungwi village led to an increase in pneumonia and skin diseases. Local health authorities say there has since been a decrease in these cases.

Ally Jabir Haiza, Zanzibar’s district health officer, tells IPS that the water from shallow wells along the island’s coast was tested and found to be excessively salty. This, he explains, impacted on healthcare in the area. In Unguja, a newly built maternity ward could not be used because of the shortage of clean water.

“Students too could not concentrate on their studies because they were frequently worried about fetching water when they returned home. And they were already tired when they commenced their lessons in the morning (from going to fetch water before school).

“Sometimes new mothers from Nungwi, who were experiencing postpartum stress, were forced to walk down the three-km road to fetch water from the nearest fresh water well,” says Hiza.

But now that fresh water is being piped in, the residents of Nungwi village have access to more water – some 20 litres per day compared to the five litres a day they collected from their nearest fresh water wells.

According to Sheha Mjanja, director of environment in Zanzibar’s Vice President’s Office, several surveys conducted over the past 10 years have confirmed that the island is vulnerable to the impact of climate change, particularly rising sea levels and beach erosion.

“The impact of climate change in Nungwi village is one of the biggest challenges at the moment. The water is quickly eating into the land and we fear the situation could worsen,” Mjanja tells IPS.

Mjanja adds that rising sea levels could cause a serious water shortage on the island as salt water is increasingly seeping into the ground water supply.

He says that the government is currently preparing a strategy paper to address the impact of climate change here and hopes to involve the private sector in implementing solutions.

Meanwhile, the elders here are witness to the impact climate change has had on this island. One community elder, 58-year-old Masoud Haji, tells IPS that over the years sea levels have risen about 80 metres.

“In December, we didn’t see any rains, compared to when I was young. The ocean was far from the shore, but it has now risen … the villages used to be far from the shore, but now everyone lives close to the ocean,” Haji says.