Multi-level analysis of climate change mainstreaming in Tanzania

Climate change mainstreaming is widely promoted as a means of integrating adaptation and mitigation into development planning, yet progress remains uneven in many climate-vulnerable countries. This paper examines the factors shaping varying degrees of climate change mainstreaming across development frameworks and sectors in Tanzania Mainland. The study combines systematic screening of sixty-three national policies, strategies, Acts, and programmes with fifty-six semi-structured key informant interviews conducted between 2020 and 2023. Rather than treating the presence of climate terminology as evidence of integration, the analysis triangulates document screening with stakeholder perspectives to assess how policies influence budgeting, coordination, and implementation in practice. The findings show that mainstreaming outcomes are driven less by policy language than by macro-level governance dynamics, including institutional mandates, fiscal rules, sector relevance, and the historical timing of policy development. National frameworks provide strategic direction, but their influence is mediated by budget ceilings and legal authority. The paper contributes to climate policy debates by demonstrating how mainstreaming often occurs in form rather than in substance and by highlighting the importance of governance conditions in translating policy commitments into action. Key policy insights Climate change integration in Tanzania’s development frameworks is fragmented, with limited progress in most sectoral policies and Acts. Recent frameworks like the National Environmental Policy (2021) show stronger integration, but legislative reform is urgently needed across sectors. Weak coordination, limited technical capacity, and financing gaps hinder mainstreaming, especially aat the local levels. Stronger stakeholder engagement and institutional reforms are key to aligning national policies with local climate resilience actions. A multi-level governance approach is essential for effective mainstreaming and fulfilling Tanzania’s climate commitments.