Soils for the Future Tanzania
Mar 25, 2026
CarbonSolve's partner organization, Soils for the Future Tanzania (SftFTZ) is launching a new Community Conservation Bank (COCOBA) initiative in the Longido and Monduli districts to strengthen conservation outcomes while improving community livelihoods. The COCOBA model links financial inclusion, savings mobilization, and conservation incentives which enable communities to invest in sustainable enterprises that protect land, biodiversity, and natural resources.
🌳 Why COCOBA?
Communities in Longido and Monduli rely heavily on pastoralism, small-scale farming, forestry-related activities, and microbusinesses. Without sustainable options, these livelihoods can contribute to land degradation and biodiversity loss.
COCOBA addresses this challenge by:
✔️ Mobilizing community savings
✔️ Implementing reforestation, biodiversity management, and soil conservation projects
✔️ Enhancing community awareness and education on environmental stewardship
✔️ Promoting community savings and access to small green loans for sustainable livelihoods
🏦 How It Works
COCOBA groups are community-led and legally registered. Members meet weekly to purchase shares and build collective savings. After three months, members can apply for loans to invest in approved green enterprises such as livestock fattening, tree nurseries, beekeeping, and solar products. Loan terms range from 5% interest for 3-month loans to 20% for 12-month loans. Groups may also operate collective enterprises.
Pilot Phase (Starting January 2026)
The pilot phase will support 50–100 households, with a strong focus on youth, women’s groups, and small-scale pastoralists.
Activities include:
-Community mobilization and training
-Legal registration of COCOBA groups
-Establishment of a revolving loan fund
-Ongoing monitoring and evaluation
Long-Term Vision
COCOBA is designed to become self-sustaining within three years. A portion of loan interest and membership fees will fund local conservation activities such as reforestation, soil conservation, and biodiversity management.
Through COCOBA, communities strengthen financial resilience while taking a leading role in protecting their landscapes.