TANZANIA and Norway yesterday examined progress in designing a monitoring system to measure, report and verify the effect of carbon emissions control and lately, carbon trading programmes.

Bard Solhjell, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) director general, expressed satisfaction with what the country was doing in that direction, in talks with Hamad Yussuf Masauni, the Union and Environment state minister in the Vice President’s Office (VPO), on a three day visit to Norway to consult on environmental issues.

In his remarks at the meeting, the NORAD executive praised the government’s proactive measures to address climate change, citing the REDO+ strategy on greenhouse gas emissions and other multiple initiatives, notably launching the National Carbon Monitoring Centre (NCMC).

It became fully operational in February 2025, which the director said it was being touted as a model institution, one of its kind in Africa, describing it as commendable.

Norway supports projects in agriculture, education, research, weather monitoring and the environment. “We look forward to deepening this collaboration,” he stated, while the bilateral meeting had both parties reaffirming their commitment to advancing joint climate action, sustainable development and the pursuit of innovative solutions for a greener and more resilient future, top officials said.

The talks focused on enhancing cooperation in climate change mitigation, environmental protection and research initiatives, spheres supported by NORAD.

The minister highlighted the significant contribution NORAD has made in the promotion of renewable energy and rural electrification, as the agency’s support helped in improving community livelihoods, environmental awareness and institutional capacity-building.

He expressed satisfaction at Norwegian support and NORAD’s longstanding technical and financial support, noting that Tanzania greatly values the support provided by NORAD in technical assistance in particular.

It has made a great impact in project financing, environmental protection and climate change adaptation especially in forest conservation and the implementation of the REDD+ programme, aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. It also relates to the conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks, he added.