EU Ambassador to Tanzania Christine Grau visited Mwanza on 18–19 June 2026 to showcase how Global Gateway investments are transforming one of the country's fastest-growing cities, focusing on sustainable urban development, climate resilience, digital transformation and economic opportunities. The mission, one of her final field trips before completing her tenure, highlighted the Team Europe approach bringing together the European Union, France's Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Belgium's Enabel and Germany's GIZ to deliver tangible benefits for citizens.
Mwanza, Tanzania's second-largest city on the southern shores of Lake Victoria, is a key economic hub with a rapidly growing population. During the visit, Grau met Team Europe partners working under the Green and Smart Cities SASA initiative, a EUR 75 million (TZS 214 billion) investment supporting sustainable urban development in Mwanza, Tanga and Pemba. The programme combines European expertise and financing to strengthen urban governance, improve climate-resilient infrastructure, expand access to basic services and create opportunities for local businesses and communities.
A highlight of the mission was the launch of the ArcGIS System, developed through the budget support component of the SASA programme, which Mwanza City Council has directly benefitted from. The digital platform modernises urban management by linking geospatial information with municipal revenue systems, enabling more efficient planning and service delivery. The initiative reflects the EU's commitment to digital transformation as a driver of sustainable development.
The visit also showcased progress in water security and sanitation around Lake Victoria. Grau visited the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Programme (LV WATSAN), one of the largest water infrastructure investments in the region, supported by the EU, France through AFD, the European Investment Bank and other partners. The programme has expanded access to safe water and improved sanitation for approximately 450,000 people in Mwanza and surrounding urban centres. During the mission, a new contribution agreement was signed with AFD to advance the next phase of investments, further improving water services, sanitation infrastructure and climate resilience in the Lake Victoria Basin. Through GIZ's PROWAS programme, Team Europe is also supporting water security and climate resilience; in Mwanza's Nyegezi area, measures to reduce non-revenue water have contributed to more efficient water distribution.
The mission further highlighted how European investments are creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and strengthening local economies. At the Fisheries Education and Training Agency (FETA), Grau met women and young entrepreneurs supported through the INCLU-CITIES programme, which promotes skills development, access to finance and business opportunities in fisheries, the circular economy and green businesses. Innovation and entrepreneurship were also central during a visit to Fursa Pads, a Tanzanian enterprise supported through the co-funded FUNGUO programme, which produces reusable sanitary pads contributing to improved menstrual health, environmental sustainability and women's economic empowerment. The delegation also visited the newly constructed Nyamhongolo Bus Terminal, an example of how investments in urban infrastructure improve mobility, connectivity and access to services.
Reflecting on the visit, Grau noted that the strength of the EU's partnership with Tanzania lies in combining investments, technical expertise and long-term cooperation to deliver solutions that improve daily lives. The Mwanza mission illustrated the breadth of EU engagement across Tanzania and the added value of the Team Europe approach, covering water and sanitation, climate-resilient urban development, digital innovation, entrepreneurship, skills development and gender equality. Through the Global Gateway strategy, the EU continues to invest in sustainable infrastructure, human development and inclusive economic growth, with a focus on empowering women and young people, strengthening local innovation ecosystems and supporting Tanzania's long-term economic transformation.