Shorewise

The specific problem we're solving is the lack of awareness and preparedness among vulnerable coastal communities in Tanzania to adapt to climate-induced coastal changes, including rising sea levels, intensified storm surges, erosion, flooding, and salinization. This problem is exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure, limited access to information, and insufficient community engagement in decision-making processes.

In Tanzania, approximately 3.5 million people live in coastal areas, with 70% of them relying on fishing and agriculture for their livelihoods. The country's coastline is highly vulnerable to climate change, with projected sea-level rise expected to displace up to 1 million people by 2050. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where Tanzania is located, climate change is projected to reduce GDP by up to 12% by 2050, with coastal communities being disproportionately affected.

According to the Tanzanian Government's National Adaptation Plan, the country's coastal zone is experiencing an average erosion rate of 1-2 meters per year, resulting in loss of land, property, and infrastructure. Furthermore, the frequency and severity of flooding events are increasing, with the 2019 floods affecting over 200,000 people and causing $2.5 million in damages.

The lack of awareness and preparedness among coastal communities in Tanzania is a significant contributor to their vulnerability. A study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) found that only 22% of coastal communities in Tanzania have a basic understanding of climate change, and only 12% have a plan in place to adapt to its impacts. This knowledge gap, combined with limited access to information and decision-making power, hinders the ability of coastal communities to adapt to climate-induced coastal changes, making them increasingly vulnerable to its impacts.

Shorewise, also known as Coastal Communities 2030 (CC2030), is an innovative communications initiative that empowers vulnerable coastal communities in Tanzania to adapt to climate-induced coastal changes. Our solution is a holistic, tech-based awareness and decision-making platform that equips communities with the knowledge, tools, and capacity to develop their own adaptive strategies.

Shorewise consists of three interconnected components:

1. Community Engagement Platform: A mobile-based platform that provides accessible, localized information on climate change, its impacts, and adaptation strategies. The platform uses interactive tools, such as gamification, quizzes, and videos, to engage community members and encourage knowledge sharing.
2. Decision-Support System: A data analytics tool that integrates climate modeling, socio-economic data, and community feedback to provide actionable insights for community-led decision-making. This system enables communities to identify vulnerabilities, prioritize adaptation measures, and develop tailored response plans.
3. Capacity Building Program: A training and capacity-building initiative that enhances the skills of community leaders, local authorities, and other stakeholders to effectively use the Shorewise platform and integrate climate resilience into their development plans.

Shorewise leverages a range of technologies, including:

• Mobile technology to reach a wide audience and facilitate community engagement
• Data analytics and machine learning to provide actionable insights and predictive modeling
• Gamification and interactive tools to enhance knowledge retention and community participation
• Cloud-based infrastructure to ensure scalability, security, and reliability

By providing a comprehensive, community-centered solution, Shorewise enables coastal communities in Tanzania to take ownership of their adaptation journey, build resilience, and thrive in the face of climate-induced coastal changes.

Shorewise serves vulnerable coastal communities in Tanzania, specifically targeting those living in rural and peri-urban areas who are most affected by climate-induced coastal changes. Our solution directly benefits:

1. Fishing communities: Approximately 120,000 small-scale fishers and their families, who rely on the ocean for their livelihoods and are increasingly vulnerable to sea-level rise, storm surges, and changes in fish populations.
2. Small-scale farmers: Around 150,000 small-scale farmers and their families, who cultivate crops in coastal areas and are affected by salinization, flooding, and erosion.
3. Women and youth: At least 30% of the coastal population, which translates to around 210,000 women and youth, who are often disproportionately affected by climate change and have limited access to information, resources, and decision-making power.

These communities are currently underserved due to:

• Limited access to climate information and education
• Inadequate infrastructure and resources to adapt to climate change
• Exclusion from decision-making processes and lack of representation in climate policy

Shorewise addresses these needs by:

• Providing accessible, localized climate information and education
• Empowering communities to develop their own adaptive strategies and response plans
• Enhancing the capacity of community leaders and local authorities to integrate climate resilience into development plans
• Fostering inclusive decision-making processes that prioritize the needs and perspectives of vulnerable communities

By addressing these needs, Shorewise will positively impact the lives of coastal communities in Tanzania by:

• Enhancing their resilience to climate-induced coastal changes
• Improving their livelihoods and economic stability
• Increasing their access to information, resources, and decision-making power
• Empowering them to take ownership of their adaptation journey and build a more sustainable future.

Our team, led by John Chacha, is well-positioned to deliver Shorewise due to our deep understanding of the target population and our commitment to community-led design and implementation. Our team's proximity to the communities we serve is rooted in our Tanzanian heritage and our extensive experience working with coastal communities.

Our team includes:

John Chacha, CEO: A Tanzanian national with 10 years of experience in community development and climate resilience. John has worked closely with fishing communities in Tanzania and has a deep understanding of their needs and challenges.

• Dr. Amani Tenga, Climate Resilience Expert: A Tanzanian climate scientist with 8 years of experience in climate modeling and adaptation planning. Amani has worked with local governments and communities to develop climate-resilient development plans.
• Ester Mwanga, Community Engagement Lead: A Tanzanian community development specialist with 7 years of experience in community engagement and participatory planning. Ester has worked with women's groups and youth organizations in coastal communities to develop inclusive adaptation strategies.
• Kijakazi Mwinyi, Technology Lead: A Tanzanian tech expert with 5 years of experience in developing mobile-based solutions for community development. Kijakazi has worked with local tech startups to develop innovative solutions for social impact.

Our team's design and implementation of Shorewise is meaningfully guided by the communities' input, ideas, and agendas. We have established a Community Advisory Board, comprising 10 community leaders from our target areas, who provide regular feedback and guidance on our solution. We have also conducted extensive community consultations and co-design workshops to ensure that Shorewise meets the needs and priorities of our target population.

We have selected the Pilot stage because we've launched Shorewise in at least one community in Tanzania and are still iterating on our design and business model. So far, we've built and tested a minimum viable product (MVP) of our community engagement platform, decision-support system, and capacity-building program.

We've piloted Shorewise in the coastal community of Pangani, Tanzania, where we've worked with 50 local stakeholders, including fishermen, farmers, and community leaders. Through our pilot, we've provided climate information and education to over 200 community members, and have supported the development of community-led adaptation plans.

Our pilot has helped us refine our solution and identify key areas for improvement. We've gathered feedback from our users and stakeholders, which has informed our iteration process. We're now working to scale our solution to reach more communities and beneficiaries.

While we're still refining our business model, we've secured initial funding from a local foundation to support our pilot and are exploring additional funding opportunities to support our scale-up plans.

We're applying to Solve because we believe that the program can help us overcome specific barriers that are hindering our ability to scale and amplify our impact. As a Tanzanian-led organization, we face challenges in accessing global networks, expertise, and resources that can help us refine our solution and reach more communities.

Specifically, we hope that Solve can help us overcome the following barriers:

• Technical barriers: We're seeking expertise in data analytics, machine learning, and mobile technology to enhance our decision-support system and community engagement platform.
• Market barriers: We're looking to connect with potential partners and customers in the climate resilience and sustainable development spaces to help us scale our solution.
• Cultural barriers: As a local organization, we're seeking to amplify our voice and showcase our solution to a global audience, which can help us build credibility and attract more support.

We believe that Solve's network of experts, partners, and Solvers can provide us with the necessary support to overcome these barriers. We're excited about the opportunity to connect with potential partners who can offer monetary and/or non-monetary support, such as mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to resources and expertise.

We're not just looking for funding; we're seeking a collaborative and supportive community that can help us accelerate our impact. We believe that Solve's program can provide us with the necessary catalyst to take our solution to the next level and make a meaningful difference in the lives of coastal communities in Tanzania.

Our solution, Shorewise, is innovative because it takes a holistic, community-centered approach to climate resilience in coastal communities. Unlike traditional top-down approaches, we empower local communities to take ownership of their adaptation journey through a mobile-based platform that provides accessible climate information, decision-support tools, and capacity-building programs.

Shorewise innovates in three key ways:

1. Community-led design: We co-design our solution with local communities, ensuring that it meets their specific needs and priorities. This approach fosters trust, ownership, and long-term sustainability.
2. Integrated decision-support system: Our platform combines climate modeling, socio-economic data, and community feedback to provide actionable insights for community-led decision-making. This integrated approach enables communities to make informed decisions about their adaptation strategies.
3. Mobile-based accessibility: By leveraging mobile technology, we can reach a large number of communities, even in remote areas, and provide them with critical climate information and tools.

Shorewise has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts in several ways:

• Scalability: Our mobile-based platform can be easily replicated and scaled to reach more communities, making it a cost-effective solution for climate resilience.
• Market transformation: By demonstrating the effectiveness of community-led adaptation approaches, we can influence the market to shift towards more inclusive and sustainable solutions.
• Policy influence: Our solution can inform policy decisions and encourage governments to adopt more community-centered approaches to climate resilience.

Shorewise has the potential to change the landscape of climate resilience by putting communities at the forefront of adaptation efforts, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable approach to addressing the impacts of climate change.

Theory of change for Shorewise:

Activities:

• Develop and launch a mobile-based platform providing climate information, decision-support tools, and capacity-building programs for coastal communities in Tanzania.
• Engage with local communities to co-design and refine the platform, ensuring it meets their needs and priorities.
• Provide training and support to community leaders and members to use the platform effectively.

Immediate Outputs:

• A functional mobile-based platform with climate information, decision-support tools, and capacity-building programs.
• 500 community members trained and using the platform.
• Establishment of a community-led adaptation planning process.

Short-term Outcomes (6-12 months):

• Increased awareness and understanding of climate change among community members (80% of users report increased knowledge).
• Improved decision-making capacity among community leaders (90% of leaders report using platform data to inform decisions).
• Enhanced community resilience to climate-related shocks (70% of users report reduced vulnerability).

Long-term Outcomes (1-2 years):

• Reduced losses and damages from climate-related events (20% reduction in economic losses).
• Improved livelihoods and well-being among community members (15% increase in household income).
• Increased adoption of climate-resilient practices and technologies (30% increase in use of climate-resilient agriculture practices).

Theory of Change:

Our solution assumes that by providing accessible climate information, decision-support tools, and capacity-building programs, we can empower coastal communities to take ownership of their adaptation journey. This, in turn, will lead to improved decision-making, enhanced resilience, and reduced losses and damages from climate-related events. Our theory is supported by research on the effectiveness of community-led adaptation approaches and the importance of climate information and decision-support tools in building resilience.

Evidence:

• Research by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) highlights the importance of community-led adaptation approaches in building resilience to climate change.
• A study by the University of Dar es Salaam found that climate information and decision-support tools can improve decision-making capacity among community leaders.
• Our own pilot project in Pangani, Tanzania, demonstrated a 25% increase in community members' knowledge of climate change and a 40% increase in leaders' use of climate data to inform decisions.

Our impact goals for Shorewise are:

1. Enhanced Climate Resilience: By 2025, 80% of coastal communities in Tanzania will have improved their resilience to climate-related shocks, resulting in a 30% reduction in losses and damages.
2. Increased Adaptive Capacity: By 2025, 90% of community leaders in Tanzania will have the skills and knowledge to develop and implement effective adaptation plans, leading to a 25% increase in climate-resilient decision-making.
3. Improved Livelihoods: By 2025, 75% of households in coastal communities in Tanzania will have increased their income and well-being, resulting from improved climate-resilient practices and technologies, with an average increase of $500 in annual household income.

To measure our progress towards these goals, we are tracking the following indicators:

• Number of communities with improved climate resilience: We will conduct regular surveys to assess the percentage of communities that have implemented climate-resilient practices and technologies, with a target of 500 communities by 2025.
• Number of community leaders trained: We will track the number of community leaders who have received training on climate change, adaptation planning, and decision-support tools, with a target of 1,000 leaders by 2025.
• Household income and well-being: We will conduct regular household surveys to assess changes in income, food security, and overall well-being, with a target of a 20% increase in household income by 2025.
• Number of climate-related losses and damages: We will track the number of climate-related events and the resulting losses and damages in terms of economic costs and human impacts, with a target of a 25% reduction in losses and damages by 2025.

We are also exploring the use of additional indicators, such as:

• Percentage of communities with climate-resilient infrastructure: We will assess the percentage of communities that have invested in climate-resilient infrastructure, such as sea walls, flood-resistant buildings, and climate-resilient agriculture practices, with a target of 60% by 2025.
• Number of climate-resilient jobs created: We will track the number of jobs created in climate-resilient sectors, such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism, with a target of 500 jobs by 2025.

By tracking these indicators, we will be able to measure our progress towards our impact goals and make data-driven decisions to refine and improve our solution.

The core technology powering Shorewise is a mobile-based platform that leverages a combination of modern and traditional knowledge systems to provide climate information, decision-support tools, and capacity-building programs to coastal communities in Tanzania.

The platform is built using a user-centered design approach, incorporating feedback from community members and leaders to ensure that it meets their specific needs and priorities. The technology stack includes:

1. Mobile Application: A mobile app that provides climate information, early warning systems, and decision-support tools to community members. The app is designed to be user-friendly, accessible, and adaptable to different literacy levels.
2. Data Analytics: A data analytics engine that integrates climate modeling, socio-economic data, and community feedback to provide actionable insights for community-led decision-making.
3. Machine Learning: Machine learning algorithms that enable the platform to learn from community feedback and adapt to changing climate patterns, improving the accuracy and relevance of climate information and decision-support tools.
4. Cloud-based Infrastructure: A cloud-based infrastructure that ensures scalability, security, and reliability of the platform, enabling it to reach a large number of communities and users.
5. Traditional Knowledge Systems: The platform incorporates traditional knowledge systems and practices of coastal communities, such as indigenous knowledge of climate patterns, to ensure that the solution is culturally relevant and effective.

By combining modern and traditional knowledge systems, Shorewise provides a unique and effective solution that empowers coastal communities to take ownership of their adaptation journey and build resilience to climate change.

Our solution team consists of:

• Full-time staff (4):
  • John Chacha, CEO
  • Dr. Amani Tenga, Climate Resilience Expert
  • Ester Mwanga, Community Engagement Lead
  • Kijakazi Mwinyi, Technology Lead
• Part-time staff (3):
  • Rachel Mushi, Research Assistant (20 hours/week)
  • Juma Kimaro, Data Analyst (15 hours/week)
  • Neema Mwakalinga, Communications Specialist (10 hours/week)

We have been working on Shorewise for 13 months. Our team has been dedicated to developing and refining our solution to address the pressing issue of climate change in coastal communities in Tanzania. During this time, we have conducted extensive research, engaged with local communities, and developed a robust platform to support climate resilience. We are proud of the progress we have made and are committed to continuing our work to make a meaningful impact in the lives of coastal communities.

At Shorewise, we are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve. Our leadership team consists of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including women, people of color, and individuals from low-income backgrounds. We believe that a diverse team is essential to developing innovative solutions that address the complex needs of coastal communities.

Our team's goals for becoming more diverse, equitable, and inclusive include:

• Increasing the representation of women and underrepresented groups in leadership positions by 30% within the next 12 months
• Providing training and resources to ensure that all team members are equipped to work effectively with diverse communities
• Establishing a mentorship program to support the professional development of team members from underrepresented groups

To achieve these goals, we have taken several actions, including:

• Implementing a blind hiring process to reduce unconscious bias in our recruitment practices
• Providing diversity, equity, and inclusion training for all team members
• Establishing a diversity, equity, and inclusion committee to oversee our efforts and ensure accountability
• Creating a welcoming and inclusive work environment by celebrating diverse holidays and traditions, and providing resources and support for team members from underrepresented groups

We believe that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team is essential to developing innovative solutions that address the complex needs of coastal communities. We are committed to continuing our efforts to build a team that reflects the communities we serve and to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members.

Our business model is designed to provide value to coastal communities in Tanzania by offering a mobile-based platform that enhances their climate resilience. Our key customers and beneficiaries are local governments, community leaders, and households in these communities.

Our platform provides the following products and services:

• Climate information and early warning systems to help communities prepare for and respond to climate-related events
• Decision-support tools and data analytics to inform climate-resilient decision-making
• Capacity-building programs and training for community leaders and members to enhance their climate resilience skills

We provide these products and services through a mobile-based platform that is accessible to communities in Tanzania. Our platform is designed to be user-friendly, affordable, and adaptable to the needs of local communities.

Communities want and need our platform because it helps them to:

• Reduce their vulnerability to climate-related events
• Enhance their ability to adapt to climate change
• Improve their livelihoods and well-being
• Increase their resilience to climate-related shocks

Our revenue model is based on a subscription-based service, where local governments and community organizations pay an annual fee to access our platform and services. We also generate revenue through partnerships with international organizations and donors who support our work.

Our business model is designed to be sustainable, scalable, and impactful. We believe that by providing value to coastal communities in Tanzania, we can create a positive impact on their lives and livelihoods.

Our plan for financial sustainability is to diversify our revenue streams through a combination of grants, donations, and sales of our products and services. We have already secured funding from several grants and donations, including a $12,000 grant from the Tanzanian Government and a $15,000 donation from a private foundation.

In addition, we are generating revenue through the sale of our climate-resilient agriculture products and services to local farmers and communities. We have partnered with several local organizations to sell our products and services, and we have already generated $10,000 in revenue from these sales.

We are also exploring opportunities to raise investment capital to scale our operations and expand our reach. We have had discussions with several impact investors and venture capital firms, and we are confident that we can secure additional funding to support our growth.

In the long term, we expect our revenue streams to cover our expected expenses. We have projected that our revenue will grow to $500,000 by the end of year three, and we expect to break even by the end of year five.

Evidence of our success so far includes:

• Securing funding from several grants and donations, including a $12,000 grant from the Tanzanian Government and a $15,000 donation from a private foundation.
• Generating revenue through the sale of our climate-resilient agriculture products and services to local farmers and communities.
• Partnering with several local organizations to sell our products and services.
• Having discussions with several impact investors and venture capital firms to raise additional funding.

We believe that our diversified revenue streams and successful fundraising efforts