In May 2025, a group of experts gathered in Dodoma to do something transformative: use data to reimagine how Tanzania tackles plastic pollution. The meeting marked the launch of the National Analysis Modelling (NAM) process, a major initiative of the Tanzania National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) hosted by UNDP Tanzania in collaboration with Global plastic action partnership of the World economic forum (WEF) and Office of the Tanzanian Vice President.This modelling effort is more than just a technical exercise it’s a foundational step toward developing an evidence-based National Action roadmap that can guide policies, investments, and community action to tackle plastic waste across the country.

From Dialogue to Data: Why This Matters

Plastic pollution in Tanzania has grown alongside rapid urbanization and consumption. Despite increased awareness, data gaps remain: How much plastic is being used? Where does it go? What’s recoverable and what ends up in the environment? Source International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The National Modelling process aims to fill these gaps. 

The Metrics Advisory Group (MAG). is tasked with guiding the modelling work reviewing data, shaping methodology, and helping translate analysis into real-world solutions.

Inside the Modelling Process

The modelling exercise uses the NAM Tool (National Analysis Modelling tool), tailored to Tanzania’s context, to map plastic flows across the country. That includes tracking the life cycle of plastics from production and use to disposal and leakage across various sectors like packaging, tourism, agriculture, and retail.
The process is being led by a core modelling team supported by the MAG. Together, they’re generating baseline data and forecasting multiple scenarios to understand the environmental and economic impacts of different interventions such as banning certain materials, scaling up reuse models, or improving collection and recycling systems.

What Happens Next?

The insights from this modelling process will feed directly into the development of a National Action Road map on Plastic Pollution, set to be finalized later this year. The plan will outline a roadmap of policy, infrastructure, innovation, and behavioral change interventions that can reduce plastic leakage and build a more circular economy for Tanzania. “Tanzania has continued to take various measures to address the problem such as banning the use of plastic bags and educating the public to change their behavior regarding the improper disposal of plastic waste,” Tanzania’s Vice President, Dr. Philip Mpango, said, emphasizing the importance of partnerships, technology, and public education in tackling plastic pollution.