The United Republic of Tanzania (URT) is comprised of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. There are numerous smaller islands both in the Mainland and Zanzibar. Rising temperatures, longer dry spells, more intense heavy rainfall and sea level rise make URT the 26th most vulnerable country to climate risks. Tanzania has an estimated population of 56 million, of which nearly 18 million live in urban areas, of which an estimated 75% live in informal settlements that are increasingly at risk from flooding, water scarcity and heat extremes. In rural areas, there is high dependence on rain-fed agriculture, limited access to health care and limited access to education and electricity; these challenges increase vulnerability to climate change risks, and eventually lowers the capacity to adapt. Yields for critical crops, including maize, beans, sorghum, and rice are projected to decrease in the coming decades, endangering livelihoods and food security. Livelihoods and food supply also depend on coastal and inland fisheries, which are increasingly threatened by warming ocean and freshwater temperatures, and sedimentation after heavy rains. Sea level rise is putting coastal infrastructure, coastal populations, and coastal ecosystems at risk of inundation, salinization and storm surge in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.

Several climate change vulnerability studies have been undertaken in some parts of Tanzania and helped to initiate urgent and specific information on the impacts and adaptation. However, given the huge size of the country, only few parts have been covered so far with these vulnerability assessments, which necessitates the need for more studies to be carried out especially focusing on the highly vulnerable regions of the country.