United Nations selects Aninver for sustainable tourism program in Zanzibar
The United Nations has appointed Spanish-origin management consultancy firm Aninver to support the development of sustainable tourism in Zanzibar.
Tourism in Zanzibar has surged in recent years, placing increasing pressure on the archipelago’s environmental and sustainability systems. In 2024, Zanzibar welcomed around 737,000 international tourists, a 15% increase on the previous year – nearly three times the number recorded during the pandemic-hit 2020, and significantly above the pre-Covid record of 2019, when the island received about 538,000 visitors.
Tourism now contributes over a quarter of Zanzibar’s GDP, making it a cornerstone of the local economy. However, the industry’s rapid growth has also highlighted the need to protect the island’s delicate ecosystems and ensure that development benefits local communities.
The case for sustainable tourism
As Zanzibar’s tourism sector continues to expand, so too does the urgency to ensure its growth remains sustainable. Sustainable tourism is crucial to safeguard the archipelago’s fragile marine ecosystems, coral reefs, and unique biodiversity from overexploitation. It also goes beyond environmental conservation – promoting the preservation of cultural heritage, fair employment, and responsible community-led development.
The iCOAST program
The Integrated Collaborative Approaches to Sustainable Tourism (iCOAST) project is a new initiative launched by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), a specialised UN agency focused on inclusive and sustainable industrial development. The iCOAST project aims to create an enabling policy and regulatory environment, supported by innovative financial mechanisms, that encourages governments, the private sector, and local communities to adopt and benefit from sustainable tourism practices.
Through its interventions, iCOAST seeks to strengthen local sustainable supply chains linked to the tourism sector and make it easier for tourists to make environmentally responsible choices. Ultimately, the project aims to reduce pollution, cut carbon emissions, limit overconsumption of natural resources, and reverse biodiversity loss, while creating equitable livelihoods and employment opportunities for local people.
“The iCOAST program is set to tackle the environmental challenges we face today,” said Aboud Suleiman Jumbe, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage of Zanzibar. “It aims to promote sustainability across environmental, social, and economic dimensions through innovative solutions, active community engagement, and thoughtful sustainable investments.”
The $5 million, six-year initiative is being implemented by UNIDO with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), in collaboration with key partners including Zanzibar’s Ministry of Tourism and Heritage, the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development, other public bodies, and industry associations.
The role of Aninver
Aninver, an international consulting firm specialising in strategy, economic development, and sustainability, will play a key role in delivering the iCOAST project. Over the coming months, the firm will help UNIDO establish a technical baseline of Zanzibar’s tourism sector, identify opportunities for local sourcing, waste reduction, and improved environmental and social performance, and conduct gender and social risk assessments
Aninver will also assist UNIDO in piloting initiatives with hotels and local authorities to promote eco-friendly practices and circular economy solutions across the tourism value chain.
“We are proud to be supporting UNIDO with this important objective in Zanzibar,” said José María de la Maza Alba, CEO of Aninver. “Our work will provide the evidence base and actionable recommendations needed to design interventions that balance economic competitiveness with environmental stewardship.”
Earlier this year, Aninver was also selected by UNIDO to support a pioneering project focused on developing the blue economy in Belize.
