Local governance practices and public trust in the context of climate change adaptation in Monduli and Longido districts, Tanzania

This study examines the effects of governance practices by Tanzania’s Local Government Authorities (LGAs) on public trust in climate change adaptation. Trust is essential to the success of climate policies, particularly in vulnerable communities, but it varies across LGAs. Guided by Good Governance Theory and Organizational Trust Theory, the study assesses how accountability, responsiveness, transparency, and stakeholder participation relate to public trust. The study adopted a convergent mixed-methods design, combining quantitative survey data from 351 village committee members with qualitative insights from 20 key informant interviews and 6 focus group discussions. Results indicate that accountability, responsiveness, and stakeholder participation are significantly associated with trust, whereas transparency is not. Qualitative findings indicate that transparency was symbolic, while accountability and participation enhanced fairness, inclusion, and care. The study provides practical recommendations for strengthening public trust in LGAs by fostering greater inclusion, responsiveness, and accountability in local climate change adaptation.