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How to make Dar resilient amid climate change, urbanisation
Dar es Salaam has in the last two decades or so been hit by frequent flooding blamed on climate change and the city’s rapid urbanisation. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Dar es Salaam faces mounting challenges due to rapid urbanisation and climate change
Dar es Salaam. As one of Africa’s fastest-growing urban centres, Dar es Salaam faces mounting challenges due to rapid urbanisation and climate change, a situation that calls for evidence-based solutions to ensure sustainability of Tanzania’s economic hub.
Among the most pressing concerns is the city’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, particularly flooding, which continues to disrupt lives, infrastructure, and economic activities.
Researchers and urban planners are now exploring sustainable strategies to bolster African cities’ resilience, ensuring they remain both economic hubs and a liveable environment for residents.
At a two-day conference which began on Wednesday and organised by the African Centre for Sustainable Cities Studies under the theme Novel Approaches for Development of Resilient and Sustainable Cities in Africa, experts, policymakers, and researchers from 16 countries convened to discuss solutions tailored for coastal cities like Dar es Salaam.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Dr Daniel Mushi, underscored the need for scientific research to translate into practical urban policies.
“One of the biggest challenges in urban planning is ensuring that research findings and policy recommendations become actionable strategies,” he said.
As a coastal city, Dar es Salaam is particularly susceptible to rising sea levels and extreme weather patterns. Heavy rains frequently lead to devastating floods, displacing thousands and damaging critical infrastructure.
A Nigerian researcher leading the African Water Cities project, Dr Kunle Adeyemi, emphasised the urgent need for adaptation to sustain African cities.
“Our cities are sinking. In the near future, people will live largely on water, and African cities like Dar es Salaam will be at the heart of this change,” he said.
His research highlights innovative adaptation methods that integrate local knowledge into urban planning.
A prime example is the Makoko Floating System in Lagos, Nigeria, which has demonstrated how floating infrastructure can create resilient urban environments.
Dr Adeyemi suggested that similar strategies could be applied in other cities like Dar es Salaam to prevent catastrophic flooding and land loss.
“We need to rethink urban design to align with the realities of climate change. This means incorporating water-based solutions that can withstand rising tides and extreme weather events,” he added.
A significant initiative to address these challenges is a 10-year research project, funded by the Belgian government at a cost of €6 million (Sh16.2 billion).
The project, a collaboration between four Belgian universities and Tanzania’s Ardhi University among others, aims to enhance the capacity of African nations to manage resilient urban development.
Through this initiative, 44 Tanzanian experts will be equipped with PhDs and 25 with master’s degrees specialising in urban planning and climate resilience.
The Vice Chancellor of Hasselt University in Belgium, Prof Bernard Vanheusden, highlighted the project’s goal.
“By fostering collaboration among experts and policymakers, we can formulate effective urban planning strategies that prevent problems like informal settlements and inefficient infrastructure,” he stated. In addition to physical infrastructure solutions, experts are advocating for digital transformation as a tool for building climate-resilient cities.
The Vice Chancellor of Ardhi University, Prof Evaristo Liwa, pointed out the importance of predictive data in urban planning.
“The first step in addressing urban challenges is data simulation, which allows researchers and policymakers to anticipate urban growth and plan accordingly,” Prof Liwa said.
“Many studies have been conducted, but challenges persist because there has been little focus on long-term urban planning. We need to analyse urban development over the next 50 years to guide legal and policy changes.”
According to Prof Liwa, digital tools can also help resolve major land conflicts in Tanzania, particularly those between farmers and pastoralists, which have been a growing source of tension in recent years.
One of the key takeaways from the conference was the need for proactive urban planning to ensure that informal settlements do not continue expanding in disaster-prone areas. This requires coordinated efforts from governments, academic institutions, and international organizations.
Dr Mushi reinforced the importance of sustainable policy-making. “Tanzania’s Vision 2025 envisions a middle-income, self-industrialised economy with well-developed urban areas.
To achieve this, we must ensure that our cities are not only economic engines but also resilient to climate change and sustainable for all citizens,” he said.
Experts at the conference emphasised that strengthening flood management infrastructure, improving drainage systems, and implementing nature-based solutions like urban wetlands restoration will be crucial in mitigating flooding in cities like Dar es Salaam.
