WB approves $200 million to enhance Dodoma mobility, create jobs

Dar es Salaam. The World Bank (WB) has approved a $200 million (about Sh520 billion) investment to enhance urban mobility and accessibility in Tanzania’s capital, Dodoma.

The Dodoma Integrated and Sustainable Transport (DIST) project aims to unlock economic opportunities, create over 10,000 jobs by 2030, and boost the city's economic output by 2 percent.

The project is set to benefit over 430,000 residents, including 222,000 women and 81,700 youth.

Announcing the decision through a press release dated March 24, 2025, the World Bank Division Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, Mr Nathan Belete says the project will improve urban mobility by upgrading key transport corridors, access routes, and central business district (CBD) infrastructure.

He says it will also enhance walking and cycling facilities while supporting 750 public transport drivers, fostering livelihoods, and promoting a sustainable transport system for Dodoma’s growing population.

“Dodoma’s rapid expansion presents both challenges and opportunities. This project will help ensure the city’s infrastructure evolves with its ambitions, offering safe and efficient transport that will drive economic growth,” says Mr Belete.

Following the Tanzania government’s 2016 decision to relocate its capital from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, the city’s population surged to 765,179 by 2022.

However, this growth has outpaced infrastructure development, with Dodoma’s built-up area expanding by more than 440 percent since 2000.

“Addressing urban mobility early is crucial for sustainable growth and to prevent uncoordinated urban sprawl,” says WB senior transport specialist Mr Adam Diehl.

He added that the DIST project will help develop a more vibrant, economically dynamic city and serve as a model for other rapidly growing cities across Tanzania and the wider African continent.

According to the WB document, the DIST project focuses on three key components, including the Strategic Multimodal Corridors, involving the upgrading infrastructure and public transport on key mobility corridors across the city.

Another component is improved access, which aims to enhance local neighbourhood and CBD roads by introducing new pedestrian, cycling, and public transport facilities.

The final component is an institutional enabling environment, which focuses on establishing a transport coordination mechanism to align the efforts of stakeholders such as the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads), Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (Tarura), City Council of Dodoma (CCD), and the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra).

According to the document, the project will be implemented by Tanroads, CCD, Latra, and Tarura.

DIST has received support from several global initiatives, including the Global Smart City Partnership Program and the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility.

Others are the Korea Green Growth Trust Fund, the Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), and the Japan-World Bank Program for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management (DRM).