“Dar es Salaam Tackles Urban Flooding and Climate Change”

Flood Risks and Urban Development in Tanzania: Researchers Focus on Resilient Solutions for Coastal Cities

Dar es Salaam, February 28, 2025 – As one of Africa's fastest-growing cities, Dar es Salaam faces significant challenges related to rapid urbanization and climate change. Among these challenges are frequent flooding incidents that disrupt daily life, damage infrastructure, and threaten economic activities.

As a coastal city, Dar es Salaam is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and the increasing intensity of rainfall. These factors exacerbate flooding, forcing the displacement of residents and causing damage to vital infrastructure. Researchers and urban planning experts have convened in Dar es Salaam to discuss innovative solutions for mitigating these impacts and developing resilient cities.

The gathering was part of a conference organized by the Africa Center for Sustainable Urban Studies, focused on “New Pathways for Sustainable and Resilient Urban Development in Africa.” The event brought together policymakers, urban experts, and researchers from 16 African nations on February 27, 2025, to explore solutions tailored to cities like Dar es Salaam, located near water bodies.

Kunle Adeyemi, a Nigerian researcher leading the African Water Cities project, emphasized the urgent need to address climate change and its effects on urban areas. “Our cities are sinking. In the future, more people will live above water, and cities like Dar es Salaam will be at the forefront of these changes,” he said.

Adeyemi advocates for the incorporation of traditional knowledge into urban planning, offering the example of the Makoko project in Lagos, Nigeria. This initiative demonstrated how homes can be built on marshy lands, offering valuable insights for cities like Dar es Salaam, where land degradation from flooding remains a persistent problem.

“We need to rethink city structures to adapt to climate change,” he added. “This means integrating water-based solutions that can withstand rising tides and extreme weather conditions.”

One significant project addressing these concerns is a ten-year research initiative funded by the Belgian government with a budget of €6 million (approximately 16.2 billion Tanzanian Shillings). The project, involving four Belgian universities and Tanzania's Ardhi University, aims to enhance Africa’s capacity to manage resilient urban development.

As part of the project, 44 Tanzanian professionals will receive PhDs, while 25 others will be awarded Master's degrees in urban planning and climate resilience. Professor Bernard Vanheusden, Vice-Chancellor of Hasselt University in Belgium, highlighted the importance of collaboration between experts and policymakers.

“Together, we can develop better urban planning strategies that address challenges like informal housing and inadequate infrastructure,” he said.

Professor Evaristo Liwa, Vice-Chancellor of Ardhi University, stressed the importance of data analysis in urban planning. “The first step in tackling urban challenges is analyzing data, which enables researchers and policymakers to predict urban growth and plan accordingly,” he explained. “While significant research has been done, the lack of long-term urban planning remains a major challenge. We need to analyze urban development data over the next 50 years to guide legal and policy changes,” Liwa continued.

Dr. Daniel Mushi, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, underlined the need to integrate research findings into policy and practical implementation. “A major challenge in urban planning is ensuring that research outcomes and policy recommendations are transformed into actionable strategies,” he stated.

Looking ahead, Dr. Mushi reiterated Tanzania’s Vision 2025, which envisions a middle-income, industrialized economy with well-developed cities. “To achieve this, we must ensure that our cities not only serve as economic engines but also have the resilience to withstand climate change and provide sustainable livelihoods for all citizens,” he concluded.