Developing sustainable waste management in Dar Es Salaam „Dar Safi, Bahari Safi“ improves municipal waste management
Grantee(s)
- HafenCity Universität Hamburg
Objectives
- Improve waste management – in particular waste collection and treatment – in Tanzania’s largest city Dar Es Salaam
- Strenthen waste governance as well as financing systems for waste management
- Provide technical support and capacity building
- Strengthen academic training for future waste management professionals
Duration
2024-10-01 till 2027-09-30
Location
Tanzania
Funding Amount
5,783,140.99 €
Project partner(s)
- United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat)
- Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association e.V. (BORDA)
- Ardhi University
- SweepSmart B.V.
Copyright: iStock/golero
Reducing marine litter: What are the challenges in Tanzania?
Dar es Salaam is the largest city and former capital of the United Republic of Tanzania. With over six million people in 2021, it is the largest city in East Africa, the fifth largest in Africa and one of the fastest growing cities of the world. Dar is located along one of the richest and most diverse marine habitats in the Indian Ocean, with the coastal region of tropical central East Africa being home to up to 1300 species per 100 m2, 15% of which are endemic to these waters. This hotspot of biodiversity enables livelihoods from fishing and tourism, as well as providing a valuable source of nutrition to those living along the coastlines.
However, the Western Indian Ocean is also home to a high number (between 7-24%) of threatened species. One major threat to both species and habitats is an increasing amount of plastic waste flowing into these habitats from sources like the Msimbazi River Basin which accumulate in many different sinks throughout coastal habitats, including the disappearing mangrove forests, seaweeds and seagrasses, coral reefs and along the shorelines. All of these are vital to ecosystem health, and also to ecosystem services that support human communities.
Due to limitations in its solid waste management system and its proximity to the Indian Ocean, Dar es Salaam contributes significantly to marine plastic pollution. It is estimated that about 22,500 t/y plastics waste from the city leaks into the ocean through its waterbodies. Waste management in Dar Es Salaam faces different challenges: In addition to the lack of infrastructure for waste collection and treatment, waste governance is limited, and much needed professional capacities are scarce.
How does the project contribute to reducing marine litter?
The project aims to decrease plastic waste inputs to the coastal waters of Dar Es Salaam – and to improve biodiversity health of the Indian ocean – through a multi-faceted approach. Core levers are (a) to improve and expand the urban waste management infrastructure, (b) to strengthen waste governance at national level and (c) to develop capacities of various municipal and academic stakeholders.
To enable the further development of national waste management, the project strengthens national political exchange and increases knowledge of political decision-makers on waste management and marine litter. Building on this, a joint strategic plan for municipal waste management will be developed with the responsible authorities in Dar es Salaam. At the same time, measures are implemented to strengthen the capacities of waste management stakeholders, including local government authorities and formal and informal waste collection actors. This is accompanied by capacity building of academic stakeholders such as students and scientists to further strengthen waste management expertise in Tanzania. A core measure is a pilot project to expand the urban waste management infrastructure, in particular waste collection and recycling.
Municipal waste management is cost-intensive and represents a financial burden for local authorities. Therefore, a strong focus is placed on building a sustainable financing system to ensure that the waste management infrastructure remains stable in the long term. At the same time, the project strives for social sustainability and an inclusive waste management system that also covers disadvantaged districts, and focuses on the inclusion of informal waste workers and on gender justice.