What we are doing
Tanzania’s urban transition is at a critical point. The average annual growth rate between 2002 and 2012 was 5.2% for urban areas, which means that if current trends continue, the urban population will double roughly every 14 years. Planning and land administration systems have been unable to keep up with the high service demand caused by rapid growth. There is general recognition that rapid urbanization has the potential to stretch the capacity of urban Local Government Authorities (LGAs) in terms of resources, ability to provide planned land, infrastructure and sufficient services so as to cope with the growing needs of urban population. Rapid urbanization has lead to chaotic, sprawling urban growth and land use patterns and resulting in increased costs for infrastructure and challenges of access to basic facilities. Recognising the link between the rapid urbanization and the increased movement of people from the rural areas to urban centre can help LGAs to better plan for urban development and resourcing of development programs as well as to strengthen urban development systems to better cope with the impact of the rapid growth. Thus, there is a need to develop an appropriate skillset and toolkit among planners and other LGA staff that will provide them alternatives to conventional urban planning practice. Training is needed in order to support planners in taking on roles as coordinators, enablers of private investment, marketers, regulators and enforcers. There is also a need for a shift in everyday practice away from development of economic and urban plans in isolation, and toward a more integrated approach. This requires engagement with all levels of government and other actors.
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