Introduction

Tanzania is undergoing rapid urban transformation. The urban population has grown from just 788,000 in 1967 to over 54 million in 2018 (ACCP, 2018; UN-Habitat, 2023), placing increasing pressure on municipal systems, particularly solid waste management (SWM), with increasing waste volumes.

Historically, Tanzania’s SWM system has been shaped by strong local government involvement, with responsibility sitting under the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, supported by multiple ministries and policies. While progress has been made – particularly in improving urban cleanliness through infrastructure investment and public awareness – challenges remain around data availability, system coordination, and prioritisation of investments.

This is where tools such as the Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT) and the Waste Flow Diagram (WFD) are beginning to play a more central role.

Iramba District

Within this national context, Iramba District stands out as a practical example of how these tools are being applied on the ground. Selected under the African Clean Cities Platform (ACCP) for the Do-It-Yourself application of WaCT, Iramba is using these methodologies with technical support from UN-Habitat.

For districts with limited baseline data, this provides a critical starting point, moving from assumptions to evidence-based planning. By quantifying how waste is generated, collected and managed, and where it is leaked into the environment, local authorities are better positioned to prioritise interventions and engage with national programmes and development partners.

Coordinated national support and investment opportunities 

Importantly, the use of WaCT and WFD in Tanzania is not happening in isolation. A wide range of partners are involved (UN agencies, bilateral donors, development banks, academic institutions, and local authorities) working together to strengthen both infrastructure and institutional capacity.

• In Dar es Salaam, the Dar Safi, Bahari Safi Project (EUR 5.9 million, funded by BMZ) is targeting marine litter by strengthening the city’s waste management system through policy, capacity building and infrastructure.
• In Kigoma Region, the United Nations Joint Programme Phase II (USD 5.41 million) is improving resilience and livelihoods through WASH and land-use planning.
• Additional programmes, including a USD 3 million urban economic development initiative, further demonstrate how waste management is being addressed alongside broader urban systems.

These investments build on earlier donor-supported programmes, including World Bank urban development projects, JICA implemented SWM studies, and long-standing UN-Habitat engagement in participatory waste planning.

A shared national picture

Tanzania’s experience demonstrates that strengthening waste management is not a single-project effort. It requires:

• Local diagnostics
• National frameworks
• Cross-city learning
• Coordinated donor engagement

As districts like Iramba apply WaCT and WFD to understand their systems, and cities such as Dar es Salaam, Kigoma and Mwanza implement large-scale programmes, a broader picture begins to emerge. Using shared methodologies allows data to be consistent, comparable and scalable across cities.

This shifts waste management away from isolated interventions towards a more structured, national approach, where data informs policy, policy guides investment, and investment delivers measurable outcomes.

The key takeaway becomes clear - when baseline data tools, coordinated partnerships and sustained investment come together they help build a coherent national pathway for urban waste management.

References

1. African Clean Cities Platform. (2019). Tanzania Country Data Book. Link
2. UN-Habitat. (2023). Tanzania Country Brief. Link