A DECADE OF PARTNERSHIP: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Page-1 FOREWORD Embracing resilience not as an add-on, but as a core pillar of its growth strategy, over the past decade, Tanzania has been Niels Holm-Nielsen demonstrating how resilience can be GFDRR Practice Manager systematically embedded into national development. This transformation has been driven by a long-term, multi-phase collaboration between the Government of Tanzania, local communities, the World Bank, development partners, and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). GFDRR is helping Tanzania shift from fragmented interventions to a cohesive resilience agenda. Through upstream diagnostics, spa- tial planning, and risk-informed design, GFDRR has supported in- itiatives that restore ecosystems, reduce risk, and enhance urban livability, while also delivering co-benefits for health, biodiversity, social cohesion, business continuity, and job creation. GFDRR’s engagement in Tanzania has also highlighted the impor- tance of working across scales. Smaller operations in secondary cities—often overlooked in national planning—have served as entry points for broader resilience efforts. Tools and initiatives like the City Page-2 Scans and the Resilience Academy, initially piloted in policies, investments, and systems. It highlights the select locations, are now being adapted for use in other importance of knowledge, planning, and risk-in- urban centers. They have helped local governments formed regulation; expands the focus on slow-onset and universities generate and apply risk data, strength- climate hazards like droughts and sea-level rise while ening decision-making and institutional capacity. continuing to address rapid-onset risks; and reaffirms The collaborative approach in Tanzania is exactly the value of evidence-based, locally led solutions that what GFDRR’s 2026-2030 Strategy seeks to deepen. In protect the most vulnerable. Nature-based solutions response to growing global demand, the strategy af- (NBS) have also emerged as a powerful approach. firms GFDRR’s commitment to supporting countries From mangrove restoration in flood-prone basins in mainstreaming disaster risk management across to heat mitigation in schools, these interventions A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Page-3 deliver multiple benefits—reducing risk while en- The June 2025 Partnership Days field visit reinforced hancing biodiversity, public health, and social cohe- a key message: resilience cannot be built in silos. It sion. They demonstrate how resilience can be built requires collaboration across sectors, institutions, through integrated, community-driven solutions that and financing instruments. are both practical and scalable. We have seen in Tanzania how a decade of engage- Development partners have played a vital role in this ment—grounded in country ownership and supported journey. Their contributions and collaboration have by targeted technical assistance—has delivered tangi- enabled Tanzania to expand the scope and ambition ble results. This booklet captures the lessons from the of its resilience agenda. But more importantly, they field—lessons that offer a blueprint for scaling resil- have helped ensure that efforts are not fragmented. ience through long-term, collaborative investment. A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania PLAY VIDEO Page-4 Introduction Tanzania’s development trajectory is shaped munities, the World Bank, GFDRR, and a wide range of by rapid urbanization, economic ambition, development partners have worked together to build and increasing exposure to climate and a more resilient future. Key development partners have included the Tanzania Urban Resilience Program disaster risks. With nearly half of its (TURP), which was funded by the United Kingdom’s population expected to live in urban areas by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the 2040 and four cities projected to generate 60 Japan-World Bank Program for Mainstreaming Disas- percent of GDP by 2030, the country’s urban ter Risk Management (DRM) in Developing Countries centers are becoming engines of growth. Yet and the ACP-EU Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Pro- this transformation is unfolding in a context of gram, a joint initiative of the African, Caribbean and unplanned expansion, limited infrastructure, Pacific (ACP) Group of States, the European Union, the and recurrent climate shocks—particularly World Bank and GFDRR. floods, droughts, and coastal hazards—that threaten lives, livelihoods, and long-term GFDRR’s engagement in Tanzania is framed as a mul- development gains. ti-phase, multi-sectoral journey—one that has evolved from early diagnostics and technical assistance to The country’s risk landscape is complex and evolving. supporting large-scale investments and institutional reforms. This long-term partnership has been ground- Floods alone have increased tenfold since the 1970s, ed in strong government ownership and strategic and in Dar es Salaam, seasonal flooding affects an alignment with local priorities. GFDRR technical and estimated 70,000 people annually, with average financial assistance, including $2.7 million in grants, losses of $80 million. These risks are compounded has been instrumental in mobilizing $1.7 billion of by informal settlements, inadequate drainage, and resilience investments1 which are enabling risk as- overstretched municipal services—especially in sessments, capacity building, and project design for fast-growing secondary cities. disaster risk reduction, with a strong focus on local en- Against this backdrop, Tanzania has emerged as a com- gagement. 4.1 million people have already benefitted pelling example of how resilience can be embedded from the improvements to urban services and infra- across sectors and scales—from local interventions in structure through the first phase of the Dar es Salaam secondary cities to national policy reforms. Over the Metropolitan Development Project which closed past decade, the Government of Tanzania, local com- in 2023. Looking ahead, 5.5 million people across 1  The $1.7 billion in resilience investments consist of $330 million for the first phase of the Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project (closed in 2023), $278 million for Tanzania Cities Transforming Infrastructure & Competitiveness (TACTIC) Project (approved June 2022), $260 million for the Msimbazi Basin Development Project (approved September 2022), $330 million for the second phase of the Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project (approved December 2023), $200 million for the Dodoma Integrated and Sustainable Transport (DIST) Project (approved March 2025), and $100 million Development Policy Financing (DPF) as budget support and $200 million allotted to a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat-DDO) (approved June 2025). A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Page-5 Tanzania are expected to benefit from improvements mapping, has helped build local capacity by connect- to basic infrastructure and services under the Tanzania ing universities with real-time risk data and practical Cities Transforming Infrastructure & Competitiveness training. City Scans, a tool for assessing resilience (TACTIC) Project by 2028.2 Resilience investment pro- challenges, have enabled local governments to iden- jects supported by GFDRR in Tanzania also include the tify and prioritize risk-informed investments. NBS in- Msimbazi Basin Development Project, the Dodoma terventions, such as mangrove restoration and green Integrated and Sustainable Transport (DIST) Project infrastructure, have delivered multiple co-benefits—re- and Development Policy Financing with a Catastrophe ducing risk while enhancing biodiversity, public health, Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat-DDO). and social cohesion. The June 2025 field visit to Dar es Salaam and Mwanza These tools are effective and replicable. Countries offered a unique opportunity to reflect on this jour- across Africa and beyond, facing similar challenges, ney and illustrated a different dimension of GFDRR’s can adopt and adapt these approaches without the impact. Upstream support—such as flood modeling, need for entirely new systems or resources. The Tan- spatial planning, and stakeholder engagement—has zania model demonstrates how modest, well-placed laid the groundwork for impactful operations. Small- support can be scaled through existing systems when er-scale interventions in secondary cities have served government and partners coordinate effectively. It also as entry points for broader resilience efforts. The com- shows how analytics, capacity building, and policy bination of large and smaller interventions catalyzes reform—when delivered together—can shape resilient impact of interventions on the ground. Such a holistic, development at scale. across-the-board approach requires long-term part- The immersive nature of GFDRR’s engagement in Tan- nerships, co-financing mechanisms, and the strategic zania—spanning over a decade—demonstrates the use of analytical tools to inform investment decisions. power of sustained collaboration. It shows that when In Dar es Salaam, the Msimbazi Basin Development countries lead and development partners align behind Project is demonstrating how nature-based solutions a shared vision, resilience can be scaled in a way that is can reduce flood risk while restoring biodiversity and inclusive, sustainable, and impactful. The stories that creating public green space. The TACTIC project is sup- follow in this booklet illustrate how GFDRR’s support porting local authorities in developing and adopting has translated into real impact on the ground—through resilience plans as part of efforts to strengthen their stronger institutions, better-designed projects, and institutional capacity on core urban management func- more resilient communities. tions. The Cat-DDO is emphasizing the role of financial As GFDRR looks ahead, the lessons from Tanzania will preparedness and policy reform in enabling rapid re- continue to inform its strategy and mobilization of sponse to disasters. These examples reflect the value development finance. They reinforce the importance of combining technical assistance with institutional of country-driven engagement, the value of upstream strengthening and policy dialogue. support, and the need to work across institutions and Tanzania’s experience also highlights the importance sectors. Most importantly, they show that resilience is of shared platforms and tools. The Resilience Acade- not a standalone goal—it is a foundation for develop- my, which has trained 1,400 young Tanzanians on risk ment that lasts. 2 Expected beneficiaries for GFDRR-supported resilience investments also include: 3.3 million people from the $330 million second phase of the Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project by 2030; more than 430,000 people from the $200 million Dodoma Integrated and Sustainable Transport (DIST) Project by 2030, and 1.9 million people from the $100 million Development Policy Financing (DPF) as budget support and $200 million allotted to a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat-DDO) by 2028. Page-6 A Decade of Partnership Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Immersive Story In the past two decades, Tanzania has experienced over 65 major disaster events, with floods and droughts alone causing annual economic losses of $170 million. In the face of these challenges, Tanzania is working with partners like GFDRR toward a more resilient future. Read more in this immersive story A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Page-7 “ We started from the very beginning, we were involved at the grassroots level. They involved us since we know our communities and our areas better. We were involved throughout the project until we managed to get our updated map for Kigogo ward.” Aisha Ali Safari Participant, Ramani Huria Page-8 A Decade of Resilience Building in Tanzania: Highlights World Bank Approves Phase 1 of Dar Msimbazi Charrette Arusha Emergency Resilience Academy es Salaam Metropolitan Engages Preparedness Workshop Participants Produce Development Project Community in Flood Fifty-five participants from Detailed The World Bank Board approves the Planning 20 different Tanzanian Tree-Cover Maps $330 million Dar es Salaam Metropolitan With TURP support, data government departments As part of a GFDRR Development Project (Phase I), launch- collected from Ramani gather in Arusha for a GF- pilot, Resilience ing significant improvements in the Huria informs the Msimbazi DRR-supported workshop Academy participants city’s flood control infrastructure. Charrette, a participatory on emergency prepared- produce detailed design process engaging ness and response. tree-cover maps of Dar over 200 people to shape es Salaam. flood resilience planning in the Msimbazi basin in Dar es Salaam. Ramani Huria: Training Local Emergency Launch of Resilience Humanitarian Mappers for Flood Resilience Communications Cov- Academy OpenStreetMap The GFDRR-supported Ramani erage in Dar es Salaam The Resilience Acad- Scales Up Local Huria initiative trains nearly Doubles emy, supported by Mapping Efforts 1,000 people in mapping skills GFDRR and TURP sup- TURP, is launched and The Humanitarian using locally accessible tools to port for strengthening 1,400 young Tanza- OpenStreetMap Team, collect up-to-date data on flood emergency response nians learn skills and Ramani Huria’s part- exposure and impacts in Dar es in Dar es Salaam helps knowledge in resil- ner, receives a grant Salaam. boost emergency com- ience-building. from the Audacious munications coverage in Project to scale local the city from 50 percent mapping support. to 100 percent. 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Page-9 Private Sector World Bank Approves World Bank Approves Workshop on Re- World Bank approves Flood Risk Analysis Msimbazi Basin Devel- Phase 2 of Dar es silient Watershed DPF and Cat-DDO Conducted opment Project Salaam Metropolitan Management Held The World Bank approves GFDRR-supported an- The World Bank Development Project Forty participants the $300 million alytical work provides approves the $260 The World Bank approves attend a GFDRR-sup- Development Policy new evidence on how million Msimbazi Basin the $330 million second ported workshop on Financing with Catastro- the private sector in Development Project phase of the Dar es resilient watershed phe Deferred Drawdown Tanzania can cope which aims to strengthen Salaam Metropolitan management for the Option (Cat-DDO) for with flooding. flood resilience across Development Project Msimbazi Basin in Dar Tanzania which will help 420 hectares of the which aims to strengthen es Salaam. ensure that the country Msimbazi Basin, while climate-resilient urban will have the funding it also creating 2,000 jobs. infrastructure and needs for post-disaster services for 3.3 million recovery and reconstruc- people in the Dar es tion without delay. Salaam region. Tanzania World Bank Approves World Bank Approves OpenMap Tanzania Wins Urbanization Review TACTIC Project Dodoma Resilient 2025 Zayed Sustainability Released The World Bank approves Transport Project Prize The report Transform- the $278 million Tanzania The World Bank approves OpenMap Development ing Tanzania’s Cities Cities Transforming Infra- the $200 million Dodoma Tanzania, a local company provides key consider- structure & Competitiveness Integrated and Sustain- -founded as a spin -off from ations and recommen- (TACTIC) Project which able Transport (DIST) the GFDRR-funded Ramani dations for building aims to strengthen urban Project which will improve Huria Huria-wins the 2025 resilient and livable management and resilient resilient urban mobility Zayed Sustainability Prize in cities in Tanzania. infrastructure for 5.5 million for more than 430,000 the Climate Action category. people spanning 45 cities Dodoma residents. across Tanzania. 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Page-10 Msimbazi Basin: A Long-Term, Integrated Approach to Flood Risk Management and Urban Transformation in Dar es Salaam In the heart of Dar es Salaam, the Msimbazi to use drones, GPS, and mobile apps to collect data, River has long been both a lifeline and a threat. turning everyday citizens into urban planners. Each rainy season, its waters swell, flooding This community-generated data now guides the pro- homes, displacing families, and disrupting ject’s design. It informs the layout of a new flood-re- livelihoods. But today, the city is turning the silient city park, the placement of green infrastruc- tide—through a bold, integrated effort that ture like terracing and mangrove buffers, and the alignment of upgraded transport corridors. The park, places communities, data, and partnerships once a degraded wetland, is being reborn as a vibrant at the center of urban resilience. public space that absorbs floodwaters, cools the city, and reconnects people with nature. The Msimbazi Basin Development Project (MBDP) is Resettlement—often a difficult but necessary step— more than a flood control initiative. It is a transforma- has been handled with care. Over 2,200 households tional investment shaped by years of deep engage- from high-risk areas have been relocated to safer ment, cutting-edge technology, and a shared vision ground, with support for restoring livelihoods and for a safer, greener city. With support from the World maintaining social cohesion. Local institutions are Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), the Spanish Agency for International Development Co- also being strengthened to ensure that the gains operation, and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Af- made are sustainable and scalable. fairs, the $260 million project is reimagining how cities GFDRR’s support has been instrumental throughout like Dar can grow sustainably in the face of climate risk. this journey. Since 2019, GFDRR has provided tech- At the heart of this transformation is the communi- nical expertise on nature-based flood mitigation, ty. Long before construction began, residents were spatial planning, and integrated watershed manage- invited to co-create the project’s vision. Through the ment. The City Scan for Dar es Salaam identified cli- Msimbazi Charrette—a nine-month participatory mate risks and employment vulnerabilities, while the planning process—over 150 representatives from 59 City Resilience Program (CRP) analyzed the economic institutions and thousands of citizens came together impacts of urban flooding. GFDRR also supported real to map flood risks, identify priorities, and shape solu- estate assessments showing that flood protection tions. More than 300 students and locals were trained could unlock up to $900 million in investment, and A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Page-11 advised on the sequencing of resettlement and infra- structure. In FY24, CRP launched technical assistance to help organize investor solicitation for redevelop- ment areas made viable through flood-resilience investments. This support helped shape how flood risk is managed in Dar es Salaam. By providing evidence-based ana- lytics, spatial modeling, and urban planning tools, GFDRR enabled planners to integrate infrastructure development with environmental restoration and social considerations. Its inputs led to the design of a multi-benefit investment plan that balances flood protection with land use optimization and ecosys- tem rehabilitation. The work also fostered consen- sus among government agencies, communities, and investors around a common vision for the Msimbazi Basin. This collaborative approach has been further strengthened by the involvement of development partners such as the Netherlands and Spain, whose co-financing and technical contributions have helped scale and sustain the project’s impact. As a result, the city is advancing toward a more resil- ient, inclusive, and climate-smart urban redevelop- ment strategy—anchored in data, informed by risk, and ready to mobilize both public and private capital. The Msimbazi story demonstrates that transforma- tional change is not just about infrastructure—it’s about building alignment, trust, and long-term com- mitment. With the support of GFDRR and other devel- opment partners, Tanzania is showing that resilience is not just a goal—it’s a process, and one that begins with listening to all the stakeholders, learning from past experiences, and leading together. Page-12 Transforming Intermediary Cities: The Case of Mwanza Across Tanzania, intermediary cities are playing an increasingly vital role in the country’s urban transformation. These secondary cities are not only home to rapidly growing populations, but also serve as key connectors between rural communities and economic hubs. Strengthening urban management in these cities—alongside investments in basic infrastructure and services—is essential to making urbanization more inclusive, resilient, and productive. With this in mind, the government of Tanzania, with support from the World Bank and GFDRR, launched the $278 million Tanzania Cities Transforming Infrastructure and Competitiveness (TACTIC) project. Rolled out in 45 towns and cities across the country, the project is designed to improve how cities are managed and how services are delivered. It focuses on expanding rural-urban con- nectivity, upgrading underserved communities, improving resil- ience to climate and disaster risks like flooding and drought, and building local government capacity in areas such as urban plan- ning, finance, service delivery, and maintenance. By investing in both infrastructure and institutions, TACTIC is helping cities grow in an economically competitive but sustainable way. Tanga, Mtwara, Sumbawanga, and Mwanza are just some of the cities that TACTIC has supported over the years. Investments have focused on strengthening solid waste systems through sanitary landfills and collection points, upgrading urban infrastructure and Photo: @Jorge Villalpando Castro/World Bank A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Page-13 over hundreds of kilometers of roads with streetlights, planning and investment is urgently needed. With sup- footbridges, and bus terminals to improve mobility port from GFDRR, that shift is well underway. and access, and constructing more than 150 kilome- For instance, at the Kirumba Market, one of the city’s ters of drainage infrastructure to reduce the impacts most important commercial hubs, redevelopment is of flooding. The project has also helped enhance land underway to improve access and mobility for vendors use planning, improve city management, and increase and shoppers alike. New drainage systems are being in- local revenue collection—laying the groundwork for tegrated into the design, protecting market users from thriving urban centers across Tanzania. flooding and improving day-to-day service delivery. Nestled along the shores of Lake Victoria, Mwanza Meanwhile, at the Jabal Hira Primary School, which sits is Tanzania’s second largest city. Like many urban close to a river source, community groups are working centers across the country, it faces increasing risks to reduce erosion and protect water flows. from climate change—from intense flooding to rising One of the key challenges GFDRR helped address was temperatures and overstretched infrastructure. The the lack of reliable, city-level data to guide decisions. city is grappling with the consequences of low-den- GFDRR partnered with national and local authorities sity, fragmented urban growth that is increasing its to help Mwanza and other cities strengthen its resil- exposure to disaster hazards. For instance, outdated ience from the ground up. Through detailed city-level planning regulations and poor development controls risk assessments, it mapped urban morphology and have enabled unrestrained expansion into risk-prone exposure to hazards through 121 infrastructure sub- areas. At the same time, weak land administration projects across various cities under TACTIC. These systems have struggled to manage the rapid conver- include buildings, roads, drains, and other essential sion of rural land for urban use, leaving large portions infrastructure designed not only to meet local needs, of the city vulnerable to unregulated development. but also to withstand future disaster risks. In informal settlements such as Mabatini, unmanaged GFDRR also introduced performance tracking tools to runoff regularly threatens homes and livelihoods. The give local governments access to critical information Mwawasa–Tempere Outlet, meanwhile, suffers from that they previously lacked. These tools are already blocked water flow due to sediment and informal informing how and where to invest in more resilient land use. infrastructure. Bolstering efforts to turn technical To keep pace with urban growth and protect the people guidance into long-term policy, GFDRR—in partner- who call Mwanza home, a shift toward climate-smart ship with urban authorities—also helped finalize Page-14 and mainstream Urban Planning and Development Control Guidelines that promote safer land use, reduce encroachment into high-risk areas, and sup- port more sustainable urban expansion. These guide- lines are now being adopted as local bylaws by the Mwanza and Ilemela Councils, helping to institution- alize resilience in everyday planning decisions. Final- ly, to augment local capacity, GFDRR also supported training and workshops for local officials on solid waste management and resource efficiency. Communities are already playing a vital role in protecting sensitive areas like river sources from en- croachment and dumping. With the right support, these grassroots efforts could be formalized and scaled across the watershed. Open spaces along rivers, if preserved and well-managed, could serve dual purposes: reducing flood risk while offering green public amenities and recreational corridors. Strengthening non-motorized mobility along these routes would also help connect people to jobs and services more safely and sustainably. At the heart of these efforts lies a transformative vision: turning the Mirongo River, which is known to communities in Mwanza as a source of flooding and poor water quality, from a burden into a benefit for the people living near it. This includes reducing flood exposure, improving solid waste management, en- couraging private investment in riverfront spaces, and boosting local revenues. Cleaner river systems will also support job growth in lake-dependent industries and improve water quality in and around Mwanza’s core urban areas. Together, these efforts are helping Mwanza move from reactive disaster response to more proactive, risk-in- formed urban development and serve as a model for other municipalities. By combining data, tools, and policy reform, GFDRR’s support is enabling the city to design infrastructure that meets today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow’s risks. A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Page-15 Dodoma’s Integrated and Sustainable Urban Mobility Transformation Dodoma, Tanzania’s capital since 1974, is undergoing rapid transformation driven by urban growth and the relocation of national government functions. In 2016, the Tanzanian government reaffirmed its commitment to shifting the capital from Dar es Salaam, prompting major investments and the movement of ministries and agencies to Dodoma. This development has come on top of the city’s population growth, which has increased from 410,956 people in 2012 to 765,179 people in 2022—an annual growth rate of 6.4 percent. Furthermore, its built-up area has expanded more than 440 percent since 2000. But with opportunity comes challenge: the city’s infrastructure has struggled to keep pace, and its transport systems are increasingly strained by congestion, poor connectivity, and climate vulnerability. The Dodoma Integrated and Sustainable Transport (DIST) project, financed by a $200 million IDA credit from the World Bank, is designed to address these challenges head-on. With over 430,000 expected beneficiaries and more than 10,000 jobs expected to be created, DIST goes beyond a conventional infrastructure project: it is a comprehensive strategy to build a resilient, inclusive, and climate-smart city. Page-16 The DIST project tackles Dodoma’s growing mobility been especially important in a context where frag- and infrastructure challenges through a combination mented responsibilities have historically hindered of strategic investments and institutional strengthen- coordinated investment. The DIST project has helped ing. It focuses on upgrading key corridors that connect bring together different government entities under major demand centers—such as the Standard Gauge a more unified framework for planning and imple- Railway station, airport, markets, and hospitals— mentation, fostering collaboration across sectors and while enhancing walking and cycling infrastructure levels of government. and improving access to the central business district. The DIST project is part of a broader agenda for urban These interventions are designed to ease congestion, resilience and inclusive development. It aligns with improve safety, and make the city more accessible for Tanzania’s national development plans and is support- all users, particularly pedestrians, cyclists, and public ed by partners such as the Japan International Coop- transport passengers. More than 750 public transport eration Agency (JICA), the African Development Bank drivers and operators will benefit directly, and the (AfDB), and the Tanzania Transport Integration Project broader improvements are expected to boost the (TANTIP). Community engagement has shaped inter- city’s economic output by two percent. ventions such as car-free zones, safer crossings, and ac- One of the project’s key aspects is its integration of cessible infrastructure, while efforts to modernize the disaster risk management and climate resilience. daladala (a minibus or van that carries passengers for a GFDRR played a critical role in embedding these prin- fare) system aim to improve transport reliability. Local ciples from the earliest stages. Through its Resilient contractors are engaged in delivery, with job creation Mobility in Tanzania’s Intermediate Cities grant, which focused on youth and women. Tools such as the Smart was financed by the Japan-World Bank Program for Transport Data Platform are also helping institutions Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management in Develop- adopt more data-driven planning approaches. ing Countries, GFDRR supported vulnerability assess- Dodoma’s experience offers valuable lessons for other ments, flood modeling, and transport simulations African cities grappling with similar challenges. The that informed the design of climate-resilient corridors DIST project demonstrates how integrated transport and drainage systems. These diagnostics helped iden- planning—when combined with strong institutions, tify critical locations and alternative routes to ensure community engagement, development partners and continuity of access during extreme weather events. climate-smart design—can drive transformative chang- GFDRR’s support also extended to institutional es. As urbanization accelerates across the continent, strengthening. Training sessions and workshops the need for scalable, replicable models of sustainable equipped officials from Dodoma and other cities with mobility has never been greater. The DIST project is not tools to incorporate disaster risk management into just moving Dodoma forward, it is paving the way for a urban transport planning. This capacity building has more resilient urban future across Africa. A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Page-17 From Assessment to Action: How Tanzania is Strengthening Emergency Preparedness In 2019, following a Lessons Learned Exercise and a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) training, Tanza- nia accelerated efforts to strengthen its disaster prepared- ness. This marked the beginning of a broader effort to build institutional capacity and improve coordination across sectors.  In 2020, the Government of Tanzania conduct- ed a PDNA after the Tanga floods, reinforcing the impor- tance of coordinated, data-driven approaches to disaster response. These efforts laid the foundation for long-term collaboration with the World Bank and other partners. By 2022, the country had developed a National Disaster Prepar- edness and Response Plan and a Disaster Communication Strat- egy, providing a national framework for anticipating, managing, and communicating during emergencies.  These frameworks were shaped through technical assistance and capacity-building efforts that supported the development of a more resilient and responsive system. A major milestone came with the establishment of the national Emergency Operations and Communication Center (EOCC) in Dodoma, managed by the Prime Minister’s Office. The EOCC co- ordinates real-time monitoring and response to disasters such Page-18 as floods, droughts, and epidemics. It integrates of modern technology in early warning systems. The data from key agencies and issues alerts through EOCC’s Situation Room, for instance, uses digital SMS, media, and digital platforms. While the center platforms like MyDewetra to co-produce bulletins and remains basic in infrastructure, the work done to forecasts in collaboration with the Tanzania Meteoro- date has been substantial. The Dodoma EOCC is logical Authority and the Ministry of Water. integrated into the  African Union’s Africa Multi-Haz- The country’s early warning system is coordinated ard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHE- by the Prime Minister’s Office – Disaster Management WAS) program and supported by various national and Department and involves a network of institutions international partners, including the Italian Ministry of responsible for monitoring meteorological, geologi- Foreign Affairs, the Italian Agency for Development Co- cal, hydrological, health, and animal-related hazards. operation, the CIMA Research Foundation, the African Alerts are disseminated through bulk SMS, email, Union, and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk television, radio, social media, and WhatsApp groups. Reduction (UNDRR). In June 2024, the EOCC Situation The emergency number 190, provided by the Tanza- Room was inaugurated, enabling real-time hazard nia Communications Regulatory Authority, ensures monitoring and analysis, and facilitating collaboration that alerts are accessible to all, free of charge. with regional and continental centers for cross-border While progress has been substantial, challenges disaster coordination.  Complementing these efforts, remain. Functional emergency operations centers are the World Bank and GFDRR have supported the Dar es still lacking at the sub-national level, and the imple- Salaam Multi-Agency Emergency Response Team (Dar- mentation of cell broadcast technology is ongoing. To MAERT) and Plan which has laid the groundwork for address some of these gaps, Tanzania has developed localized emergency coordination. Hosted at the Ilala its own roadmap for implementing the United Nation’s Fire Station, the Dar es Salaam Emergency Operations Early Warning for All (EW4ALL), which includes the Center now activates during emergencies to bring to- development of a disaster management information gether multiple agencies for coordinated response. system, establishment of regional emergency opera- In 2024, GFDRR provided technical advice for the tion centers and response teams, and capacity building assessment of the legal and institutional framework on the use of climate vulnerability mapping tools. for emergency management and contributed to Tanzania’s experience shows that even in countries with readiness benchmarks developed under the recently limited initial engagement, a single assessment—when approved $200 million Cat-DDO. Tanzania’s disaster paired with the right support—can catalyze meaningful risk management framework is anchored in the Na- change. In Tanzania’s case, it was a PDNA that served tional Disaster Management Policy and the Disaster as the catalyst. What followed was a sustained effort to Management Act. These instruments mandate the build systems, strengthen institutions, and improve co- establishment of Disaster Management Committees ordination. Support from partners such as GFDRR has at all administrative levels and emphasize the use helped guide and enable this progress. A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Page-19 Paving Tanzania’s Path to Resilience: Supporting Institutional and Policy Reforms for Disaster Risk Management In June 2025, the World Bank approved a $300 million Development Policy Financing operation for Tanzania, including $100 million budget support and a $200 million Cat-DDO—a financial instrument that offers immediate liquidity in the event of a disaster. This $300 million credit aims at strengthening the country’s economic resilience as well as its technical, financial, and institutional capacity to manage climate, fiscal, and disaster risks. But beyond financing, this milestone marks a major step in Tanzania’s long-term resilience journey which GFDRR has supported for over a decade through both financial and technical assistance. More than a line of credit, the Cat-DDO is also a reflection of a government’s commitment to integrate disaster and climate risk management into national policy and planning. For Tanzania, that meant undertaking ambitious reforms across multiple sec- tors, from water and energy to urban development and public financial management. GFDRR’s support contributed to laying Page-20 the groundwork for these reforms and helping the that sector ministries—such as those responsible for government meet the readiness criteria required to water and energy—are now better equipped to assess access the Cat-DDO. risks, screen projects, and manage resources more effectively during emergencies. For example, GFDRR provided targeted assistance to strengthen the policies, institutions, and systems that This progress builds on GFDRR’s long-term engage- underpin disaster risk management in Tanzania. This ment with the government of Tanzania to assess and included advisory services, institutional diagnostics, improve its legal, policy, and institutional frameworks and legal and technical reviews that shaped the re- for disaster risk management. For example, GFDRR silience components of the Cat-DDO program. One of supported the implementation of a new policy that GFDRR’s key contributions was its support for the de- helps operationalize the country’s 2022 Disaster Man- velopment and revision of three major policy instru- agement Act, which sets clear national priorities and ments: the National Water Policy, the Zanzibar Water strengthens coordination across ministries, agencies, and Sanitation Policy, and the Zanzibar Energy Policy. regional governments, and the private sector. It re- These instruments now embed risk considerations moves barriers that previously hindered timely and into planning, regulation, and investment decision coordinated disaster responses, resulting in a more agile and effective system. making as they guide billions of dollars in public and donor-financed projects. Tanzania’s wide-ranging reform efforts in sectors such as water, energy, and health were central to securing Another important aspect of GFDRR’s support was its the Cat-DDO, which is expected to benefit 1.9 million contribution to risk-informed planning guidelines for people across the country. The approval of the Cat- urban development schemes. By ensuring that hazard DDO reflects Tanzania’s steady progress in integrating exposure and climate projections are systematically resilience into its institutions and investments over the considered in land use and utility planning, these years. It also highlights the value of long-term partner- guidelines help reduce future vulnerability in rapidly ships in turning policy ambition into practical systems growing towns and cities. for disaster risk management. With support from GFDRR also provided input in defining the disburse- GFDRR, Tanzania has strengthened the foundations ment indicators and institutional benchmarks that needed not only to access crisis financing, but also to trigger Cat-DDO financing. This work ensured that the reduce its reliance on it over time. As climate and dis- financing mechanism is not only available in times of aster risks continue to evolve, the country is now better crisis, but also incentivizes continuous progress on positioned to anticipate shocks, protect its develop- resilience-building measures. In practice, this means ment gains, and invest in a more resilient future. A Decade of Partnership: Working Together for a More Resilient Tanzania Page-21 Data-Driven Urban Resilience: The Resilience Academy in Tanzania The Resilience Academy represents a successful scale-up of youth-led, da- ta-informed climate resilience work in Tanzania that is rooted in early GFDRR investments. Originally piloted through a GFDRR grant, participatory mapping began in informal settlements under the Ramani Huria initiative, which trained nearly 1,000 young people in flood risk data collection. This methodology evolved into the Resilience Academy, which now partners with Tanzanian uni- versities to train students in collecting, analyzing, and applying climate risk data. GFDRR supported this transformation by co-financing data collection campaigns, contributing to the establishment of Tanzania’s Climate Risk Data- base, and fostering partnerships between universities and local governments. The Academy’s outputs—such as flood maps, infrastructure inventories, and exposure assessments—are now actively used by city planners to inform risk-sensitive investments and urban resilience strategies. To date, more than 1,400 students have been trained through the Academy. This work has not only improved urban planning but has also equipped local institutions with tools and data systems that support long-term resilience. This year, the OpenMap Development Tanzania (OMDTZ), founded by former students of the Resilience Academy, was awarded the 2025 Zayed Sustainabili- ty Prize in the Climate Action category. OMDTZ’s beginnings can be traced back to the Participatory Mapping for Flood Resilience project supported by GFDRR and the European Commission. Its success is a testament to the power of com- munity-led solutions. Page-22 Conclusion: Tanzania as a Model of Scalable, Inclusive, and Transformative Resilience Tanzania stands as a compelling example of how long- • Strategic leverage, with co-financing from global term, strategic partnerships—anchored in country partners including the United Kingdom, Japan, ownership and supported by technical expertise and the European Union, the Netherlands, and Spain, catalytic financing—can deliver meaningful results in helping to mobilize over $1.7 billion in resilience resilience. Over the past decade, the World Bank and investments. GFDRR, in close collaboration with development part- GFDRR’s role—through technical assistance, analytics, ners and the government of Tanzania, have demon- and convening power—has been essential in helping strated what is possible when resilience-building is Tanzania connect local solutions with global knowl- rooted in local realities, bolstered by robust analytics, edge and financing instruments. It has shown how sec- and scaled through transformative investments. ondary city interventions can lay the groundwork for This partnership has gone beyond individual pro- metropolitan-scale projects, how flood management jects. It has built institutions, shaped policies, em- links with transport, health, and solid waste, and how powered communities, and created replicable tools participatory processes like Ramani Huria can become and models for disaster risk management. From platforms for national resilience planning. mapping unplanned settlements using drones and As we reflect on a decade of partnership, the message mobile apps, to integrating nature-based solutions is clear: investing in resilience is not only a response to into large-scale infrastructure like the Msimbazi Basin shocks—it is a pathway to equitable growth, stronger Development Project, to developing a nationwide institutions, and more livable cities. Tanzania’s story resilience policy framework—Tanzania has shown is not just national; it is global in its relevance and in how small, data-driven interventions can evolve into its lessons. It shows that, when governments, com- comprehensive national strategies with far-reaching munities, and partners work together over time, we impacts. can transform risk into opportunity—locally, regional- Importantly, this experience underscores the value of: ly, and across the developing world. • Scalability across sectors and geographies—illus- The next chapter will build on this legacy: with GFDRR trated by the reach of projects like TACTIC and the continuing to support Tanzania in deepening institu- replication of city-scale diagnostics. tional resilience, leveraging innovation, and mobiliz- • Sustainability through community-led capacity ing new resources. This commitment reaffirms what building, such as the Resilience Academy and we already know: resilience is a long game, and strong policy reforms institutionalized under the Cat-DDO. partnerships are the foundation for success. GFDRR Members