Background and objectives
The Sustainable Cities National Programme in Tanzania operates under the programme Promoting Environmentally Sustainable Urban Development in Tanzania. This is presently coordinated by the programme established Urban Authorities Support Unit (UASU) under the President's office: of Regional Administration and Local Government (POMRALG). The programme originated in the National Programme Framework for Human Settlements, which focuses on capacity-building in public sector institutions, urban land management and urban shelter. The new programme was signed in July 1997 and follows on from the Sustainable Dar es Salaam Project (URT/90/033) and its follow-up phase, Managing the Sustainable Growth and Development of Urban Centres (URT/95/005). UN-Habitat continues to provide technical support to Dar es Salaam and nine other urban centres throughout the country. The Zanzibar component has been developed as a separate project, URT/97/010. The programme focuses on two objectives: consolidation of the environmental planning and management (EPM) process in the Greater Dar es Salaam City Council and use of the methodology and experience gained from implementation of the SDP. The programme is a sub-programme of the national environment programme.
Activities
The sub-programme coordinated by UASU strives to build the capacity of urban local authorities to manage urban development through training and communication, to establish an environmental management information system and strategic urban development planning framework; to create gender awareness in EPM and to address poverty eradication; and to assist the city municipalities to mobilize resources in order to ensure project sustainability. The methodology used to achieve these objectives is based on the philosophy of the Sustainable Cities Programme in general and the EPM process in particular. UN-Habitat has been providing support to the new Planning and Coordination Department at the city level and developing the environmental management information system (EMIS).
Results
The Dar es Salaam City Commission has implemented the reorganization of the city into three municipalities (Temeke, Ilala, Kinondoni). The Sustainable Dar es Salaam project provides EPM technical support to the three new municipalities. The SDP has finalized the Strategic Urban Development Plan (SUDP), a planning framework for guiding the future city expansion and city renewal. The SUDP is the core product of the EMIS. The Urban Authorities Support Unit (UASU) provides support to 12 municipalities, which have prepared environmental profiles and conducted city consultations. The municipalities are at different stages in their implementation of the EPM process. The UASU is providing technical assistance and training to the municipalities supported by UCLAS and (UNCHS) Habitat.
