Tanzania Tests Green City Model in 3 Growing Urban Areas

Three Tanzanian cities are proving that rapid urban growth doesn't have to come at the expense of people or the planet.

Mwanza, Tanga, and Pemba are becoming testing grounds for a new approach to city building. The Green and Smart Cities SASA Programme is reshaping how these expanding urban areas handle everything from water supply to job creation.

The numbers tell an impressive story. The European Union, together with Germany, France, Belgium, and Denmark, is investing 92.7 million euros (about $265 billion Tanzanian shillings) over four years to make it happen. The program runs through 2026.

Real change is already visible on the ground. Improved water management systems are helping communities access safe, reliable water even as weather patterns become less predictable. For families in growing neighborhoods, this means less time worrying about daily survival and more time building better lives.

Young people are finding new opportunities too. The INCLUCITIES project focuses specifically on women and youth, helping them launch sustainable businesses and strengthen local supply chains. In cities where youth unemployment remains a serious challenge, these green jobs offer a lifeline.

Food security is getting attention as well. The Tanzania Sustainable Urban Food Investment Programme is working to ensure growing cities can feed themselves while creating income opportunities across agriculture and food distribution.

The Ripple Effect

The program's approach is spreading beyond infrastructure. Local government officials, engineers, planners, and policy experts are working together in ways they haven't before, breaking down institutional silos that often slow progress.

This collaboration matters because urban challenges are interconnected. Water security affects health. Green businesses create jobs while protecting the environment. Reliable food systems strengthen entire communities.

The model being tested in these three cities could reshape urban development across East Africa. As Tanzania's cities continue their rapid expansion, the lessons learned here about balancing growth with sustainability and inclusion will become increasingly valuable.

Program leaders are now shifting focus from planning to visible implementation. The goal is transforming master plans into tangible results: greener public spaces, climate-resilient infrastructure, and improved services for low-income residents who need them most.

The SASA Programme recently convened its fourth technical meeting in Dar es Salaam, bringing together all key stakeholders to assess progress and tackle obstacles. Participants emphasized that sustainable cities require ongoing partnerships that outlast any single funding cycle.

Tanzania's experiment offers hope for cities across the developing world facing similar pressures: how to grow quickly while protecting both people and planet.