Improving water security in urban areas

Tanzania joined the group of water-stressed countries in 2014, when the availability of renewable water resources per capita fell from over 3,000 m3 to 1,600 m3. This decline is set to continue, reaching 1,400 m3 by 2025.

Aware of this situation, the Tanzanian government, through the Ministry of Water, has set up a pooled fund to receive contributions from technical and financial partners (WB, KfW, GiZ, Netherlands, AFD, DFID, ADB and Belgium) to implement the Water Sector Development Program (WSDP) for the period 2006 - 2025.

The second phase of the National Water Sector Development Program (WSDP II) is being implemented throughout the country. Interventions include: 

• Development of water supply and sanitation works to improve water distribution services in Bukoba, Musoma and Mwanza.
• Installation of regional water networks in the 9 small towns of Mpwapwa, Utete, Kibaigwa, Gairo, Mvomero, Kilosa, Turiani, Kibiti and Ikwiriri.
• Improve management of the quantity and quality of water resources by supporting program implementation and capacity building.
• Improving access to water and sanitation in urban and rural areas.

To date, the program has achieved the following: 

• 38,200 people in the two towns of Mpwapwa and Utete now have access to clean drinking water and sanitation.
• Water infrastructure at Gairo, Mvomero, Kilosa, Turiani, Tabora and Dodoma University has been built with WSDP II funds.

Once completed, the project aims to:

• Supply 80% of the rural population with drinking water by 2025.
• Provide 98% of the urban population with drinking water by 2025.
• Provide 75% of the population with access to sanitation systems by 2025.  
• Contribute to capacity building at Ministry of Water Headquarters, water utility authorities and the Water Institute.