CoCHAP: Tanzania
COCHAP Cities in Tanzania
Tanga and Unguja (Zanzibar) cities in Tanzania are implementing both the coastal hazard resilience and extreme heat components of the COCHAP.
Tanga is a historic port city and the capital of Tanga region. The city has a population of 393,429 in 2022. Due to close proximity to the equator and the warm Indian Ocean, the city experiences tropical climatic conditions similar to all Tanzanian coastal cities. The city experiences hot and humid weather throughout much of the year and has a tropical wet and dry climate. Annual rainfall is approximately 1,290 mm (51 in), and in a normal year there are two rainy seasons: "the long rains" in April and May and "the short rains" in November and December.
Tanga is also an important railroad terminus, connecting much of the northern Tanzanian interior with the sea. Tanga is linked to the African Great Lakes region and the Tanzanian economic capital of Dar es Salaam. The city is served by Tanga Airport.The harbour and surrounding is the centre of life in Tanga. It has several markets in several neighbourhoods.Tanga Cement is one of the major industries.
Unguja is the island of the Zanzibar Archipelago that has the most developed tourism industry. This accounts for a substantial part of Unguja's economy. Agriculture (including the production of spices such as cloves) and fishing are other relevant activities. As of the 2012 census, the total population of Unguja was 896,721, mostly concentrated in the Zanzibar urban region.The main settlement on the island is Zanzibar City, which serves as a capital for Zanzibar and which includes the renowned historical city of Stone Town as well as other populated areas such as Michenzani.
Progress and Impact
In Tanzania, (as of April 2024 -latest at the top), we...
- Completed remote digital mapping of Tanga and Unguja cities highlighting the capacities adn vulenrabilities at city scale.
- Completed the City-level Risk Assessment Workshops with participation from local government, national disaster risk management authorities, academia, TRCS staff and volunteers and other city stakeholders.
- Completed Tanzania Heat Risk Study -based on a remote data analysis.
- Together with the coalition members, designed the detailed Project activities and developed a work plan in each city.
- Following the stakeholder mapping and engagement process, set-up new city resilience coalitions in Tanga and Unguja.
Climate Context
Tanzania is one of the largest countries in East Africa, with diverse topography. Most of the population lives in rural areas, which is threatened by increasing temperatures, longer dry spells, and intense rain events.
Much of the population also depends on coastal and inland fisheries, which are vulnerable to sedimentation as well as warming ocean and freshwater temperatures.
Despite abundant water resources, Tanzania experiences spatial and temporal water scarcity, which will be exacerbated by climate impacts on the country's nine major river basins and the continent's three largest lakes.
Urban settlements poor infrastructure increases vulnerabilities to flooding and heat extremes.
Rising temperatures, longer dry spells, more intense heavy rainfall and sea level rise make Tanzania the 26th most vulnerable country to climate risks.
Current population of 56 million is expected to more than double (130 million) by 2050.
32% of the population lives in urban areas, and 75 percent of that population lives in informal settlements that are
increasingly at risk from water scarcity, flooding, and heat extremes.
Livelihoods and food supply depend on coastal and inland fisheries, which are increasingly threatened by warming ocean and freshwater temperatures, and sedimentation after heavy rains.
Sea level rise is putting coastal infrastructure, coastal populations (about 25 % of the total population), and coastal ecosystems at risk of inundation, salinization and storm surge.
Resources:
WB Climate Change Knowledge Portal/Tanzania
USAID Climate Risk Profile: Tanzania
Resources