Flooding is a growing challenge for communities in Dar es Salaam, and the risk is not only linked to heavy rainfall. Poor waste management can make flooding worse by blocking drainage channels and reducing the capacity of water to flow safely away from communities. Frequent clogging of Dar es Salaam’s drainage network by silt, solid waste and construction debris, noting that waste dumping in drainage corridors further reduces drainage function. This connection is particularly important as Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) continues to emphasise the importance of early warning and preparedness. In its 18 August 2026, TMA warned that the October–December 2026 Vuli season is expected to bring above normal to normal rainfall in several parts of Tanzania, with the possibility of flooding and other impacts, and advised communities and sectors to use official weather information in their planning.
It is within this context that the Ramani Zetu, Sauti Zetu Project is supporting communities in ten wards of Dar es Salaam to strengthen flood preparedness, improve waste management and promote access to early warning information. Implemented in partnership with OpenMap Development Tanzania (OMDTZ) with support from the Zayed Sustainability Prize, the project brought together communities, local government authorities, schools, volunteers and partners. HUDEFO supported community-led cleanup and awareness activities, beginning with field assessments and consultations with ward and sub-ward leaders to identify flood-prone areas where waste and blocked drainage were contributing to local risks.
The results demonstrate the scale of the challenge and the value of community action. 2,427 people participated, including 830 women, 727 men and 870 pupils from eight primary schools. Together, communities removed 38,704 kg (38.7 tonnes) of waste in 2,180 bags from drainage channels and surrounding areas. The waste assessment found that 55.96% was domestic waste, 24.51% recyclable materials, 18.30% residual waste, 0.98% hazardous waste and 0.26% electronic waste. Importantly, 80.47% of the audited waste was domestic or recyclable, showing a strong opportunity to move from simply cleaning blocked drains towards waste segregation, recycling, resource recovery and circular economy solutions.
The project also recognised that sustainable flood risk reduction requires more than a one day cleanup. Participants received practical information on flood preparedness, early warning messages, household preparedness, evacuation procedures and safe practices, while 2,242 pieces of cleaning equipment were handed over to ten Ward Executive Offices for continued community activities. In addition, 20 community environmental champions selected as Bibi Mazingira and Bwana Mazingira to continue mobilising residents, promoting responsible waste management and supporting future environmental activities.
The message is clear: flood preparedness starts before the rain comes. Reliable weather information and early warnings are important, but communities also need clean and functioning drainage systems, responsible waste practices and the capacity to act early. With continued support from donors and partners, HUDEFO aims to build on this work by strengthening community environmental champions, expanding waste segregation and recycling, supporting routine drainage maintenance and increasing community access to flood preparedness information. Investing in these actions means investing not only in cleaner communities, but in safer and more resilient communities.
