Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
In a pivotal step toward fortifying urban resilience in East Africa, Dar es Salaam City Council, in collaboration with United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA), convened a workshop to strengthen local capacity for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaption. Held at the historic Karimjee Hall, this three-day event, held from June 17th to 19th, 2025, brought together 25 stakeholders, including local government officials, development partners, civil society representatives, academia and the private sector.
The workshop successfully elevated the role of local governance in advancing risk-informed development and climate adaptation strategies. The efforts align with key global and regional frameworks, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The initiative also aligns with the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) Initiative, which supports cities to strengthen their resilience to climate and disaster risks.
Addressing urban vulnerability in a rapidly changing climate
With more than half of the global population now residing in urban areas—a figure expected to surpass 60% by 2030—rapid urbanization, climate variability, poverty, and insufficient planning have significantly heightened cities’ vulnerability to disasters. Dar es Salaam, specifically, is projected to grow into a mega city of more than 10 million people by 2030, intensifying challenges related to increased frequencies of floods and droughts, sea level rise and salinity affecting groundwater.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Amani Kavishe, Natural Resource Officer, Dar es Salaam City Council, underscored the urgent need for cities to adopt integrated approaches that not only address immediate hazards but also build long-term adaptive capacities.
“Building a resilient Dar es Salaam starts with how we plan and build today. If we do not integrate resilience into our infrastructure and policies now, we will continue to rebuild after every flood” said Mr. Kavishe. ‘”his workshop is a step forward towards smarter, safer urban development.”
Building local capacity with practical tools and preliminary assessment
A central component of the workshop involved extensive training on the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, a diagnostic tool that helps local authorities assess their resilience using the Ten Essentials of the MCR2030 initiative – which outline the steps that need to be taken to build urban resilience. As a co-organizer and a key facilitator, UNDRR provided essential technical capacity for the workshop.
Participants actively applied the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, with technical guidance provided by experts from UNDRR and GIZ. Through this practical exercise, they conducted a preliminary assessment of Dar es Salaam City Council’s current resilience status. The assessment process enabled participants to identify key strengths, critical gaps, and opportunities for improvement in the city’s disaster risk reduction efforts.
The workshop primarily focused on training participants on the use of the Scorecard and understanding its implications, laying groundwork for future strategy development.
A platform for knowledge exchange and commitment
The event served as more than a training; it was a forum for collaboration and exchange. Participants shared experiences, challenges, and innovations from their respective institutions, contributing to a rich dialogue on context-specific resilience building. The Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA) project, a partnership implemented by GIZ, in collaboration with UNDRR Regional Office for Africa, the African Union Commission (AUC), the SADC Secretariat, Slum Dwellers International and Africa Adaptation Initiative, reiterated its commitment to supporting inclusive and gender-responsive urban development that leaves no one behind.
Feedback from participants underscored the workshop’s impact. ‘”The workshop was highly informative, equipping us with crucial knowledge on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and practical strategies for implementing it in our community to enhance city resilience’”Carlos Mdemu from Mazingira Konekti (CSO).
In closing, the UNDRR representative underscored the importance of sustaining momentum beyond the workshop. Participants were encouraged to leverage the tools, partnerships, and knowledge gained to formulate actionable DRR strategies, and to utilize platforms such as the MCR2030 dashboard, which offers guidance, tools, and monitoring capabilities to help cities assess resilience, track progress, and connect with partners for, continued support and collaboration.
As cities like Dar es Salaam continue to grow, the imperative to integrate resilience thinking into all facets of planning has never been more urgent. Through strengthened institutional capacities and cross-sectoral cooperation, the workshop marks a significant milestone toward a safer, more resilient urban future for Tanzania and Africa.