A plan by Ecorys for a better living environment in the Msimbazi river basin

Originating in the Pugu hills, the Msimbazi river crosses Dar es Salaam to end at the Indian Ocean. Naturally, the Msimbazi valley is characterised by a diverse wetlands ecosystem with downstream, a protected mangrove forest at the sea side. Being in the city centre, human activity in the valley has, however, extensively increased in the last decades. As of today, the valley is therefore characterised by multiple uses, ranging from informal housing, transport infrastructure, dump sites, agriculture, industrial commercial activities and other. In the last decade the valley has been increasingly confronted with severe flash floods, damaging infrastructures and threatening lives.

The objective of the design charrettes is to develop, together with all stakeholders, a strategic management framework and detailed plan to ensure a flood safe and environmentally healthy valley. The Ecorys led consortium organizes, in a half a year’s time, two stakeholder workshops and 8 design charrettes. The charrettes are organised according to the principles of deep democracy and ACCA (Awareness, Comprehension, Commitment, Action) and are facilitated by urban and spatial design, flood vulnerability, and economic development scenarios.

The Msimbazi valley in Dar es Salaam is characterised by multiple uses, ranging from informal housing, transport infrastructure, dump sites, agriculture, industrial commercial activities and other. In the last decade the valley has increasingly being confronted with severe flash floods, damaging infrastructures and threatening lives. The objectives of the design charretes is to develop together with all stakeholders a strategic management framework and detailed planed to ensure a flood safe and environmentally healthy valley.