Tanzania’s Land Development: A Cycle of Forgotten Projects Unveiled at World Bank Conference
The recent World Bank Land Conference shed light on Tanzania’s ongoing challenges in land and urban development, revealing a pattern of short-lived project interventions that often fade into obscurity.
Key Insights into Land Development Initiatives
Tanzania has witnessed numerous land-related projects over the decades, each aimed at improving land administration and urban infrastructure. However, these initiatives frequently struggle to achieve long-term sustainability.
Land Tenure Projects: A Transient Legacy
Multiple land tenure projects have been implemented, including the Strategic Plan for the Implementation of Land Laws (SPILL), which produced critical legislation like the Land Act and Village Land Act. Subsequent projects such as the Land Tenure Support Project and Land Tenure Improvement Project (LTIP) have similarly sought to formalize property rights and improve land administration.
The current LTIP, initially planned to run from 2021 to 2027, is unexpectedly concluding in June 2025, raising questions about the continuity of land development efforts.
Urban Development: A Similar Pattern
Urban projects like the Sustainable Dar es Salaam Project and the Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project have demonstrated similar characteristics. While these initiatives have produced infrastructure improvements, their long-term impact remains uncertain.
Critical Observations
The conference highlighted a recurring theme: projects often pilot innovative approaches but fail to achieve meaningful scaling or sustained implementation. Many interventions, particularly those focusing on capacity building, are quickly forgotten once funding concludes.
Recommendations for Sustainable Development
Experts suggest that donor support should align more closely with recipient countries’ existing plans, ensuring that interventions contribute to sustainable development rather than creating isolated, short-term initiatives.
As Tanzania continues to navigate its land and urban development challenges, the need for comprehensive, long-term strategies becomes increasingly apparent.
