Opportunities and Barriers for Research and Actions in Climate Change Adaptation in Tanzania

Abstract

Research in climate change adaptation in Tanzania has expended considerably over the last ten years. In Dar es Salaam, such research efforts include assessing the vulnerability of exposed communities in informal settlements, developing risks maps, investigating landscapes based storm water management for increasing climate resilience and supporting participatory decision-making and prioritization of actions on climate change adaptation. Often, scholars face high expectations and must generate knowledge and provide solutions in a short amount of time regardless of the challenges they face. This paper provides an overview of the opportunities and barriers for research and implementation of climate change adaptation in Tanzania. It pinpoints the necessity of overcoming traditional assessments that largely focus on the deficits and/or failures of urban systems in Africa. Instead, university scholars aim to provide context-based solutions through techniques such as urban morphology types, participative design charretes or multi criteria analysis to steer adaptation efforts. Yet, the available scholarly work comes with many challenges. The results show a need to manoeuver around rigid bureaucracies and reluctance to change, technocratic urban ideals, short time spent for project implementation and lack of reliable information. This suggests that high education institutions require other ways of advocating and communicating climate change adaptation and planning in rapidly urbarnising African cities.