The Center for Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy Futures (WISE-Futures) in partnership with Tetra Tech ARD Tanzania hosted City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) Assessment and planning stakeholder’s workshop from 21st – 22nd April 2022 at Mbeya Modern Highlands Hotel in Mbeya City. During the two day workshop, participants had the opportunity to listen to presentations from the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Ministry of Water and other key non-governmental organisation working in the sanitation sector.
The Ministry of Water was represented by the Assistant Director for Sanitation and hygiene, Eng. William Christian presented on the current status of water and sanitation services in Tanzania (2021). Eng. William said that “the coverage of water supply services urban and rural areas is estimated to reach 86% and 72.3% respectively. These figures are close to the water supply target for vision 2025 which is 95% for urban areas and 85% for rural areas.” He also reported that sanitation services coverage in the Regional Centres is 13% which is far below the sanitation target for vision 2025 set at 30%.
However, Eng. William argued that although sanitation service coverage being at 13% presents challenges for the country to meet the vision 2025 sanitation targets, it also presents opportunities for jobs, constructions, contractors and public-private partnership in sanitation development. He added that the government in collaboration with development partners will avail financial resources required to finance the sanitation projects in an effort to make sure the country meets its vision 2025 sanitation targets.
On the other hand, WISE-Futures Centre leader, Dr. Hans Komakech, explains that the centre together with Tetra Tech ARD Tanzania has developed a tool that will collect information on household and communal buildings’ water and sanitation situations. The data will be used for setting the town’s sanitation visions and plans. The information can also facilitate towns in developing master plans.
Development partners were represented by The SNV Netherlands Development Organisation Tanzania and BORDA. SNV Wash Advisor, Eng. Hezron Magambo said that in Tanzania only about 10% of urban inhabitants are connected to sewer networks with the majority relying on diverse types of on-site sanitation systems.
BORDA Head of the technical department, Mr. Godlove Ngoda, identified challenges facing the sanitation business where he said land, law enforcement, and limited access to loans from financial institutions to support the sanitation business limit private investment and entrepreneurs to engage in faecal sludge management business (small scale). Mr Ngoda added that state control on service tariffs e.g., in faecal sludge emptying and transportation hinders private investment throughout the sanitation services chain.
The CWIS stakeholders workshop was attended by 35 participants from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water, RUWASA, SNV, MAUWASA, BORDA, EMACE, Namanyere Town and Mafinga Town provided a unique platform for participants to discuss and share experiences on sanitation management challenges and opportunities. The workshop was specifically an eye-opener for local government staff from Namanyere and Mafinga on the best ways to manage faecal sludge and water services.