Consolidating strategic urban planning practices: a case of solid waste management that benefits the poor in Dar es Salaam

Abstract

The introduction of new approaches to urban planning has necessitated changes in terms of thinking and doing things in Urban Planning. Cities implementing the strategic urban development planning (SUDP) approach have experienced changes in the area of urban service delivery, particularly in the delivery of solid waste management (SWM) services. Under conventional approaches delivery of the services was solely a responsibility of local authorities. With SUDP practices, delivery of the same has been a responsibility of partners, one of which is the urban poor community. Under SUDP practices, SWM has resulted into enhanced environmental cleanliness, reduction of the quantity of waste to be disposed off, a substantial reduction in transaction costs, enhanced participation of the poor, improved institutional relationships and employment creation and income generation as added benefits constituting livelihood initiatives to the urban poor. On the basis of these positive results, the conclusion is that, solid waste is not only a waste, rather an economic, socio-economic, institutional and political good that can be used to enhance environmental quality, generate income and reduce poverty. The SWM positive results can be sustained and consolidated by transforming the practices, law and policy aspects of solid waste management.

Keywords: Consolidating; Strategic urban planning practices; Soild waste management, Benefts, The urban poor, Dar es Salaam