MANAGING FLOOD RISKS: LESSONS FROM KEKO MACHUNGWA INFORMAL SETTLEMENT IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

Abstract

Globally, world urban population has been increasing and by 2050 it is expected to reach
70% of the world population. This is a challenge because new settlements are emerging and
most of them are taking place informally in developing countries. Forms of urbanization in
developing countries are not in favor of poor people. As a result, majorities are forced to
reside informally in areas prone to natural hazards in general and floods in particular.
Literatures prove that informal settlements are a major factor in the increase of floods
because most of them lack of basic infrastructures and there is poor coordination from the
development activities. These together contribute to the increase of vulnerability of informal
settlement inhabitants into different risks associated with floods as a result of climatic
change. The paper therefore assesses surroundings of informal settlements under the
umbrella of factors that cause risks and how they are managed and spell out relevant policy
implications. Findings show that factors that increase flood associated risks in the settlement
include: housing densification, solid waste management, sewers and drains management,
blocked streams, water sources, livestock keeping, and accessibility.