WATER AND POVERTY LINKAGES IN AFRICA: TANZANIA CASE STUDY

This case study, commissioned by the African Development Bank and conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute, examines the complex linkages between water management and poverty reduction in Tanzania. It analyzes the country's progress toward Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the impact of water on agriculture and ecosystems, and the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Pangani and Rufiji basins.

• Tanzania's economy is highly dependent on water, with agriculture as the largest sector and a primary source of livelihoods. Other major foreign exchange earners, such as tourism and fisheries, rely on healthy ecosystems maintained by water flows.
• Progress toward MDG targets for water and sanitation is slow and inconsistent. While urban water supply coverage is estimated between 85% and 90%, rural coverage for improved drinking water was estimated at 42.2% in 2002 and 47% by 2006, falling short of the 64% target.
• Rural sanitation coverage has declined from 45% in 1990 to 43% in 2004, significantly below the MDG target of 95%. The report notes that sanitation is largely neglected in national planning and budget allocations.
• Tanzania faces a significant 'implementation gap' where policy frameworks are in place, but institutional, human, and financial resources are lacking, particularly at the decentralized district level.
• Agriculture is dominated by rainfed farming, which accounts for 99% of production. This system is highly vulnerable to unreliable rainfall and within-season dry spells, which can reduce maize yields by 19-40%.
• There is acute conflict between water use for hydropower and agriculture in the Pangani and Rufiji river basins. Upstream irrigation expansion reduces flows to dams, leading to power rationing that costs the economy up to $1.7 million per day.
• The Arusha Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (AWASA) implemented pro-poor block tariffs to ensure that communal users and the disadvantaged are not penalized by the high rates often paid to private re-sellers.
• Ecosystem services provide substantial economic value to the poor. In the Pangani River basin, the average total income per household derived from harvesting aquatic resources was estimated at 841,451 Tsh (approximately $738.11).
• Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) efforts in the Mkoji sub-catchment highlight the importance of 'green water' (rainwater in soil). In this area, water-related activities provide over 90% of household income across different land-use zones.
• To meet the MDG hunger goal by 2015 with a balanced diet, Tanzania would need to increase water allocation for agriculture and livestock to 54 km3/year, roughly double the current levels.

APA

Noel, S., Soussan, J., & Barron, J. (n.d.). WATER AND POVERTY LINKAGES IN AFRICA: TANZANIA CASE STUDY. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Water-sanitation/AfDB-Water-and-Poverty-Tanzania-FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Noel, Stacey, John Soussan, and Jennie Barron. WATER AND POVERTY LINKAGES IN AFRICA: TANZANIA CASE STUDY. Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Water-sanitation/AfDB-Water-and-Poverty-Tanzania-FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Noel |first1=Stacey |last2=Soussan |first2=John |last3=Barron |first3=Jennie |title=WATER AND POVERTY LINKAGES IN AFRICA: TANZANIA CASE STUDY |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Water-sanitation/AfDB-Water-and-Poverty-Tanzania-FINAL.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{noelndwater, author = {Noel, Stacey and Soussan, John and Barron, Jennie}, title = {{WATER AND POVERTY LINKAGES IN AFRICA: TANZANIA CASE STUDY}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Water-sanitation/AfDB-Water-and-Poverty-Tanzania-FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }