SAUTI na NAFASI PROJECT

Singida Municipal Council (SMC) is among one of the most rapidly growing cities in Tanzania experiencing high rates of urbanization caused by natural birth and internal rural-urban migration. The urban sprawl and rapid population growth has increased pressure on resources and service provision.

SMC offers residents limited access to most basic services, such as improved drinking water, electricity, improved toilet facilities, and effective solid waste management.  Moreover, environmental degradation and pollution are occurring at a largely unchecked and rapid pace.

Unplanned development results in neighborhoods that are perpetually without basic infrastructures, translating into lower living standards. Against these backdrops and in the absence of mainstreamed good governance, inclusiveness, empowered voice of right holders, effective planning, and adequate interventions, Singida Municipality is at the risk of growing inefficiently, with poverty rates increasing, especially among marginalized and under-served groups, including women, youth and persons with disabilities.                          

In that essence, Sauti na Nafasi project which are Swahili words for “voice and space”, aims to ensure that the city develops in an inclusive and sustainable manner and the city’s service provision meets the demands of its residents.

Project Goal: Aims to increase the capacity of Singida Municipal Council and other service providers to plan and deliver effective, people-centered and climate sensitive services in response to priorities voiced by citizens has improved leading to a socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable city

Direct Benefiaries: 84,000 Direct beneficiaries of the 18 wards of Singida Municipality (women,Youth, and Persons with Disabilities), Community Green Groups, Youth Forum and Social Accountability Monitoring Commettes

Partners and stakeholders: Prime Minister Office -Regional Administration and Local Government Authority (PMO-RALG), Local Government Authorities (LGAs), Local Service Providers(SUWASA, RUWASA, TANESCO, TARURA, TANROADS, GEO COMPANY ect), Private and Public Institutions (Banks, Financial institutions, religious institutions, Telecommunication companies etc.),  Civil Society Organisations (ReDO, ESTL, CIP, SPRF, ect)

TRACKING PROGRESS FOR AN INCLUSIVE, RESILIENT AND GREEN SINGIDA

Since its inception, the Sauti na Nafasi Project has made significant strides toward transforming Singida Municipality into a model of inclusive urban governance. To date, the project has directly reached 95,385 beneficiaries, comprising 47% women, 35% youth, 5% persons with disabilities (PWDs), and 13% men, ensuring that the voices of historically marginalized groups are not only heard but actively shape the city’s future. Through strategic capacity-building, the project has supported 35 green groups and strengthened the capacity of 78 Local Government Authorities (LGAs) on the improved O&OD (Opportunities and Obstacles to Development) planning model, laying a strong foundation for citizen-centered development.

Effective and Responsive Governance : Under this pillar, the project supported the Singida Municipal Council (SMC) in developing a strategic plan that now explicitly includes a Gender and Social Equity Indicator, ensuring that inclusive planning is institutionalized. A total of 78 people were trained on the improved O&OD model and are now actively participating in the development of over 20 community initiatives. To strengthen accountability, 280 members from Youth Forums and Social Accountability Monitoring (SAM) Committees were capacitated on feedback mechanisms and are now collaborating with LGAs to collect, channel, and follow up on citizen feedback—enhancing transparency and service delivery at both ward and municipal levels. Additionally, Town Planners from the Singida Municipality and private sectors were trained in GIS for urban planning and are now applying these tools to improve data-driven decision-making in municipal development.

Inclusive and People-Focused Urban Development: The project has championed citizen-centered development, sensitizing 41,100 citizens (including 62% women, 35% youth, and 3% PWDs) on inclusive urban planning. This has resulted in increased awareness of their rights to participate in decision-making, access land formalization processes, and hold local authorities accountable for responsive governance. A total of 180 members of Land Registration Committees were trained on land rights and ownership guidelines, positioning them as frontline advisors promoting secure land tenure in their communities. Furthermore, 29 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have been capacitated in inclusive urban planning and now serve as essential bridges between communities and local government—strengthening accountability, transparency, and citizen trust in municipal governance.

Resilient, Sustainable, and Green Municipality: Under this pillar, climate resilience action has been formally integrated into the municipal strategic plan, ensuring long-term environmental sustainability is a governance priority. Community members and LGAs were capacitated on climate-resilient cities, enabling them to integrate climate adaptation measures into daily practices and ward development plans. This capacity-building led to the development of climate resilience action maps and community-led action plans at the ward level. In addition, the project conducted extensive green campaigns that reached 21,007 citizens, during which more than 5,000 trees were planted and major public areas were cleaned. This comprehensive approach has positively shifted community behaviors, fostering a proactive attitude toward climate change adaptation and environmental stewardship across Singida Municipality.