Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in housing development: The case of Keko Machungwa informal settlement, Dar es Salaam

This working paper examines the core reasons for the failure of prior iniatives to minimize flood risks in informal settlements and housing in Tanzania, through a case study of Keko Machungwa informal settlement in Dar es Salaam City. The study explores the extent to which mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in housing development in informal settlements has been considered and implemented; and recommends measures for improvement. Key methods employed for the research included physical observation, household interviews, mapping, photographing, and in-depth interviews. 

Overall, the study found that mainstreaming of DRR in housing development was hardly practiced at the household level, as houses are predominantly being built without resistant building materials and supervision of relevant professionals. In order to mainstream DRR in housing development in informal settlements, it is recommended that the government direct its efforts towards regulating, controlling and monitoring the housing development sector by emphasizing the use of flood resistant building materials and establishing resilient infrastructures for flood mitigation in every flood prone informal settlement.