Country Facts:
- Capital: Dodoma
- Date of independence: 1961
- Population: 52.5 million
- Urbanization: 31.6%
- Life expectancy: 61.8 years
- Unemployment rate: 10.3%
- Population living below poverty line: 28.2%
Habitat Facts
- Date when Habitat started working in the country: 1986
- Individuals served in FY18: 2,340
- Volunteers hosted in FY18: 4
- Housing solutions: Incremental, repairs
Habitat for Humanity in Tanzania
Habitat for Humanity Tanzania seeks to improve the standard of living of low-income families through enabling community members to live in decent and affordable houses. Habitat Tanzania started operations in 1986 in the Kigoma region. In June 2009, a housing microfinance product known as “Makazi Bora” was established.
The housing need in Tanzania
The housing need in Tanzania is estimated to be 3 million units with an annual increase of 200,000 units, according to Shelter Afrique, a pan-African finance institution. The housing deficit in urban Tanzania is estimated to be 1.2 million units, of which 36 percent are in the eastern city of Dar es Salaam. Moreover, income levels of most households in Tanzania are quite low; 90 percent of the population can afford less than $45 on housing per month and 68 percent can afford less than $23 (Housing Market Study, Tanzania, 2012). Financing, though relatively increasing, is not affordable to most households. It is estimated that only 3 percent of the population can afford a mortgage. In this view, it is estimated that demand for housing microfinance in Tanzania exceeds $400 million (Market Study on Housing Microfinance, Tanzania, 2012). According to UNICEF (2011) only 46 percent of the population has access to safe drinking water. Most houses have no registered title deeds.
Habitat’s contribution in Tanzania
Habitat Tanzania offers microfinance loans to low-income families so they can improve their homes. Habitat also advocates for relevant policies on housing and land ownership; supports water, sanitation and hygiene projects; and supports vulnerable groups such as widows and orphans in improving their living conditions.
Our programs
Housing microfinance
Habitat Tanzania’s housing microfinance product – known as “Makazi Bora” – offers housing microloans to low-income families so they can improve their living conditions. Makazi Bora provides financing to cover incremental construction, house repairs, renovation and general house improvements. Water and sanitation improvements are also supported. Since the establishment of Makazi Bora, more than 6,100 families have benefited from a microfinance loan,
Advocacy
Habitat Tanzania will participate in advocating for relevant policies that affect households in issues such as housing, land and microfinance. Habitat Tanzania is an active member of Tanzania Housing Microfinance Working Group, whose main objective is to advocate for better housing and related matters in the country.
Water, sanitation and hygiene
Habitat Tanzania will engage in a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, or WASH, program which will be implemented in collaboration with Water Aid Tanzania.
Support to vulnerable groups
Habitat Tanzania will respond to needs of vulnerable groups such as widows and orphans through addressing improvement of their housing and related needs.
Meet a Habitat family
For a long time, Elifadhili witnessed many people in his community in Tanzania walk long distances to fetch water. Elifadhili heard about Habitat Tanzania’s microloan program and approached the organization about a loan to build his own water solution.
“With a loan of US$1,000 I got from Habitat Tanzania, I managed to purchase a water tank and built a water storage facility,” Elifadhili said. “I have fixed a water tap that provides clean water to the rest of community members in my street at a very reasonable fee. Women highly appreciate my service as they no longer walk a long distance to fetch water while at the same time I gain extra income for my family”.
What you can do
You can help needy Tanzanian families improve their living conditions by taking one or more of the following actions:
Donate: Go to habitat.org/donate and designate your gift to Habitat Tanzania.
Volunteer: Join one of the scheduled Global Village trips to Europe, Middle East and Africa or lead your own. Contact us to learn more: [email protected].
Tithe: All affiliate tithe gifts are sent internationally to serve families outside of the United States. To support the work of Habitat TANZANIA, please send your tithe to: Habitat for Humanity International P.O. Box 6598 Americus, GA 31709-3498.
Contact
To learn more about Habitat projects in Tanzania please contact us:
Habitat for Humanity Tanzania
[email protected]
Cyrus Watuku, Director Program Operations
Habitat for Humanity Europe, Middle East and Africa
[email protected]
Web: www.hfhtanzania.org
