Dar es Salaam: A Policy Narrative
This paper examines the urban development of Dar es Salaam from its pre-colonial past to the present day
Abstract
Dar es Salaam is urbanizing fast. Between 2002 and 2012, its population grew by more than 6% a year, making it one of the fastest growing cities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The concentration of economic activity, both within the city center and along its major roads, can be seen by satellite imagery which measures the intensity of its night lights at 2am.
The authors examine the urban development of Dar es Salaam from its pre-colonial past to the present day. Their analysis covers both the spatial development of the city as well as its economic development. Emphasis is given to policies which influenced how the city developed its current urban form and competitiveness. To carry out this analysis, they use a wide range of sources including satellite data, historical maps, and geo-referenced economic data.
This paper is a part of a Global Research Program on Spatial Development of Cities, funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund on Sustainable Urbanization of the World Bank and supported by the UK Department for International Development.
Citation
Patricia Jones, Julia Bird, Anne Laski, and J.M. Kironde (2016) Dar es Salaam: A Policy Narrative. World Bank, Washington, DC