Resilience, innovation, and inclusivity: the sustainable future of urban communities
According to the 2022 estimates from the World Bank, 50% of the population in the northern part of Pemba Island (Zanzibar Archipelago) lives in poverty. In the districts of Wete and Micheweni, the lack of basic services and inadequate urban planning exacerbate the situation. These issues contribute to increasing school dropouts, food insecurity, and gender inequality. The absence of adequate sanitation facilities in schools and public spaces endangers the health and safety of students and citizens, particularly girls. The situation is complex, and local authorities lack the resources needed to address these challenges. The PURE project promotes sustainable and inclusive urban planning to face the challenges posed by climate change and urbanization: together with the architects from African Architecture Matters (AAM), experts in sustainable urban development, we are enhancing public services and promoting the economic and community leadership of women.
With the PURE project, we tackle the most urgent challenges related to uncontrolled urbanization: access to clean and safe water, environmental degradation, poverty, and gender inequality. We do this by enhancing the services provided by local ecosystems, working across five key areas.
1. Improvement of sanitation services.
We rehabilitate wells, train local authorities on the proper technical and economic management of water, and improve sanitation facilities in schools and health centres. A broad awareness campaign aims to highlight the importance of proper hygiene practices to 12,000 students and their families through interactive workshops and street theatre.
2. Waste management.
One of the main environmental impacts associated with increasing urbanization is pollution caused by waste. To manage this emergency, we set up separate waste collection points in 16 schools and composting systems for school gardens, initiate awareness campaigns on the risks associated with poor waste management, and conduct a feasibility study for the management of biomedical waste.
3. Sustainable urban development.
We offer local authorities practical and strategic skills for effective urban planning that sees the local community as an active part of the process. In parallel, we conduct climate risk assessment studies, useful for defining the most effective management and adaptation strategies. Particular attention is given to the physical and mental well-being of the population: we focus on the redevelopment of public spaces, green areas, and recreational areas.
4. Women empowerment.
After specific market skills training, we aim to develop a participatory design process with a selected group of women: the goal is to enhance the infrastructure and furnishings of markets to improve their commercial activities.
5. Enhancement of natural heritage.
The Ngezi-Vumawimbi Forest is an ecological resource with great educational potential. We aim to revitalize this green area by making it a reference point for the community: we organize field visits for public officials and students, with activities that emphasize the importance of protecting this precious resource. The forest will also host a training centre for organic waste composting, available to schools and communities.
The PURE project is funded by the European Union and implemented in collaboration with Oikos East Africa and African Architecture Matters (AAM). It is part of the Green and Smart Cities SASA Program, an initiative of the Team Europe Initiative.